Can you get a concussion without being knocked out?

[brxndxn]

From my car wreck (11/27/02) where I got rear-ended and my car was totalled, I have had a headache ever since. Sometimes it's really bad; other times it is just slightly noticeable. My doctor is having me see a neurologist and says I will probby be getting another MRI - but this one will be of the brain.

He says I probby have post-concussive disorder. He said that I must've hit my head on something during the wreck. But, I was never knocked out and I don't remember hitting my head.. I just remember it snapping back when I was leaning forward (I had just slammed on the breaks and stopped when another car plowed into mine).

I have never been knocked out (except for two surgeries) and there aren't any gaps that I don't remember.. Even when I've been completely trashed and sick, I still remember everything.

Anyway.. is it possible to have a concussion without being knocked out (my doctor said it was highly unlikely)? I had ringing in my ears for about 10 seconds after the accident - much louder than the normal ringing. Only other time I had it was when I was stupid and a firecracker went off near my face.

Also, has anyone here had post-concussive disorder? How bad is it? And how long does it last?

 

[minendo]

Yes you can get a concussion without being knocked out. The sudden snapping back action could have caused it. Good luck with the doctor and I hope all is well.

 

[HannibalX]

Yes you can, a concusion is when the brain is pushed against the walls of the skull. You may not have been knocked out but you may have had a concusion.

 

[SlowSS]

Yup, good examples are the football players, especially the Quarterbacks.
Steve Young and Troy Aikman had concussions without being completely knocked out.
Their legs probably felt like spagettis but they were ablt to walk off the field
with some help after some hard hits.

 

[Hammer]

yes, you can.

 

[brxndxn]

My legs didn't feel like sphagetti, but I did feel COMPLETELY numb. Like, I wasn't hurting at all in my neck or head, but I could tell there was something wrong. A few days later, I really started hurting.

 

[911paramedic]

You can, but it is most often associated with LOC.

 

[Amused]

Yes, you can. Be VERY careful here. Concussions are bad stuff.

 

[alm99]

Yes, you can. I have had 6 concussions. You don't always remember everything if its a serious enough concussion.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
From my car wreck (11/27/02) where I got rear-ended and my car was totalled, I have had a headache ever since. Sometimes it's really bad; other times it is just slightly noticeable. My doctor is having me see a neurologist and says I will probby be getting another MRI - but this one will be of the brain.

He says I probby have post-concussive disorder. He said that I must've hit my head on something during the wreck. But, I was never knocked out and I don't remember hitting my head.. I just remember it snapping back when I was leaning forward (I had just slammed on the breaks and stopped when another car plowed into mine).

I have never been knocked out (except for two surgeries) and there aren't any gaps that I don't remember.. Even when I've been completely trashed and sick, I still remember everything.

Anyway.. is it possible to have a concussion without being knocked out (my doctor said it was highly unlikely)? I had ringing in my ears for about 10 seconds after the accident - much louder than the normal ringing. Only other time I had it was when I was stupid and a firecracker went off near my face.

Also, has anyone here had post-concussive disorder? How bad is it? And how long does it last?

First I'm no Dr. While it is possible to get a concussion from the brain hitting the skull without you actually physically hitting anything, it sounds more like you have whiplash.

Whiplash is very serious stuff too, effects can last the rest of your life.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

not good. i wish you well. to answer your question.... yeah you can get a concussion without losing (or remembering to lose) conscoiusness.