Sauna for concussion/TBI recovery?

[Dantheman]

Yeah, there's other concussion threads, but they're all really old and I have a specific question not previously addressed.

I'm 73 days out from a pretty serious concussion (helmet destroyed, no loss of consciousness per witnesses but no memory from 2 hours before to 4 hours after, slept 16+ hours per day for 5 days). Recovery started out really well, but has been complicated by a couple of unfortunate "incidents" that I can detail later if anyone cares. In the grand scheme of PCS I'm still doing quite well, but it's become clear that it's going to be a long time before I can ski or ride bikes at the level I'm otherwise physically capable of.

So, as the title says, would regular sauna use be good for healing my brain? Dr. Google didn't turn up much. I did find some studies that concluded that hyperthermia during or shortly after a concussion is likely to make things worse, but nothing about patients who are months out from the initial injury. In healthy subjects sauna use has been consistently shown to stimulate production of BDNF and otherwise have a host of health-promoting effects, so it seems plausible to probable that it's good for TBI recovery. But, I'm also quite leery of doing anything that could set me back.

I've basically written off skiing for this year. I've gotten out with my kid a few times from 2 pm-close just so he gets some time on skis this year. Skiing like a perpetual intermediate is about as satisfying as an over-the-pants handjob, so the juice isn't worth the squeeze otherwise. The rational part of my brain has also come to the painful realization that I probably shouldn't mountain bike this summer either, and even trail running seems like it might be problematic (constant bouncing, especially on the descents). So basically anything that brings me true joy and happiness is off-limits for the foreseeable future, which is less than ideal for my mental health. I'm trying to stay positive and keep my focus on what I can do. Joining the local Vasa for $10/mo and chilling in the sauna a few days per week sounds like a nice distraction, assuming it won't be detrimental.

[cmcrawfo]

there isn't really any evidenced based data for or against the use of sauna in Postconcusion syndrome. Generally speaking, they focus on managing your specific symptoms, and the sequel can be quite broad. Essentially, if it makes you feel better / doesn't make things worse, carry on.

as for your long term action sports prognosis.. is it your current symptoms that are preventing you from realizing your potential, or is it the potential risk of further injury and some type of chronic encephalopathy thats holding you back?

[muted]

I've basically written off skiing for this year. I've gotten out with my kid a few times from 2 pm-close just so he gets some time on skis this year. Skiing like a perpetual intermediate is about as satisfying as an over-the-pants handjob, so the juice isn't worth the squeeze otherwise. The rational part of my brain has also come to the painful realization that I probably shouldn't mountain bike this summer either, and even trail running seems like it might be problematic (constant bouncing, especially on the descents). .

Holy shit! Sorry to hear this.

So what makes you want to hold off, is it just wanting to avoid another fall of any kind or you still have symptoms?

If you were in the NFL, they'd bench you for just a week. Or maybe 1 play, really. But those guys are idiots.

[Self Jupiter]

Sauna for concussion/TBI recovery?

This sucks to read and I don’t have any advice other than the suggestion that you should consider trying intermediate-style skiing again, if it can be done without aggravating the symptoms. (Edit- blah blah blah) +++ vibes+++

[bodywhomper]

sorry to hear this and i wish you luck in your recovery.

one of the reasons that i learned to tele (mid-90s) was to slow myself down.

to keep myself entertained when skiing with my littles on green and blue runs, i started trying to learn some ski ballet moves (mainly learned via watching glen plake videos). and I did it on tele skis. a new challenge to entertain myself....

[muted]

i started trying to learn some ski ballet moves (mainly learned via watching glen plake videos). and I did it on tele skis..

if he gets another concussion from trying some ballet move, he may die of embarrassment.

[Dantheman]

Holy shit! Sorry to hear this.

So what makes you want to hold off, is it just wanting to avoid another fall of any kind or you still have symptoms?

If you were in the NFL, they'd bench you for just a week. Or maybe 1 play, really. But those guys are idiots.

Yeah, concussion protocol in major pro sports is a joke, IMVHO.

Exactly three weeks out I was feeling great, though I knew I was quite fragile. I bought the kiddo a trampoline and was assembling it while he and his cousin played soccer in the yard. He shanked a kick straight into the back of my head. I felt hungover for the better part of two days and it took a week to feel fully recovered. Two weeks after taking the soccer ball to the head I was desperate to do something outside so I hiked Cherry Canyon to the second overlook (about 2k vert), which seemed like a safe thing to do. Going up felt glorious, but by the time I was halfway down I knew it was a bad decision. Going down I could feel every step deep in my brain. Hungover for two days and a full week back to baseline again.

Fast forward a few more weeks and I'm now 7 weeks out and feeling good, when I made the very, very stupid (in retrospect) decision to go to the Woodward PC grand opening (just to spectate), which was basically like going to a concert for 2 hours. I felt fine while I was there, but by that evening I was a mess. I spent most of the next day in bed, felt waaay hungover for two more days, and I may still not be fully recovered.

