Teen's Persistent Headaches After Football Hit

An eighth grader's promising sports career took a difficult turn after a football accident in August 2024. Initially experiencing a mild headache after practice, the symptoms worsened significantly when he sustained a second impact just two weeks later, despite showing no standard concussion signs. The resulting pain was severe and persistent, a condition later diagnosed by pediatric neurologist Dr. Konstantinos Tourlas at the Cleveland Clinic as persistent post-traumatic headache.

Following the diagnosis in January 2025, the teen underwent several treatments, including nerve blocks and IV medications at the Cleveland Clinic's pediatric infusion center in March and September 2025. Oral medications initially provided little relief, with the pain level remaining critically high. However, a breakthrough occurred after his third course of oral medication, reducing his pain from a level three to zero.

Now 14, the teenager has returned to sports like lacrosse, prioritizing safety measures learned from his experience. While his family remains cautiously optimistic about his future in sports, they are overwhelmingly grateful for his recovery, enabling him to study, read, learn, and simply be a kid again.