My story with concussions

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[@vko.]

You are one of the only youtubers who no matter how much time they take off, I always come back to pick up where I left off. Glad to see you are ok Mike, you are truly a gem in this community.

[@Hawidaku]

Quit simping

[@alexandervlachos]

@@Hawidaku stop being toxic kid

[@balapaul06]

Indeed

[@Hawidaku]

@Rlasco25 mike isn’t his parent he’s a guy on the internet that he’s never met in real life

[@relsneks]

He can say what he wants @hawidaku

[@marcussmithereens-smithert5409]

06:06 - Worth noting that just because a helmet looks fine, if you crashed, it must be replaced. The foam inside will compact on impact meaning the helmet will no longer cushion your head. Great video though, thanks for shedding light on this very important topic!

[@sworatex1683]

Like Check

[@adammcdonald6870]

Completely agree with you. However, in this video the reason the helmet is perfectly intact is that he hit the basketball with the bat and not the helmet.

[@daylen577]

Literally scrolled down to say the same. Any impact to a helmet is immediate replacement, even if it *actually* is fine. You can't know for certain that the inside is not damaged.

[@firstnamelastname1748]

Also worth noting, many helmet manufacturers offer special discounts for crash replacements. If you email them a photo of the damaged helmet, a quick write-up of what happened, and proof of purchase, they'll usually send you a new helmet for free or at a discount. Brain injuries are more expensive than a new helmet, so there's absolutely no reason to cheap out on this. Also also, Mike mentioned that this helmet looked fine after hitting it with a baseball bat. But I once just hung my helmet on the end of my handlebars. The bike fell over, landed on the helmet, and there was a pretty big chunk of foam that broke off the helmet. I replaced it ASAP. It really doesn't take much to damage a helmet, but again, a new helmet is cheaper than a brain injury.

[@Muphetballs]

@@firstnamelastname1748 this seems fairly on the spot for anyone who owns a bike shop. "Hey I would've died without this here look at this huge crack in my helmet, and not my skull!" I would hand them out for free thats terrifying

[@aidanwengel9488]

As someone who had three concussions in a 6 month period, and now has long term, constant issues, I appreciate this video. I have had a constant migraine for almost 5 years now, and generally have at least 12 of the 15 concussion symptoms every day. I've lost around 70% of my memory and have no real recollection of many of the major events of my life (wedding, birth of kids, etc.) Head injuries are no joke and we need to take them seriously. I'm glad more work has been done to bring awareness to them and the medical advancements that have been made in treating post-concussion syndrome.

[@bingubs]

Oh my god that’s terrible I wish you the best

[@packetofforce7197]

That's so awful, I wish you good luck and I hope you will recover from post-concussion syndrome

[@davidmorettini5224]

Bravo for educating people on concussions. I'm a neuropsychologist and 25 years ago we had the hardest time to make people understand it's importance. Thanks to what you've just done, people who got to see your video will protect more their brain or get treated in case of a concussion. Thank you. Well done.

[@sam06m58]

In rugby when I played I had 3 concussions in 6 months and got told to stop playing as it was getting very dangerous the amount I was having them and the short amount of time between them but even now I still don’t know the real seriousness of them until I looked into a bit more

[@mufinman1987]

Yes, that is the normal amount of bruising immediately after cupping although there is a lot of questions around its actual medical benefits.

[@najati]

Aye, normal amount of bruising but it's snake oil as is most chiropracty.

[@guiguspi]

1 guy 1 cup

[@-TheRealChris]

'there is a lot of questions around its actual medical benefits.' Now THAT is an understatement!

[@RafaelZolet]

Yup, no evidence of benefits and instead evidence of possible harm from the repeated breaking of the capillaries of the skin (can cause the death of the tissue that was kept healthy by the capillaries)

[@uncannyhiddencrow2385]

@@guiguspi Ayo? 🤨

[@thingstodowithgaming]

As an amateur mma fighter, seeing people get concussions is always a scary experience. Head trauma is a dark cloud that sits over many sports so I'm glad you're bringing attention to it by making this video.

[@mufinman1987]

I’m amateur too and something else that’s concerning me is the correlation between BJJ and stokes. From what I’ve read, they believe it’s to do with repeated chokes causing the main arteries in the neck to thicken over time and therefore restrict flow.

[@TristanBehrens]

@@mufinman1987 That's a thing? I come from a MT background and have just started BJJ. Had no idea that existed and I'm a biologist. Is it weird that it kinda worries me even though I've been all chill with head trauma since I was like 14? 😂

[@MichaelMassie]

I’ve had over a dozen concussions over four decades in the martial arts and combat sports. I’ve been lucky as I don’t have too many CTE symptoms. That said, I stopped doing hard sparring a decade ago. I think stopping that crap in my early forties probably saved me from chronic issues. My only regret is failing to back off sooner. No joke, I feel like I’ve lost a good ten or twenty IQ points, and the brain fog can be miserable at times. My advice to younger martial artists is to save hard contact for the competition ring.

