Should a person with a shunt...?

Question

I'm 14...and i have a shunt in my head.It is used to help drain fluid form my head.All my life I was told I couldn't play football, but when my old surgeons retired and I got another surgeon he said it was ok.Well I have played for three years,but last year on the last play of the last game i made a hit and i thought i felt the shunt move.I got a x-ray and cat scan the next day and my surgeon said that it had moved a little.Well we started football practice last week and went full pads Friday.I had made a hit or a block and I all of sudden got a bad headache and the shunt felt like it moved again.I went to visit my surgeon yesterday and when he felt my shunt he said it feels kind of unusual for my age.My family and coaches say that I should give up football,but I don't know what to do..If you don't know what a shunt is then please don't answer..Thanks

Answer 1

i would avoid any physical activity that aggravates your condition for a while and see what happens, because if the shunt moves in the wrong place it could cause serious complications...im not trying to scare you but the brain is a very delicate and sensitive organ, if the shunt moves into the wrong place at the wrong time it could cause bleeding or possibly a stroke, so i would talk in depth with the surgeon and be exactly sure as to what your restrictions are. I wish the best of luck for you..