Anyone participate in combat sports?

[Trippy]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed via MRI in early June with what looks like a 3mm vestibular schwannoma.  I'm 30 years of age.  I've been learning to box for the past year but since this tumor has come up I've been wondering if boxing would exacerbate my problem...blows to the head and all.  Symptoms so far have been episodes of hearing loss and constant tinnitus. 

I've never really noticed any balance issues until last week when I had a quick (1-2 second) bout of vertigo.  Though I was feeling kind of fuzzy that day and was tired from lack of sleep.  My ENT and 2 neurosurgeons have told me that boxing should be okay... but what do you all think?  Anyone with insight?

[arizonajack]

Even if you didn't have an AN I would suggest you find some other kind of martial art that doesn't involve repeated blows to the head.

Read about boxing and brain damage:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=boxing+brain+injury

You may think you're indestructible now, but 30 or 40 years from now you'll reap the consequences. You might be in such a fog that you are oblivious to what's happening but your family will know, and bear the burden of taking care of you.

[nftwoed]

Hello;
   I'm not sure if it insight or not, but I would continue to box unless dizziness increased, or you experienced hearing loss.
   My feeling about exacerbation of AN growth by trauma, is an accident, say auto accident which occurs after one has been treated. That may, or not, affect one bodily, as in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc.
   I'm unsure how blows to the head could effect such a small tumor. The cause of an AN has nothing to do with trauma, to my knowledge.
   Maybe if you're down for the 10 count in round 3, that may be a good time to reassess your decision if you continue.  : )

[nftwoed]

Hi AJ;

   I do prefer your suggestion, but was hoping the boxing may be a temporary activity.

   Igore  : )

[arizonajack]

Hi AJ;

   I do prefer your suggestion, but was hoping the boxing may be a temporary activity.

   Igore  : )

I wouldn't want to be punched in the head even temporarily. Sends the brain bouncing from one side of the skull to the other.

Check this out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FqpDmUO0y0

That guy's brain is making the same contrecoup movements as his nose is making:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9myOgFttBMg

If that's not enough to convince somebody to avoid boxing, I don't know what is.

[Trippy]

Thanks for the responses.

Arizonajack,
I understand the concern,  to many the sport can seem completely senseless and brazen.  While there are a multitude of reasons that a person has for taking part in fighting, I'm quite sure that not everyone is under the impression that their bodies (and brains) are invincible.  Though your reasons prompted me to stop and think about why I do it...and even enjoy it.

I think a common thread that you will find in these people is that they may have a hard upbringing or victims of bullying (some might just be crazy).  I personally have experienced bullying and some family issues growing up which resulted in a lot of esteem issues throughout my life.  And let me tell you...nothing helps your self confidence like the ability to survive an onslaught of bad intentions...and to even fight back.  I don't think any pill or therapist can ever do that for you.  So in a way fighting is therapeutic, and I'm sure it is for others.  That said, my balance has been feeling off lately and I may have to scale things back or stop...which is rather disheartening because nothing else will give me that feeling like surviving a bout in the ring.

So from what I'm seeing...getting hit in the head may not make the the tumor grow...but I wonder if it may aggravate the nerve somehow.  I saw a thread somewhere where people would discover their AN's because of some head trauma event.

[arizonajack]

nothing helps your self confidence like the ability to survive an onslaught of bad intentions...and to even fight back.  I don't think any pill or therapist can ever do that for you. 

True.

My handgun takes care of that for me. I'm too young to die, too old to take a beating, too slow to run, but I can shoot pretty damned good.

[Trippy]

I'm a terrible shot... I blame it on ammo prices 

[MDemisay]

Does viewing Robots Combat count? I like it when they punch each other silly! it's on the SciFy channel.

Mike

[arizonajack]

Does viewing Robots Combat count? I like it when they punch each other silly! it's on the SciFy channel.

Mike

Reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode ("Steel") with Lee Marvin substituting in the ring for his malfunctioning robot boxer.