can you get a concussion from shaking your head? - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

seanghatch · 12-19-2006, 04:06 PM

The other day, I was taking a shower and I got some water in my ear. So all day long I was sort of whipping my head around trying to debunk the offending water. I did this most of the day, and late in the evening I started to develop a headache. Not a horrible one but a headache nonetheless. I also got sort of dizzy. At night I woke up in the middle of the night and my ears were ringing kind of funny like. The last reason there is the one that worried me the most.

So where do you draw the line with concussions? I mean, I've had them before and doctors ask questions like are you dizzy? Well yes, But I also get dizzy from going on a marry-go-round; is that a concussion, too? Are you concentrating well? I can never really answer that one because there is no real measuring stick on such things.

I don't have any of the dead giveaway symptoms like vomitting, loss of speech, intense confusion, memory loss; I'm good in all of those departments.

Do you get better from these types of things?

believeinme · 12-19-2006, 04:24 PM

con·cus·sion /kənˈkʌʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhn-kuhsh-uhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. Pathology. injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like.
2. shock caused by the impact of a collision, blow, etc.
3. the act of violently shaking or jarring.

so i guess if you are VIOLENTLY shaking your head, it could be a concussion

seanghatch · 12-19-2006, 05:07 PM

yes i guess it was pretty violent, i mean, as violent as it could be given that I was using only my own neck muscles. What does anyone think? I just hope I get better. Do you usually recover from such things?

singer1 · 12-20-2006, 12:04 PM

It could be an inner-ear thing messing with your equalibrium. I would see an ears, nose and throat doctor and address your question there too. Hope you feel better soon!

dustoffkid · 12-21-2006, 05:57 AM

I'd suspect it more likely to be a combo of tension headache from traumatizing your neck muscles (from all the whipping your head about) and possible an inner ear thing, as mentioned above.

BTW, the best way to get water out of the ear (from swimming or showering, whatever) is to simply tilt the head in that direction and let it come out.

If you go to the doctor, they will likely be able to help you.