After prompting from Nancy, I went down to ski-patrol yesterday to see what they advised.

Their nurse (who appeared to be in charge) was extremely good and knowledgeable. A very practical woman. Her advice is this:

The way concussion is handled has changed a lot over the last few years. In the past, people were categorised according to what happened during the incident – loss of consciousness (for how long), loss of memory (for how long). Treatment depended on the category – so many weeks off before ‘return to play’.

Now, the treatment for everyone is the same – ‘do nothing’ until the symptoms disappear. ‘Do nothing’ means just that ‘nothing’ – no reading, no watching TV, no using computer, no physical activity. Try to keep the eyes from doing anything. When the symptoms go, add physical activity (walking, climbing stairs) in small amounts. If/when symptoms re-occur, go back to doing nothing. Add more physical activity. When symptom free, return to play.

For me, symptoms are woolly head, low grade nausea and low grade headache. Disprin for the headache. For the others, just wait and follow the regime above. X-country skiing for the physical activity after walking and stair climbing give no symptoms. And, for me, when bending down or suddenly turning my head cease to bring on symptoms. Sitting quietly with my sleeping mask on certainly helps.

That was good advice. Except for no physical activity I was doing none of that – reading, working 8 hrs a day on computer program. No more. Now sitting quietly with my sleeping mask on.

I think it will be a while before I am back on the downhill boards.