The Invisible Injury: Up To HALF of All Athletes Go Undiagnosed | Rebecca Rusch X Rich Roll Podcast

[@richroll]

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[@shartmann2008]

Rebecca is one of my favorite athletes and persons to follow. She's amazing. I have had a friend for 20 years who had a severe head injury. It's complex and scary. Thanks for having her on.

[@annusher2750]

Rebecca I cannot believe you were treated the way you were. I did not have a TBI but suffered a non malignant brain tumor the size of a golf ball right where your injury was. I was forced into going to the ER through an intervention with friends who were in the medical field. I thought I had no symptoms . I have horses. I was riding, walked my dogs, used my tractor , I drove. I was physically fit, but i was having " silent seizures."The ER I went to did a CT scan then an MRI with contrast. I went to hospital on a Thursday . Had surgery on Monday, went home on Wednesday. I couldn't drive for 3 months. My daughter had to help me for a month. I couldn't lift anything.My daughter asked the surgeon what i could do. He said "walk". After 3 months I thought I was fine. Nope. It takes a long time for the brain to heal. I thought I could go do a big Endurance ride in ID 6 months post incident. Through that ride I found I had vestibular issues. When I got home I went to a vestibular PT. My left eye was out of whack. It didn't track with my right eye. So now i have a prism in my left lens. I won't continue other than it takes forever to heal from a TBI or brain surgery. Sometimes we have to patient for a long time. It's hard effort. Good effort.

[@Tarawater18]

Nine years ago,I was in a head on collision in a car that changed me forever. Headaches for 3 years. Back and neck will never be the same. And my brain……memory loss, balance still off, sleep was horrific, seeing double, sensitive to light and sound. Felt very isolated in my own brain, because like you, I looked fine. People think you are crazy. I’ve had all these same symptoms. I’ve adapted, but it never goes away. So many times I think I’m making to big a deal about this and hanging on to a bad memory. It’s only real to me. Thank you for sharing your story. Makes me feel validated.

[@IRS320]

Have you tried EMDR therapy? It was a gamechanger in terms of the "bad memories" thing for me. Also visiting a neuroendocrinologist and getting my hormones fixed is what really turned things around for me

[@Tarawater18]

⁠@@IRS320haven’t tried any therapy. Nothing was recommended to me. I was also going through menopause at the same time. So doctors and lawyers (in the insurance settlement) were trying to lay that at my feet. It was a terrible time in my life. Felt very isolated alone and unsupported. I also did some very reckless things like, buy a car a couple days after the accident, losing jobs, racking up credit card debt. Having always been the strong one, there was no one to question decisions or care for me. Everyone thought I was fine. My brain was far from fine. That was 9 years ago. Until I heard this podcast, I had no idea that these were all symptoms of brain injury. I feel vindicated.

[@Tarawater18]

@@IRS320no. I didn’t even know I still had symptoms until listening to this podcast. This has been a game changer. I’ve felt very alone and isolation for a decade.

[@RebeccaRusch]

Yes, brain injury is so isolating. I'm sorry to hear about your tough journey but keep looking for therapies like EMDR, psychedelic assisted therapy and other interventions that have a proven track record with your types of symptoms. Be Good.

[@dawnhughes9942]

I was an industrial athlete, an arborist. I suffered a TBI and broken vertebrae when I fell from a tree over 15 years ago. I received no help back then. Zero head injury awareness. Zero therapy or medical care. Zero disability compensation. 100% alone. It's a miracle I didn't end up homeless. To this day I cannot work or get approved for disability benefits. But I am finally getting better medical care thanks to a head injury physiologist at UofM. They uncovered vestibular, vision and hearing issues. When the insurance company denied benefits and told me it was all in my head, it is all in my head! Why does this mean I cant get the benefits I earned and desperately need! Thanks for continuing to raise awareness, especially that this impacts women as well as men athletes and trades people.

[@RebeccaRusch]

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. What a tough road, but I'm so glad you're finally getting concussion-specific care. The medical system just isn't serving people well with this invisible injury. But that is changing with more conversation, more awareness and better care. hang in there and keep going.

[@carolgerber6375]

Thank you for this!! Love it when people are real and vulnerable. Much ❤❤❤❤ to you Rebecca.

[@RebeccaRusch]

Thanks for listening. Rich provided such a safe place for me to be comfortable talking about this tough journey openly. I sincerely hope it helps more people recover more quickly than I did.

[@IRS320]

I suffered with post concussion syndrome for almost 3 years! It's one of the most isolating things to do go through because it truly is an invisible injury, and the average post-concussion patient sees 10+ doctors before finding the help they need. Many simple things like going out to eat at a noisy restaurant, watching tv, driving, etc, things I took for granted, were impossible for me to do. Love that she's spreading awareness on this!

[@RebeccaRusch]

I'm right there with you. Three years and counting for my ongoing recovery as well. I had no awareness about brain injury until I sustained one. I've learned so much about the brain and nervous system and hope to share with others to help them. Thanks for being part of the conversation.