[@TristanBehrens]

@@MichaelMassie Yeah I think most modern gyms, aside from the old school boxing and Dutch style gyms, tend to promote light sparring a lot more than they used to

[@melody3741]

Maybe don’t play a sport that requires brain damage for a match to end

[@Boggythefroggy]

My dad has had way too many major and minor concussions over his life due to playing sports mostly. The last major one he had I was actually there to witness, as he was pitching in his fastball league and he got nailed in the eye with a line drive. Concussions are no joke, the damage sticks with you for years and the personality change and anxiety/depression I saw my dad experience was awful. I hope you’re feeling better being as it’s been 3 months from this video.

[@gilli4899]

I’ve had 2 concussions, one during sailing and one in army training. people often make fun of my symptoms, saying it’s been a while and to get over it. that kind of shit stays a long time. personally I have a really hard time with people clapping, and sudden movements or sharp noises. I get headaches very easily. thanks for educating people Mike, wishing you a lot of health. we’re here for you ❤

[@brixcer5681]

Still can't believe how good that bakground is. Also this made me sure to never go biking without a helmet ever again. Stay safe people

[@huismus111]

I live in the netherlands it’s basicially illegal to wear a biking helmet there

[@crimson7]

@@huismus111 and why would that be?

[@brixcer5681]

@@huismus111 it's more just people don't wear since it's safe not to wear but it's still not illegal and I wouldn't take the chance

[@steinglastra8545]

@@huismus111 This is an exaggeration everyone in the netherlands on racebikes or mtbs wears a helmet. Youre reffering to commuters that do not go faster then 20 km/h and use an upright bike. they ussually don't were helmets but that is because they don't take any risks and they only do it for convenience.

[@wiktord9264]

This is literally one of the worst backgrounds I've ever seen. I can't look at it for more then 2 seconds, something about the colour contrast makes it so irritating for your eyes, idk still nice mosaic i guess

[@enigmatruecrime]

I recently had a really bad concussion and completely forgot everything. I was unconscious for a brief time. When I woke up, it was like waking up from a really, really bad dream. My ears were ringing, everything seemed fuzzy and only semi real. My thought was fine, but my memory just wouldn't work. It is one of the most surreal experiences of my life. Really glad you were okay! It can be super scary.

[@Jellylamps]

How long did it take your memories to come back? Did they even all come back?

[@olliecole7163]

I've had post concussion symptoms since April and it sucks, cannot do anything or play any sports I used to without constantly being nausea's and anxious about anything going near my head, but nothing near as serious as this, hope you are okay now, sounds 10000x worse than what I had.

[@enigmatruecrime]

@@Jellylamps The important stuff came back 10 minutes after, but I kinda went in and out of it. It would get better and then worse. It wasn’t until probably 2 hours after that I was back to normal with only a splitting headache

[@alexe606]

Hope you’re okay!

[@ryanc9287]

mine was the exact same!

[@TheShadowPhoenix]

Head care and head injuries are REALLY important to be aware of. I had a bad concussion back in high school involving my bike and a car. Shattered the windshield and broke my helmet and some bones. The concussion took me out of school for 3 months and it took me over a year to fully recover. I also didn’t take recovery seriously at the time. What could have been 2-4 months ended up being almost 18. Please take care of your head. I’m glad you’re back and that you got to take some time off. Thanks for talking about this

[@BowlChad]

This video definitely hits home and I'm glad you made a video about your experiences. As someone who has been through 4 major concussions and several other minor ones, I can absolutely relate to this. There's the uncertainty of believing what you remember, self doubt that you may forget something in the future, and the depression that comes with all of those thoughts! It's great to see you back making videos and that you're doing better!

[@michaelkennedy2528]

From a medical professional, THANK YOU for making this video, much needed conversation. Many people think it is a sissy thing to wear a helmet, but it is nothng like wearing a diaper after hitting your head so hard you lose all ability to control your bodily functons forever. I am extremely glad your on the mend, and again, thank you for the PSA.

[@tinnagigja3723]

Awesome. As a medical professional, could you explain what 'cupping' is and how it's a stupid, stupid thing?

[@michaelkennedy2528]

@Nature's Eye Meditations I agree with a majority of your response, and if it works for you, by all means continue. One size does not fit all, no pun intended lol

[@michaelkennedy2528]

@@tinnagigja3723 Cupping is used to draw blood into the skin and underlying tissues to promote healing. If a person has a low platelet count or is on blood thinners then brusing to the area is very common. It can cause varicosites to rupture, and if close enough to the surface they will bleed, some profusely. This "therapy" has been around for thousands of years, I see mixed results from it in the clinical arena, never have suggested it to patients, did not steer them away either unless as stated above they have underlying health issues.

[@tinnagigja3723]

@@michaelkennedy2528 Thank you. Is the level of bruising we see in the video normal?

[@michaelkennedy2528]

@@tinnagigja3723 I have seen that happen even without underlying health issues. It can happen if the amount of vacuum used is ecessive. His appeared to be excessive, unsure of the etiology though without seeing settings on the machine. Some use a manual pump and others are equipped with limiting valves built into the machine or the cup itself to stay within safe paremeters.

