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Preview: A Blow To The Brain

October 8, 2009 12:32 PM

Neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee explains the impact repeated concussions can have on your brain. Bob Simon reports on new research, this Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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by georgevisger October 11, 2009 10:48 PM EDT
I speak from experience regarding head injuries from football. I began playing at age 11 for the West Stockton Bear Cubs Pee Wee Pop Warner team in Stockton, CA, in 1970 and was hospitalized with my first major concussion at age 13 while playing for the West Stockton Bears Pop Warner team, when I knocked myself unconscious in a tackling drill in 1972.

I went on to play for Stagg High (20-1-1) my 2 yrs on the varsity (several more concussions), attended University of Colorado on a football scholarship from 76 - 79 (played in the 77 Orange Bowl vs Ohio St), where I majored in Biology and was a 3 year starter at Defensive Tackle (numerous concussions). I was drafted by the NY Jets in the 6th round in 1980, and ended up with the SF 49ers in 80 & 81 (concussion the first play vs Dallas in 1980), where I developed hydrocephalus during the 81 Super Bowl season and under went emergency brain surgery (they inserted a VP shunt to permanently drain spinal fluid from my brain to my abdomen).

My shunt failed in May of 82 (4 months after we won our first Super Bowl), and I had brain surgery #2 and #3 one day apart. I was given last rites, and subsequently forced to sue the 49ers for Workers Comp, which I finally settled in 1986. I have now had a total of 9 brain surgeries to date, several grand mal seizures, and have been on anti seizure meds for years. Despite all this, I returned to school to complete my biology degree in 1986, and completed it in 1990 after brain surgery # 7. The NFL continues to deny me any benefits, and I still fight the 49ers Workers Comp carrier, The Travelers, tooth and nail for anything related to me trying to take care of myself. I just spent 2 1/2 months battling The Travelers for approval to send me to a 2 day evaluation at Dr Amens clinic in New Port Beach (after being refered there by my primary care physician), at a mind boggling cost of $3,700 (I have requested what they have spent on my 9 brain surgeries, 3 knee operations, several trips to the hospital having grand mal seizures, numerous neurological exams, CAT scans, MRIs, anti seizure meds etc over the last 28 yrs and still have not received my records).

I would love to be able to discuss this further.

George Visger
SF 49 ers 80 & 81
Survivor of 9 VP Shunt brain surgeries to date
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by markarnoldmdihs October 11, 2009 8:53 PM EDT
I am pleased that you provided an awareness of the risks of head related injuries in sports, but found it to be somewhat anti-football in terms of the perspective. Here you leave people with the feeling that football should be something to avoid and follow up such a story by glorifying people that dive off cliffs to act like birds.

How many kids end up with serious brain injuries from riding bikes each year, from climbing trees, from skateboarding ... Should we put them all in the plastic bubble.

* A great law put in place in Washington that requires someone with a head injury to receive clearance from a medical professional before returning to play, but isn't that common sense in the case of any injury. No law will protect student-athletes from neglectful thinking on the part of the coach that is already suppose to be enriching their lives.
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by Peggiedoodle October 11, 2009 8:31 PM EDT
In tonight's segment - A Blow to the Brain - you mentioned Plan 88 that the NFL Retired Players Association initiated over 2 years ago. It was a complete Godsend to our family. Although my father's brain injury ended his career in 1947 - the NFL-RPA took over his residential and medical needs in 2007 until his death last year. Our family would have been financially incapacitated without their help, as he was diagnosed with Alzheimers and needed special care. I was amazed that only about 100 people are on this plan! I imagine the numbers that need this kind of help are much greater. Thank you for your report.
Sincerely,
Margaret A. Price
Daughter of former Detroit Lion/Miami Seahawk player - Charles W. "Cotton" Price
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by susiemw October 11, 2009 8:31 PM EDT
The apo lipoprotein E4 gene predisposes a person to have brain damage when injured and predisposes people to Alzheimers. If someone has this gene and has an injury there is a 10x greater risk of brain damage then in someone who doesn't have the gene. It would be interesting to have the athletes discussed in the story tested for this gene.

And as suggested by psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen, perhaps children who desire to play contact sports should be tested first to see how risky contact sports could be for them.

Susan
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by dehemann October 11, 2009 8:24 PM EDT
My son plays high school football and suffered his first concussion just this past Monday. The story was correct in saying concussions are dismissed. We are lucky, he was not allowed to go back in the game. We saw a concussion specialist and he is recuperating now. Scary for a few days. Does anyone know if one helmet is better than another? Any studies on helmet types?
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by cmcshan October 11, 2009 8:21 PM EDT
Check out story of Leflore High School football player in Mobile, AL that is critically ill in the hospital from a hit on the field this past week.
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