[@TEPO--]

Mee too over three years, extreme challenges, being unheard, disbelieved by numerous physicians, misdiagnoses, not to mention family and friends also confused and put off. I've had incredibly wonderful improvements and aspects of healing over the past eight months and I'm so very grateful. With tremendous patience healing most certainly can occur and when it does the optimism becomes fuel....

[@christinetillman9273]

Thank you for sharing so much of yourself Rebecca!

[@fuzzybug29]

So well timed. Thank you. I’m one year past a stroke and I’m having to learn to live in a different me. Brain injury is an invisible injury and that is one of the hardest things at this point. I’m lucky, I’m able to walk and talk and lots of things, but there are a lot of deficits that aren’t obvious to others but very obvious to me. I appreciate this conversation!

[@RebeccaRusch]

I completely understand...I've recovered some, but not fully, so it's helping me to talk about it and also hear stories from others. Yes, grateful for what we do have, but there's always room to keep strengthening and recovering. Stay with it.

[@모덕훈]

Rebecca. I have the same issues. I had a really bad tbi about a year ago. Its been a really bad year for me. I lost everything. Where did you get the best treatment? What should I do? Who is the best doctor you found? What clinic did u go to? And what types of treatments should i go for? Can we start a movement for this? We really need to show the world about TBI survivors. I’m going through hell rn.

[@gregperron9744]

3.5 years in and still recovering from a Grade 2 Diffuse Axonal traumatic brain injury suffered while training for an Ironman. My neurologist describes my recovery as miraculous, but I’ll never be 100% again and that becomes frustrating sometimes. Thanks for sharing Rebecca,best wishes for continued recovery. I rode your RPI event as my first event back after getting back on the bike post injury.

[@RebeccaRusch]

Hey this is GREAT news that RPI was your first event back and that you've had such a miraculous recovery. This shows the amazing resilience of the brain and it's ability to heal if supported in the right way. Hope to see you on the trails.

[@markcorkum8341]

Thx for opening up and sharing for others.

[@ellenpayne5582]

I had a severe concussion 8 years ago and have grappled with everything she brings up. The one treatment that was the biggest help was working with a chiropractor who does Atlas Orthogonal procedure to improve the flow in and out of cerebral fluid. This procedure has nothing to do with manual manipulation of the neck. Instead it is a gentle nudging to realign the neck so that the cerebral fluid does not pool in the brain. The great quarterback Jim McMahon also has done this treatment. It was nothing short of miraculous. Most chiropractors are not trained to do this procedure, which requires additional training and equipment. I see Dr. Scott Bender in Stamford, CT.

[@Mamatried74]

Thanks for sharing. Several sports tbis and rare brain disorder. Wild that the first response is antidepressants. Been in deep recovery for 5 years. My doctor is chief of neurology and he prescribed cymbalta and I almost lost my life. Yoga and meditation is what works for me and yes I am dizzy all the time.

[@RebeccaRusch]

Thank you for sharing.. Yes prescriptions might be the right angle for some, but not as a first line of defense. There are so many other interventions like sleep, nutrition, yoga, meditation, somatic therapy, talk therapy, breathing, exercise, vestibular therapy etc that can really help and are prescribed specifically for individual symptoms. There's no one approach for everyone and all approaches should be multi-faceted. Keep going with the yoga and meditation. For me I've learned what triggers headaches and have made adaptations to minimize them. Be Good.

[@shelleydiamond6468]

Serving others, being protective of the vulnerable, being in the outdoors with a healthy body. Take it from a 72 year old. That is brain health & joy

[@RebeccaRusch]

10000% this is a beautiful recipe for mental and physical health and happiness!

[@qkristinesmith3928]

Brain Injury or not, I believe the work you're doing is viable and necessary for all humans, a great podcast for anyone wanting or willing to do the deep work, thank you!

[@whyte2068]