[@apeofjustice7109]

One thing to remember Mike, in the same way car bumpers are designed, helmets are meant to break on impact. The more it will damage itself, the more energy it takes out of the impact and stops transferring it directly to your head. Cheap helmets like that Halfords one, that don't break are much more dangerous, since it won't reduce the energy and acceleration your head feels, netting you more trauma. Keep safe, glad to see you back 🙏

[@JamesChurchill]

The helmet isn't intact because it's cheap, it's because the test setup wasn't anywhere near as brutal as a real accident. Partly because Mike hit the basketball instead of the helmet, but also because the basketball is so much lighter than a head. Also, just because a helmet appears undamaged after an impact doesn't mean it is - the foam can have cracked invisibly when absorbing that impact energy, and the helmet will be far less effective next time. So no matter how cheap or expensive a helmet is, or how undamaged it appears, they are all one-and-done devices. If you whack it coming off in an accident, it's time for a replacement.

[@JamesChurchill3]

@@JamesChurchill Hey, give me my name back.

[@minifix]

@James Churchill is a bit of a schlong. ​ @James Churchill however is a really cool guy.

[@radekslany1840]

@Oye it is minimum standard, not maximum. So no, premium helmets could be more protective. It is like saying all the workers are paid the same because of the minimum wage.

[@1.4142]

@@JamesChurchill Also mike hit the basketball, not down onto the helmet.

[@joshrich507]

Thanks for coming back! I am so inspired by you that I learned to ice skate this pst winter, over about 8 hours, following your style! So thanks for coming back!

[@sweetemotions2418]

Be careful out there Mike. You're a big inspiration to me I've learned so many little skills because you showed me it was possible. Thank you for being inspiring.

[@MakeSomething]

My goodness. Good to see your face again. My wife is a speech therapist and does evaluations on head injuries all the time to check brain function. Your video is an important message to everyone. ❤

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Glad you are being careful mike. I had 3 concussions in one summer as a stupid kid on a bike. Then 2 more the next year. It’s not worth permanent damage.

[@hiredburger8487]

Hi

[@Tingman]

Sorry to hear that Mike, but thanks so much for sharing this. I remember my good friend getting a concussion when we were much younger and we just laughed it off, but it should've warranted immediate attention. Appreciate you using your platform to raise awareness.

[@Enkaizu]

hi

[@Ahmed-uv5bb]

Tingman you watch mike

[@notanonymousperson]

TINGMAN?!? You have good taste in KZbin Sorry but i would least expect a cubing channel

[@asliceofm1137]

Concussions are more serious than most people think, I’m glad he made this video.

[@burningapeable]

Brain injuries are potentially one of the most terrifying things that can happen to a person, glad you're feeling better! If you've beaten Elden Ring, you know at least some of your reflexes are still there ;)

[@112icarus112]

Thank you for 1) talking about your experience with concussion and your absence (not that you were obligated, but it was greatly appreciated), 2) for raising awareness of what concussion looks like, and how its not explicitly connected to being knocked out. Hopefully, for someone watching this, it will save their life. Brilliant as always Mike, glad to see you back to being creative again!

[@Zach-xv5pq]

Stay safe Mark!!!!!

[@DrHopeSickNotes]

Great to see you back buddy! And for highlighting the importance of looking after your bonce!

[@JLneonhug]

Oh hey! Follow you too. Keep up the great work! Would be great to hear about your current situation/opinion with A&E, covid, budgets, utilities hikes/economy and how it may affect you on the ground level... I recently took a family member into A&E and they were double stacked in corridors for days (and was in A&E for days as they didnt have space in the wards for admission!), absolute bonkers...

[@DrHopeSickNotes]

@@JLneonhug hope your family member is okay mate. It's freaking horrendous in A&E at the moment; EXACTLY as you point out up and down the country. I think many people are shocked by what they are seeing when they are a patient / come in with loved ones. I think it's only going to get worse as we hit winter, sad times.

[@toriancromar]

Thanks for being so open about your experience. Glad you’re recovering and taking head injuries seriously

[@jetteraismabash4186]

Really sorry to hear about accidents Mike. You are one of my favourite KZbinrs. The determination you have to achieve something is so motivating for me (motivation is hard to come by) Wishing you all best!

[@oliverlane9716]

February 2020 I also got a severe concussion and couldn't expose myself to sunlight, so spent 6 weeks in total isolation right up until lockdown was announced.... Still get occasional reactions to light, depression is never something I've suffered with and is a common occurrence now and so occasional slowness. Best of luck Mike. Head injuries are the absolute worst

[@bravoalley228]

why couldn't you expose yourself to sunlight?

