post concussion syndrome and exercise

Hello my 11 year old son suffered a gr.2 concussion during a hockey game.  He had a MRI which showed the brain was fine but after 3 months he still hasn't gone one day without getting a headache.  He is itching to run around and play.  Can he run, jump, ride a bike even if he is still getting headaches or should he do no physical activity even after 3 months?  We're trying physio. now to see of it helps.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If the headaches are persisting, I suggest you get your son re-evaluated by a neurologist. At times a subdural hematoma develops slowly and may be missed on the first MRI. Also concussion can cause persisting headaches and should be allowed to slowly subside before active sports are considered.
Injury to neck, to jaw bone, and even eyes should be considered. Get his eye sight also checked. May be the headaches are because he needs spectacles.
-Take care!

[fil53]

Thank you.  We are currently working with a physiotherapist to work on the neck muscles and have made an appointment with the optometrist.  The dr. won't book a second MRI because he said since the original one was done two months after the concussion it is fine.  Thanks again for your response.

[erniej]

I went right back to strenuous body building the day after I was diagnosed with a mild concussion. I started feeling more sick as the week went on. Then I had a Cat Scan and was diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome. Could starting weight training so soon made matters worse? No one told me to go home home and rest.

[SamPCS]

My situation was some what similar.  I didn't do exercise but went on to go to work and all.  After 1 month my condition got extremely worse and still suffering for 2 years with PCS.  No specialists even mentioned about rest.  

Strenuous body building sure would have made things worse.  When it comes to Head Injury medicine is still in dark ages even though lot of progress made in the past few decades.  

[fil53]

Yes, I agree.  We were told so little.  While he didn't start exercising right away we let him watch T.V and play video games.  We later found out that he was supposed to rest his brain from ALL activity....both physical and cognitive.  We hope that after four months there is light at the end of the tunnel...we've decided to let him return to normal activity (but no contact sports) because depression is worse than the headaches.

[erniej]

Did you rest his brain from ALL activity for four months?