# 2nd head injury giving brain damage **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-head-injury-giving-brain-damage/166509 "2003-04-04T18:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-head-injury-giving-brain-damage/166509/1 "2003-04-04T18:19:08Z")
I had a bit of a minor running-over two weeks ago, and nearly caved my skull in. I’ve been told that I’ve got to be really careful about head injuries for about six months, because if I damage my now-tender neurones again, they’ll die, and I’ll get brain damage - which would suck. Does anyone know how hard I’d need to hit my head for anything to actually happen that’s gonna do me some long-term damage, since the doctors I’ve asked haven’t been that much use. Am I talking a second car accident to screw me up, or is hitting head on shelves gonna do it? Cheers all, Harry ---
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-head-injury-giving-brain-damage/166509/2 "2003-04-04T18:24:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Me \* > Am I talking a second car accident to screw me up, or is hitting head on shelves gonna do it? > \*\* Damnit, that shoudld be: “Am I talking _taking_ a second…” Typed this far too quickly ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-head-injury-giving-brain-damage/166509/3 "2003-04-04T18:42:43Z")
Well, IANAD. That being said, I’ve managed to concuss myself 3 times. One car accident, one skiing accident, and one moronic martial arts instructor. Suffice it to say, once you’ve had one concussion, others will come easier; however, just bumping your head on a shelf or something probably won’t do it. (Well, unless you’ve attached the shelf to some sort of battering ram or something). But in anycase - be careful. Repeated head injurys certainly can lead to brain damage and possibly even Parkinson’s. Some people feel that Mohamad Ali’s current condition was exacerbated by repeated blows to the head. (I’m not speculating as to whether this is true - just offering it up as a factoid.) ---
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-head-injury-giving-brain-damage/166509/4 "2003-04-04T18:53:54Z")
Rightyho, moronic martial arts instructors do tend to be lethal. While I’m on the subject of martial arts, I’m a bit peeved at the moment. I’m a junior black belt in Kenpo Karate, and love it loads. However, my half-year ban on head-smashing is going to mean that I can’t spar or do any self-defense techniques. This is really annoying, and is the worse thing to come from this whole affair. Damnit, sorry to rant but it’s just annoying ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-head-injury-giving-brain-damage/166509/5 "2003-04-04T21:36:09Z")
Well, you _CAN_ spar and just request that people don’t hit you in the head. My instructor does this. The fact that there’s no one in the class that could even come _CLOSE_ to his head certainly helps him in his quest to avoid head-shots, but other people, myself included, have requested not to be hit and generally the other people respect that.