[@oliverlane9716]

@@bravoalley228 photophobia. Its related to migraines. But basically when light hit my eyes the electrical signals it would produce in my brain would result in nausea, headaches, confusion, dizziness and just feeling dumber. Sunlight and most electrical light was awful for quite a while

[@bravoalley228]

@@oliverlane9716 such a shame.. I wish you all the best 🤞

[@CabbageSim]

@@oliverlane9716 I'm having similar reactions to light. But I didn't suffer any head trauma per se. I do bang my head on the pillow to fall asleep for like all my life

[@messianicrogue]

@@oliverlane9716 I had a few concussions as small kid, then quite a few as an adult. I also had extreme debilitating migraines for years. As you know, nothing about a migraine is good, but I want to comment on the feeling slow / dumber, after each migraine it takes me a couple of days to get back up to speed, I'm slow witted and struggle to think clearly after each migraine. My migraines come with an aura, then blindness beforehand and vomitting and impossible to talk - I can say things, but they are nonsense to anyone that can hear me, but to me it's normal speech, so my brain gets all frazzled. I'm attempting not to get any more concussions, because clearly it didn't do me any favours. I hope you fully recover.

[@sahn3tic892]

As a Downhillracer myself i am very proud that more peolpe talk about the issues of concussions Thumps up 👍🏼

[@bennyb.1742]

Hey kinsman, just want to say that I've been there and I know what you're going through. A bad bout with Covid has recreated all my concussion symptoms too. You're the right kind of guy for some intense neuro-cognitive rehab stuff. I found it actually pretty entertaining and it made a big difference for me.

[@MrQuai20]

glad to see you back and mostly to see that you're ok ! I did have the same experience with some sports and I just take it easy now, just changed my approach of surf, skate, ...

[@gamingwithsai6822]

Hey Mike. Your really been a inspiring person toward me. You inspire me to be a better person. Thank you

[@Amsirahk]

Thank you for making this video to share what's going on! I'm so glad that you're okay and taking your safety more seriously. Concussions are no joke for sure, and the memory loss in particular is horrifying to me. I'm normally forgetful in my every day life (thank goodness not to such a serious extent) and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[@GaunteroDimmm]

I’ve been a fan since you figured out the dotted line trick and will continue to be a fan until the very end. I wish you and your family all the health and happiness in the world. Glad you are ok!! Stay strong Mike!!

[@LegoTardis32]

So glad to see an amazing content creator back on the platform. At the beginning of this summer, I had a pretty serious crash as well, and luckily had someone with me. I had my neck checked out for possible fractures and everything. It was truly terrifying the potential of what could have happened to me, and I'm lucky to have made it out unscathed. I totally feel the pain and need to rest, take it easy Mike!

[@brandonsargent7105]

I’m just glad you’re okay - your content never fails to make my day and inspire me :)

[@Omartab4]

Welcome back hero. Please be careful and take your time to heal. Don't exhaust yourself ❤️

[@bashirb.7233]

Thank you for sharing Mike! Hope you get much better!

[@estebananayadesign2365]

Lots of love and support! Glad you are back!

[@itzjaybruh]

I haven’t watched these videos in awhile, nice to see your still around!

[@Aiden1803]

Mike: "Finished Elden Ring twice, defeated Malenia twice" Also Mike: "I didn't do anything this summer" I'm glad you're feeling better!

[@EdgarHernandez-xj5mx]

I think he means nothing productive or important

[@alphafrog4510]

@@EdgarHernandez-xj5mx bruh it was a joke

[@Jar3d_YT]

@@EdgarHernandez-xj5mx I'd considerate it productive AND important imo

[@EdgarHernandez-xj5mx]

@@Jar3d_YT how?

[@Gio_Panda]

@@EdgarHernandez-xj5mx IT WAS ANOTHER JOKE EDGAR

[@kristin.1124]

I'm so sorry to hear that! It's good that you're Back & that you're talking about the topic! I hope you'll be better with post concussion stuff & your Back soon!

[@zzguimme]

Hey Mike! I love your work. Good to hear that you feel better. Respect for being mindful and for talking so openly about it. Refreshing - as always.

[@beanzandcheese]

Good to see your feeling better... again... I love watching your videos and cant wait to see your full return!

[@MightyAmygdala]

I've had 4 serious concussions in the span of a year and a half with the last one being the worse. First 3 were due to high school football. I wouldn't properly fill my helmet with air to make sure it was a good fit and my head would just get rattled inside of it. My last concussion was at practice, I got rattled after making a tackle and noticed that my right eye was droopy similar to bells palsy or a stroke. I was lining up in the wrong position on the defensive line, forgetting names, forgetting plays, and eventually somehow ended up at home. My mom told me that I went into a fit of rage punching walls and crying and I don't remember any of that. My 4th concussion came at a friend's house. We were playing smash bros and smoking weed. At this friend's house, he had cast iron letter decorations up on his wall that were from a frat house he was a part of. A cast iron letter "E" came down from the wall as I was bent over cleaning up something I had spilled and cracked the back of my head. That one was the worst. I couldn't hear anything besides ringing, I was immediately nauseous, I stayed in a dark room for 2 weeks and even the light from the LED on the TV would make me nauseous. But worst of all, it changed my personality. I was anxious, depressed, suicidal, and smoking weed and drinking to calm my nerves. I had an MRI done and they said I had multiple abrasions, tears, and some swelling in my brain. I still have not felt the same since then. I often wonder if I have CTE from the multiple hits I've taken. Brain injuries add up overtime and the damage is treatable, but not irreversible. Everyone, please take care of your noodle! It is some scary shit.

