I'm betting that like me, many of you played tons of sports when you were kids. Some played football at a very high level, and others into college. Most f us probably played some brand of contact sport, and I'd bet most of us can recall a collision (or many) where they saw that flash on impact.
I certainly did not play football at anything close to a high level, but I played from about the 7th grade to my senior year. I played O-line, D-line, linebacker and fullback. Lots and lots and lots of collisions.
Since CTE became a thing, and the conversation has increased, I've begun to wonder if even at the level I played, am I now seeing some even minor residuals as a 51-year-old dude just going about life?
We're all busy. Those of us with teen-aged kids are frantically so, chasing our kids' schedules, looking at colleges, and all that goes with this stage. Add marriage and work and everything else, and it's daunting at times.
My wife calls it "fuzzy brain" and we laugh about it (OK, a lot), but I sometimes wonder if it affects more people, and not just former NFL players. I'm beginning to wonder if others who played sports the way I did are also in the mix. Is it of epidemic proportion? Maybe the NFL is at the head of a really long spear.
Just curious if anyone in this forum has had the slightest thought to wonder ...
Mostly funny or at worst, low-level frustrating moments.
I'm thankful that I haven't had any of the depression or negative-thought types of symptoms.
Oh, lets not start talking about all of the other injuries too. I used to get a x-mas card from my orthopedist.
Every time I forget something or my mood swings to angry I wonder if its just me getting older, genetics, or something worse.
Played from the time I was 5 until I was 20. Had several times where I wobbled back to the huddle only seeing about half way up and the rest being black. Good times
I've actually met with a doctor and a nutritional specialist who have some experience in these matters (cognitive therapy type stuff), they've essentially prescribed a very healthy lifestyle of good diet and exercise, including no alcohol or drugs of any kind.
I've never noticed any of the really obvious symptoms that are described by ex NFL players, but I'm prone to times when my mind almost feels like it's stuck in neutral for brief stretches. Thankfully, nothing that as yet has adversely affected me professionally, but it's a little scary to think what may come up later in life (I'm 41)
Like I'm sure many people who played in their youth, I'm very torn when thinking about football. On one hand, I loved every minute I ever spent on a football field, and many teammates remain my best friends in life. On the other, were I to have kids, I really couldn't say if I'd want them playing football or not.
Had many bell ringing incidents.
Since about 11th grade, if I go on any "violent" rides I get nauseous and dizzy and get a massive headache.
Fast forward to high school football I was an extremely violent linebacker. I knocked myself unconscious at least 3 times and continued to play in games after the use of smelling salts.
There are days where I definitely feel like I suffer from short term memory loss and it's starting to effect me at work. I'm 32 years old and honestly wonder how quickly I will start to deteriorate when I'm in my 40's
I had a roommate in college who was super-bright and became a physicist. He was a skinny kid who played football in high school as a wr/db, and his head was so beaten up that he went unconscious from head shots a couple of times playing rough touch in college. We didn't keep in touch, but I wonder about him.
I can say i know i had at least 3 concussions from that and a few from other activities.
I have not had any problems other than very frequent headaches throughout my life and I am 43 now... but who knows.
Sorry to hear rebel.. thank you for your service sir.
Also notes that they are getting closer to diagnosing CTE in living patients.
Link - ( New Window )
With the linkage of CTE to football players, I am wondering, how many diagnoses of CTE would happen on non-football players? Is it common to show some signs of CTE as one ages? More needs to be learned about this.