George Visger, former
NFL offensive lineman has lived the last 20 years of his life in a
post-concussion daze. Visger uses hundreds of small notebooks in order to
remember the minutiae of his daily life. He is unable to remember where he
lives, or even the closest coffee shop. His notebooks are his only source of
memory, and if it isn’t written down it doesn’t exist to him.
Visger’s memory started
to fade in 1982 due to a bone crushing hit that led to a concussion. His career
was very brief because of this injury. After the hit, Visger went into a coma
that would have led most men to death. The injury itself can also be identified
with a life-time of using his head to make hits. He is just one of several
former NFL players suffering from depression, memory loss, and sudden bouts of
rage. Experts and doctors alike all believe that the source of the symptoms
described above are from concussions. Visger believes that he had been
suffering from concussions since childhood football, although they were never
identified. Even though the medical community has become more educated in concussions,
there are still many mysteries in this field.
Scientists have spent
years explaining concussion symptoms, by examining athletes brains after they
die. Visger believes he is getting worse from year to year and fears that his
fate will be that of other concussed athletes. Many before Visger suffer from
brain damage, or even deep depression that has led to suicide. Visger believes
that the fish oil supplement he was prescribed to take has had some success in controlling
his depression. George Visger wants to find some kind of resolution for his
concussion symptoms, before it affects the relationship he has with his wife
and children.
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