[@Netopeer]

It was probably the weed that changed your personality, dude weed lmao bro 420 skeet skeet

[@DedRucktheDuck]

@@Netopeer ha ha?

[@mgrowbee]

To be fair, I think most recent research has shown that most CTE is caused by repeated microtrauma to the head and not major concussion incidents.

[@0xsergy]

@@mgrowbee major concussions can stick with you for years tho

[@brandonporter2348]

I am so glad you are doing better. I love your channel and have tried to learn new things because of you. Stay safe out there!

[@aydenshonk]

My dad got a concussion when he and I were mountain biking last year and he’s 55 years old and he went through all of the things you explained. Glad you’re doing well and I love watching your videos!

[@JosephBank]

Great message, hope you find that balance between enjoying your sport and avoiding injury.

[@megatronskneecap]

Hope you're ok! Can't wait to see your next line of videos!

[@brandonlehman7440]

I've struggled with concussions in the past as well mike, i 100% understand the horrible feeling and discouragement you felt. no worries about the time you took off just glad to hear and see that you're okay now and making the changes you need

[@joeb3129]

Happy to have you back Mike. I had a massive impact while riding years ago which knocked me out for 40mins. Hospital confirmed concussion and told me not to watch TV screens for a few days then proceeded to have me wait in a waiting room with 3 TV screens in. Needless to say that it wasn’t taken seriously. I never really gave it much thought but I do now suffer from major migraines on an infrequent basis. Head injuries are no joke and definitely need to be dealt with appropriately. Thank you for raising this issue.

[@O62Skyshard]

Love the content Mike, always appreciate this sort of honesty, and this is a vital conversation to have! This will probably get lost in the echoes here, but the sounds you played during the part where you described your ears ringing, listening to that sort of audio can be incredibly painful for some people, including those with tinnitus, like myself! The sound popping up during this video caught me completely off guard. Just as a suggestion, but a warning for that sort of thing, the way you'd warn for strobe flashing, would be an incredibly helpful bit of accessibility for people like me. Much love!

[@lucaohara3660]

second this

[@Labyrythm]

Love this guy. Got inspired to do a lot of things cause of him.

[@dannhume8602]

Bro you’re a bloody legend and inspired me many times, take the time you need and hope you start to feel like yourself again! 🙏🙏

[@evanbarnes9984]

Hey man, take all the recovery time you need. I've had four concussions and am fortunate to not have too many long term repercussions, but they are intensely difficult to recover from and deal with. Glad you're doing better! Keep wearing that full face too, mine saved my head last year. I had a similar crash to what you described, except I also broke my ribs. I'm at a point where I still love riding MTB, but I'm done pushing my bounds with jumps and steep techy stuff.

[@elijahluu7605]

Hey Mike, Yes that is normal when you do cupping, (I don't really recommend it though because it doesn't really have any 'healing' properties). I would rather go and see a physio or gp and ask for some advice. Either than that, I love your videos, hope you don't crash again and stay safe. P.S Your the only reason I know how to spin a basketball on my finger 😁

[@juicyturtle5512]

Doesn’t cupping release muscle tension?

[@WlatPziupp]

@@juicyturtle5512 Like a massage? Maybe it does but that's pointless considering other ways to do this don't do all this other shit

[@andrews9707]

@@WlatPziupp yup. Like a massage

[@ftwgaming0]

@@juicyturtle5512 I think a massage would be a more worthwhile endeavour than making your whole back look like it's covered in pepperonis

[@92Pyromaniac]

As far as I know the only known benefits of cupping are that some people find it relaxing

[@amiteshdas1511]

I really appreciate the grind. Lov ethe way your loving and living your life

[@Feels_Lucky]

welcome back mike! THI are no joke, suffered one myself when I was rear ended, going down hill at around 25mph with NO helmet. Headbutted a doorframe, sliced my noggen open real good and had a fractured collar bone and 2 fractured vertebrae to boot. i was in hospital for no more than 4 hours, no xray done on abdomen so they missed the vertebrae for a few weeks, until i moaned about my sore back. certainly does get you down! recovery sucks! they told me i had ptsd as bikes were pretty scary for me for a while. had to learn again. now i have 2wheels and 1100cc under me and a few nice scars.

[@sassygames240]

glad to see more vidoes on stuff like this, i got one singular concussion and it affected me for months with symptoms i felt like my brain stopped working properly and i was just a shell of who i was. until like you said you get better and eventually recover it is a terrible thing and needs more advocating for cause people aren't cautious enough.

[@user-md9tx7er9r]

Hey mate!👆Tell Andrei jikh that you were referred by me for the right strategy on his new project to participate on it. Thank you for the comments ✍️ .

[@llamalemone4398]

It's always nice hearing stories like yours. Although it wasn't major, I got a concussion about a year ago, and still haven't beaten the brain fog and some memory issues. I'm only 19 so fortunately I have no doubt it will eventually heal as I age, but it's scary nonetheless. Good luck to you and everyone who suffers from TBIs and PCS. I'm hopeful that, as it did for me, the experience will help to kick a lot of bad habits and start living a more healthy and safe lifestyle (diet, exercise, mindfulness, etc). My quality of life has increased dramatically since my accident, despite the recurring issues. Keep it up, man!!!!