The first two times skiing were OK as it was super soft everywhere. Sunday, however, was dust-on-crust and no matter how slow and super smoove I skied I could feel my brain being jostled. In the flat light and dumpage I hit a couple hard little ruts that would normally be nothing but clearly felt nebulously "wrong." I felt mildly hungover yesterday and was ready for bed at 8:30. Pretty OK today but not 100% if I'm honest with myself.

So to summarize, my recovery has suffered some serious setbacks and it doesn't take much to rattle myself into PCS symptoms. Thankfully no really bad stuff like headaches, vertigo, etc., mostly just crushing tiredness. My cold tolerance also goes completely to shit (prior to the injury I'd been taking cold showers for the better part of two years...). If two hours of very conservative skiing flares up my symptoms, how would I feel after skiing even moderately hard, or doing a long chunky descent on the bike, or running downhill for 3,000 vert? Doing any of those things currently seems laughably stupid. Crashing and taking a legit shot to my head is terrifying. Who knows how I'll be 3/6/12 months from now, but eliminating that risk until I'm a minimum of 12 months out seems like the safe play.

On top of this, AC is having a TKR in 15 days. I have to be 100% healthy for the next 6+ months, full stop.

[Dantheman]

if he gets another concussion from trying some ballet move, he may die of embarrassment.

I'll start knitting hats before I learn ski ballet

[Norseman]

Jeezus, Dan.

Sorry to read of your trouble... it sounds challenging. What a sobering reminder of our fragility. Thank you for the story.

Vibes and good luck in your recovery... I don't have anything constructive but wish you well.

Good luck to AltaChic with the TKR, too!

[Dantheman]

Thanks, it's appreciated. Feels good to write all that down as well. AC is in good hands (Rosenberg Cooley Metcalf biocarpentry clinic). Things are going to suck for her in the short-term but hopefully in 6-12 months she'll be much, much better than the constant pain she's in now.

[pyromaniacman129]

As a fellow multiple bad concussion patient I feel your pain.
My last one was 4/17/2018 and I wasn't cleared til late September to do anything physical due to similar issues. Though I had other symptoms such as migraines from sunlight, memory problems and some other stuff (full PCS range).
I asked my doctor a million questions about what I can do to help and mostly got the answers of "rest, rest and more rest".
Spending a few hours when you can in a dark room with no stimuli went a long way for me. Pretend to meditate or actually do if you can but just get quiet rest and let your brain rewire itself. PCS sucks and we don't really know how to heal it.

Really curious about this sauna theory you have as far as being helpful.
Hope you heal up.

PSA wear yer fuckin helmets.

[Norseman]

Biocarpentry, lol.

[cmcrawfo]

Positive news that you dont seem to have any continuous symptoms. If you are not all connect with a rehab team, you should look into whats available in your area. The newer school of thought on post concussion rehab involves things like vestibular and visual training as well as spine and cardiovascular health (vs the oldschool theory of rest and antidepressants) ... and by the sounds of your symptoms and what precipitates them, this could be a huge benefit to you.

eliciting symptoms like dizzyness and that hung over fatigue you describe are generally not signs that you are making your head injury worse, rather eliciting these symptoms can be a positive thing, as it allows your brain / body to re-train its self to overcome them more easily in the future.... you most certainly want to avoid hits to the head/ trauma. but dont stop perusing activity.

Vibes.

[Dantheman]

I asked my doctor a million questions about what I can do to help and mostly got the answers of "rest, rest and more rest".
Spending a few hours when you can in a dark room with no stimuli went a long way for me. Pretend to meditate or actually do if you can but just get quiet rest and let your brain rewire itself. PCS sucks and we don't really know how to heal it.

From what I've read after the first 7-10 days the latest clinical recommendations are no longer "rest, rest and more rest" but rather slow, deliberate, progressive return to activity similar to PT you would do for most other bodily injuries. I get your point though. We meditate nightly for about 20 minutes in bed before we go to sleep. Chillaxing in the sauna would also check this box.

Biocarpentry, lol.

A friend of ours spent a few years as an engineer for a company that makes joint replacement implants. As part of the job he had to observe a bunch of surgeries and says it's carpentry 100%, just with bones and blood.

Positive news that you dont seem to have any continuous symptoms. If you are not all connect with a rehab team, you should look into whats available in your area. The newer school of thought on post concussion rehab involves things like vestibular and visual training as well as spine and cardiovascular health (vs the oldschool theory of rest and antidepressants) ... and by the sounds of your symptoms and what precipitates them, this could be a huge benefit to you.

eliciting symptoms like dizzyness and that hung over fatigue you describe are generally not signs that you are making your head injury worse, rather eliciting these symptoms can be a positive thing, as it allows your brain / body to re-train its self to overcome them more easily in the future.... you most certainly want to avoid hits to the head/ trauma. but dont stop perusing activity.

Vibes.

Thanks, that's encouraging. I definitely haven't stopped all activity. I'm working out several times per week (though no jumping/plyos) and bike commuting to work most days.

[Norseman]

A friend of ours spent a few years as an engineer for a company that makes joint replacement implants. As part of the job he had to observe a bunch of surgeries and says it's carpentry 100%, just with bones and blood.

Oh I believe it... sawing and pounding and screws and chisels. Shudder.

Just hadn't heard the term before.

I'll quit bogging down the thread. Good luck