Short summary Renowned ultraendurance athlete Rebecca Rusch faces the challenge of recovering from a traumatic brain injury, embarking on a transformative journey that highlights the need for better brain injury treatment and offers hope for others. Bullet points - Rebecca Rusch, known as the "Queen of Pain," suffered a traumatic brain injury in a biking accident on Veterans Day 2021, a date linked to her late father's memory. - Initially unaware of her injury's seriousness, she faced a lack of understanding and appropriate medical care, highlighting a global issue with untreated brain injuries. - Her healing journey included diverse treatments like hyperbaric therapy, vision correction, and psychedelic-assisted therapies, which helped her confront personal traumas. - Psychedelics like MDMA and psilocybin allowed Rebecca to process her father's death and redefine her identity beyond athletic achievements. - Integrative self-care practices such as meditation, journaling, and art played a vital role in her journey towards self-acceptance. - Rebecca's story calls for improved awareness and treatment of brain injuries, offering guidance and hope to others with similar experiences. - Through advocacy work, including her podcast "Brainstorm," she promotes a holistic approach to brain health, aiming for systemic change and enhanced support. "A Journey of Healing: Rebecca Rusch's Path Beyond Ultraendurance" Long Summary Renowned for an impressive career in ultraendurance sports, where she earned the nickname "Queen of Pain" by breaking records in some of the world's toughest competitions, Rebecca Rusch found herself facing a challenge unlike any athletic endeavor. After a biking accident in 2021 resulted in a traumatic brain injury on Veterans Day-a date symbolically linked to her late father-she embarked on a profound journey of recovery and self-discovery. The coordinates of the accident, marked on her helmet, served as a poignant reminder of her connection to her father, who died in the Vietnam War when she was just three. Initially, she dismissed the symptoms of her injury, unaware of the complexities involved in treating invisible wounds like a brain injury. Despite seeking medical advice, she encountered a systemic lack of awareness and suitable treatment protocols, leaving her feeling misunderstood and isolated. Her personal experience spotlighted a broader issue: the significant number of brain injuries that remain untreated or are mismanaged, impacting many individuals globally. In her quest for healing, Rebecca explored various treatments, including hyperbaric therapy, vision correction, and mental health therapy. A significant breakthrough came through psychedelic-assisted therapies with substances like MDMA and psilocybin, which enabled her to confront and process deep-rooted traumas, particularly those surrounding her father's death. These sessions allowed her to break down emotional defenses, come to terms with her past, and redefine her identity beyond her athletic successes. Her recovery also involved adopting alternative self-care practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, journaling, and art, which helped nurture parts of herself that had been neglected. These practices, combined with therapy, facilitated a journey toward self-acceptance and the realization that her value extends far beyond her achievements in sports. Rebecca's story transcends personal transformation, serving as a powerful call to action for better understanding and treatment of brain injuries. By sharing her journey, she seeks to offer guidance to others facing similar obstacles, underscoring that healing is attainable and can lead to a more fulfilled and complete sense of self. Through her ongoing advocacy work, including her podcast "Brainstorm," she champions a holistic approach to brain health and recovery, hoping to inspire systemic change and greater support for those in need. Summary generated using MegaSummary.com

[@Harisankar4444-x3r]

Thanks man

[@anthony9600]

Rebecca is in an interesting Documentary called Blood Road, RedBull TV. It follows her finding her dad’s plane crash site in Vietnam.

[@RebeccaRusch]

Thank you for sharing Blood Road...yes that film and ride was the beginning of my relationship with my father and a wonderful exploration into history, conflict and healing. I founded the Be Good Foundation after that trip to help people connect and heal by bike.

[@anthony9600]

@ All good mate

[@PeterSmith-w7h]

Rich Roll needs to be knighted!

[@RebeccaRusch]

I agree. Rich is a spectacular human and the world is a better place because of him.

[@houriasari6091]

Mush love to you madame ❤️ ❤❤❤ If I can do more than one 👍 to the video I will absolutely do it 💯 ❤

[@Whats_fun09]

❤❤❤❤

[@Thomas.Hacker]

Try testing the earth frequencies of the universe and our mother earth. Get yourself some good speakers with a sufficient frequency response and play this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z33PXo1shNOhe7Msi=w-iFX_iavXg9BbgM -Position the speakers not too far behind your head when you are lying down. -To do this, lie flat on your back with your arms to the left and right, ideally pointing in the right direction. Sleeping position according to hemisphere, you can google this... (The head and neck should only be slightly relieved and bent on a flat and not too large or thick pillow...) -Press play. -Try to keep this position as a priority and do not turn onto one side or curl into the fetal position, this hinders the healing process.

[@RebeccaRusch]

Thank you for sharing this. 100% these types of audio frequencies are really impactful. I've been using sound therapy and find it really helpful.

[@tylerharris5494]

DROP THE DAVID ROCHE EPISODE, EVEN AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE HELD IT LONG ENOUGH TO THE POINT WHERE ITS NOT EVEN RELEVANT ANY MORE

[@gabrielc8400]

36

[@alexbrown1170]

Her words and story need more amplification than Rich’s constant need to complete he thoughts. Maybe it’s all his other ‘servants’ and his own narrow ski tracks… Good luck to her. To Rich- go take a hit of good shrooms and a sabitical. I’m moving on to another source. Had enough of your boring interruptions and flaccid meanderings. 😢

[@jjcabello1]

Describing “hard charging” as “masculine” and “artistic” as “feminine???” EW!!!!!!!!!

[@emmadedic4483]

😮nsane. In our country so much taxpayers money are spent on operations and recovery of sport injuries - people who are Extreme and adventure seeking.

[@RebeccaRusch]

For what it's worth, not a cent of my expensive health insurance covered my concussion recovery care. I had to pay 100% out of pocket for all of my therapies. The only thing that my insurance would have paid for is pharmaceutical interventions.

[@jennyhadfield]

Ridiculous comment. What about how much we pay for inactivity and obesity. Trolling.

[@jennyhadfield]

@@RebeccaRusch❤ thank you for sharing your journey. Raced a few Eco's with you (well much further back) so much respect. Wishing you continued healing and wellness.

[@RebeccaRusch]

@@jennyhadfield hello fellow Eco adventure racing friend! Keep charging!

[@nilbogllort]

Just checking in again after 8 years. How is your Trump-Derangement-Syndrome doing? It's a tough lesson to learn that nobody cares what you think about politics. Stick to fruit and jogging.