[@BirdKeeperToby]

Please look after yourself mate

[@penelope_skye]

I'm glad you're back!! I had a really bad concussion last year when I got hit in the head with a lacrosse ball, it sucked, like really really sucked but I'm ok now and I'm glad you are too!!!

[@tehking23]

Good to have you back man! I first discovered your videos earlier this year when I was doing a 5 day quarantine in a hotel. Love your stuff!

[@SuperTommox]

As a fighting sport fan, i know how scary brain injuries are. NEVER take them lightly. Protect your head at all time.

[@themilkemissary7898]

Hehe, never take them LIGHTLY... lightly, get it! Ok I'll stop

[@mileschalker2226]

As someone with a history of concussions (one relatively severe one), I completely understand, better to be safe than sorry with any form of head injury.

[@joe.142]

so glad to hear your back and that you're ok

[@Patrick_Spillane_]

This is such an important video as people don't take head injuries seriously enough. I've been concussed three times as well and im only 18. all three times i continued with what i was doing and only realised a short while later i was concussed as the people around me didn't realise the severity of what happend. I think these videos and more education is so vital.

[@stevenbridges]

Glad you’re feeling much better! Also, as a lot of people have already mentioned, I imagine this video will genuinely make a big impact. Loads of people can’t be arsed with helmets, and many will start wearing them after this vid

[@Rich.Staples]

what does "can't be arsed" mean?

[@sol_in.victus]

@@Rich.Staples cant be assed, cant be bothered, the effort/hassle is not worth the trouble.

[@larf1247]

About a year ago, I got into a sever car accident and had a concussion that lasted about 4 months. I know it can be hard and traumatic, so just remember there are people who have been through similar things that can support you. Good luck through your ongoing recovery 🙏🙏

[@twinvader_]

I was literally just thinking to myself the other day, “where is that amazing KZbin guy?!” So pleased you’re taking care of yourself and welcome back!! That T-800 Rubix pixel-portrait is incredible!

[@nemojimeister8769]

Glad ur well mike and big up the artist too !

[@dawidsiek1015]

Nearly half a year ago I hit my head, while swimming, against the pool wall. It hurt bad... real bad... but eventually "healed". Watching this video, I am hearing a lot of similarities between your accident and my own, and I think I'm going to talk to my doctor about it now. I didn't lose my memory, but I do have occasional lapses in memory, and have a loud episodic ringing in my ears. Little did I know these are symptoms of a concussion

[@LilyRosenblum]

Thank you for sharing your story. Yes. Your back should look like that after cupping. Get better soon.

[@Enn-]

After a few months I was worried. So glad you're back and recovering. Stay amazing!

[@midorinchan]

Started watching your channel like 2 days ago, but I did think it strange how infrequent recent uploads were. Thanks for sharing these stories, I had a friend who fell off a couch a few months ago and hit his head so hard that he lost his memory for the rest of the day... Didn't think that could happen IRL, it's scary stuff!

[@arturojourney]

Take Your Time You Have Been A Inspiration To So Many People Already

[@Kopite96]

Mike you need to be careful man, otherwise you'll end up with CTE. It's good to have you back and glad you're doing well. Looking forward to the videos in the future. 👍🏻👊🏻

[@fredd3.14]

a few (in the context of contact sports) concussions is not how you get CTE, not to downplay the seriousness of a concussion. research shows repeated small concussions actually being the worst for you CTE wise, e.g training / sparring and taking "small" head bops over a long time is actually worse than getting knocked out once or twice for example.

[@katydid5088]

@@JS-oh2dp Not so much anymore. Most high schools are equipped with althetic trainers these days who do mandatory assessments for the all athletes. Secondly the Lystead Law, made after a high school American footballer suffered severe injuries from multiple concussions which led to his death(it started as concussions and progressed to worse injuries as he took more hits throughout his extremely short career). It puts a cap on kids playing after 3 concussions permanently after the cases are reported and the day of the game most trainers bench players if they have any suspicions of a concussion injury, not just for the assessment but through the whole game minimum. Of course players can lie, but overall the second a paramedic or trainer suspects a concussion their ass is on the line if they make an assessment and the player goes back. Aside from the obvious fees ect most people are so aware of the as ct that among High Schoolers it's rare to have anyone playing through an injury concussion or otherwise. I know it's still a problem for pre-professionals in College/ Uni but the full pro leagues still treat their athletes like dirt. Just because they're getting paid huge amounts of money they keep them monitored but playing even if they would rather step off for the rest of the game. For the exchange, money isn't worth it when you don't have the faculties to enjoy ANYTHING anymore. Then you're doubly screwed because you're choice of careers afterwards is severely limited.

[@ColinGLogan]

To add to Fred P's comment, he's totally right that CTE is caused by repeated impacts, but there are other conditions caused by concussions which you can get from infrequent severe concussions and even infrequent mild concussions. Mike is likely not at risk for CTE, but he is potentially at risk for other conditions which can cause permanent brain damage

[@philkieran7521]

Welcome back Mike and thanks for bringing more awareness to concussion. I work as a gp and still seeing a lot of people not take it seriously

[@GuiltyMalice]

Yea that cupping stuff looks painful and not normal. I’m glad you’re back Mike. You are an inspiration for me and so many others to get out there and try something new and learn something. I recently bought a Rubik’s cube and plan to learn to solve it. I’ve always wanted to be able to solve one and once I do I’m going to teach my son to solve it.

[@connorcunningham2647]

I’m still recovering from a major concussion I had about a week ago and this video helped me feel a bit better knowing that I’m not the only one that felt like this (side note: I also concussed myself while mountain biking at kinnoull hill and somehow I woke up in ninewells)

[@Tomas-ml9nv]

if you are watching youtube videos a week after its definetely on the light end

[@connorcunningham2647]

@@Tomas-ml9nv I still don’t remember anything from that day and the doctor said it was pretty bad so I dunno how bad it actually was

[@connorcunningham2647]

@@Tomas-ml9nv I still don’t remember anything from that day and the doctor said it was pretty bad so I dunno how bad it actually was

[@EliotChildress]

Please take care of yourselves. When I was little my doctor told me after a crash that he knew my helmet saved my life because his friend died in the exact same kind of accident when he was little. Helmets are hyper important. I’m glad you’re ok Mike! Take all the recovery time you need. We can wait.

[@cskhard]

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing and happy that you're back!

[@NateDizz09]

You got this bro. I went thru a similar series of head injuries. Self talk thru the anxiety & time healed my mental game. Thanks for sharing & bringing more awareness 🍻

[@amrezzat7406]

I think i've fallen on my head more times than i can remember

[@Joseph-mv3rz]

I can really relate to this because 9 months ago I got a serious concussion with similar symptoms and I only really remember it being the scariest moments of my life because my memory was essentially resetting every 30 seconds for about 1.5 days. I got told that I passed all the concussion tests and said I felt fine but then I kept on asking where I was every 30 seconds.

[@jordanlarson6488]

Thank you for this message. Head injuries are so so dangerious

[@thatshowirollgoodman7647]

I’m so glad you’re OK, I love your videos💚

[@ShutInCuber]

"I beat Malenia twice" Ok, that's a really good sign that something was going on... All jokes aside, I really hope that you stay healthy now that you've returned and hopefully you can continue making awesome content!

[@eyeballpaul700]

I've been fighting K1 since 2017 and head injuries are absolutely no joke, it's a scary thought that too many concussions mean CTE

[@miles2419]

Really interesting video!! I'm glad you're ok! I'm also glad I clicked-videos titled "where I've been" I almost always ignore, but the actual title about concussions got me interested immediately. Good call!

[@0aviator022]

Good to hear you're getting lots better man. I recently had a bad hit to the head as well. Was cutting timber and a branch fell and hit my left temple causing me to slide down the tree to the ground, I wasn't knocked out but I was totally out of it and had some of, if not the same symptoms you've been experiencing. Paranoia and anxiety were the worst but after I recieved an MRI all the worries went away as everything was clear. Luckily I didn't have anything severe but I was diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome which just means the symptoms last longer then most but will go away after time and plenty rest. It just really makes me happy to know I've got a fellow lad out there who experienced this sort of stuff as well and really helps me feel less isolated with it. Best of luck Mike and hope you get plenty good bed rest you deserve. :D

[@bigbalticbox]

My parents do a lot of cupping when we get bronchitis or chest infections or coughs that derive from irritated lungs for whatever reason, and I can assure you, I have never in my life witnessed bruising that severe before. Whether it's normal I have no idea, but it definitely isn't for me and my family. Maybe our cups don't create that much suction because they're almost the size of a ceiling light bulb, but I'm not sure. Can't imagine it being a health risk if you cup once a week or every other week.

[@2damntall294]

Glad to see you back! That bruising is normal after cupping. It'll go away in a few days :)

[@DAZRmusic]

your* back

[@tomrooke3778]

@@tynj4173 that joke really went right over you head didn't it

[@ITzKiaeneto]

@@tynj4173 cringe

[@DAZRmusic]

@@tynj4173 did you even watch till the moment he showed his back

[@Happy_Shopper]

You're right Mike! It's really good to see concussions being taken more seriously in mountain biking. Certainly there's a lot more awareness of it this season with so many riders taking the time they need to recover

[@user-md9tx7er9r]

Hey mate!👆Tell Andrei jikh that you were referred by me for the right strategy on his new project to participate on it. Thank you for the comments ✍️.

[@gorerath]

Stay safe and thank you for sharing. Love your content man and appreciate your dedication to setting a goal and finishing it. Best of luck for your health

[@user-md9tx7er9r]

Hey mate!👆Tell Andrei jikh that you were referred by me for the right strategy on his new project to participate on it . Thank you for the comments✍️ .

[@ninjasheeps3690]

Ive had 4 concussions in 3 years and they really are horrible. The worst of the permanent damage that ive gotten from them are a full change in personality and losing a big part of my memory. I still remember everyone ive known but i don't remember doing anything with them

[@Sleepless_Chaos]

Medical student here: How do you feel about thinking of the hiatus not as your "summer being ruined" but as a necessary break? Story time: I had to take a break from school last year and flat out thought I was going crazy because I couldn't remember things, my speech patterns had changed, I couldn't see right, and I had the worst headaches of my life every day. I fell into a deep depression because I felt like my life was ruined and that I was doing something wrong. Turns out I had developed a very dangerous condition called Intercranial Hypertension (high blood pressure, and therefore fluid pressure, in the skull) and it was putting pressure on my brain. I'm being treated for it now. I did NOTHING for 5 months, and it was the best thing for my body. Maybe reframing the idea of your summer being a rest and reset instead of a disaster is worth thinking about. Either way, I'm glad you're back, and, generally speaking, okay. Sending you hugs and fist-bumps through the screen.

[@StellarJAGuar]

How did you go about finding a doctor to treat it?

[@Sleepless_Chaos]

@@StellarJAGuar I saw an ophthalmologist in a different city. I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA and am going to school near the Cleveland, Ohio, USA area. I found a somewhat good day and drive 4 hours back home to see a doctor at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. When he looked at my retinas, he noted that I had edema (swelling) in them, which is indicative of high pressure in the brain that is pushing on the optic nerves. It took me several weeks to find a neurologist in the Akron area after because the healthcare system is so overloaded, but when I did, he sent an order for a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) so I could get the excess fluid in my cerebrospinal space drained. The lumbar puncture itself was okay, but then I developed a CSF leak because the little needle hole used to remove the fluid didn't close up immediately, and that led to a week of the worst pain in my life (and I've given birth to a child). I was given acetazolamide to take daily to hopefully keep the fluid from accumulating again. Now I'm 3 weeks out from the LP, and I feel so much better. Headaches are minimal, confusion is minimal, fogginess is moderate but not daily, and I can comprehend written language again. Memory is improving slowly, vision is almost back to normal. It's slow progress, but progress nonetheless.

[@StellarJAGuar]

@@Sleepless_Chaos incredible, thanks for telling your story. That’s awesome that you say there’s progress because about 5 years ago doctors found a 2cm wide cyst in my brain that they thought was putting pressure on it and causing me to have problems with attention. I flew to Cornell medical center to get it checked out but the specialist said surgery didn’t seem necessary or worth the risk. A couple years later I started to talk to a psychiatrist due to problems in school and when I mentioned this cyst to him he became fascinated and recommended I go through with the surgery to get the fluid out. I was skeptical to get it because I feel iffy about brain surgery and it sounds like there could be some potential side effects, but maybe there’s something to it and it’s worth checking out further

[@TheGeoffable]

Thanks Mike - for the update, but more importantly for making me reconsider a few things. My knees aren't doing so well now I'm in my 40s, wear and tear from a lot of mountain biking, rugby and mountaineering/climbing....but I'd never thought of concussions in the same way, and I've had *plenty* over the years. 2 destroyed helmets as a teenager, several (5? 10? can't remember!) head blows that left me feeling woozy and, as you say, "disassociated" while playing rugby...and were passed off as "you didn't lose consciousness, it's fine", even when I couldn't remember the details around the incident. Food for thought, especially the long-term cumulative effects. Thank you.

[@davidglenn1]

I’m glad you shared your story. My 2 sons have each had some serious concussions that affected them in major ways for months. My son that was about 16 at the time had one from soccer that changed his personality for about 6 months.

[@Boatti_]

The 10£ helmet might be intact because it is cheap. More expensive helmets might be more able to absorb the impact into the material and therefore crack more. Expensive helmets are better because the "break" easier.

[@nicjansen230]

As a sailor, I can tell you that it's common to get hit in the head by the boom, so some people are starting to wear helmets. I'm not convinced it's worth it when sailing (especially a sailboat that doesn't foil), though I've recently seen someone wear a hard plastic cap, which doesn't stick out as much and at least protects a little... gotta get me one of those Pros of wearing a helmet when sailing - less severe injuries when you get hit by the boom Cons of wearing a helmet when sailing - more frequent hits in the head due to even less space to duck under the boom - helmets can get hot, which increases the risk of heat stroke and dehydration - a false sense of security (for some) ...so I'm not concerned as much about heat and such, but it contributes to sailors preferring not to wear a helmet. I see the same trend in life jackets, but I'm happy to wear one after hearing certain stories. There are only few stories of getting hitting the head hard, but a lot of how a life jacket comes in handy My trainer for example was sailing once got thrown overboard by the boom and snagged a line, so was dragged by his ankle and blacked out due water pressure on his skull via the nose. Luckily the boat capsized and came to a stop, so he floated to the surface due to his life jacket and they all went home safely after getting the boat upright (which wasn't a big deal on that class of sailboat)

[@J.C...]

You could try one of those protective baseball field caps that a couple of guys wear out in the field. It's just like a regular baseball cap, onky it has an insert inside to protect your head against impacts.

[@Chogie14]

Mike, By no means my favourite vid but possibly your most important. Well done 👍🏼

[@Kaanin]

We love you Mark, glad to see you back!