'I thought I was doing a routine workout – three years on I need aid to sleep'

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

Wingman Paul Seedsman was forced to retire from AFL in 2023 after a concussion during a 2021 pre-season training session left him unable to sleep without assistance and suffering from nausea
Former Aussie rules footballer Paul Seedsman has spoken candidly about the debilitating effects of a concussion he suffered in 2021, which still leaves him bedridden and reliant on help to sleep.
The 33-year-old had just completed his most successful season with the Adelaide Crows, earning an All-Australian selection, when a training session injury led to a concussion that would have dire consequences.
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In the wake of the injury, Seedsman was forced to retire from the AFL following recommendations from an independent panel just two years later, as the aftermath continued to plague him.
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Now, Seedsman, who scored 49 times in 83 games as a Crow, continues to struggle with the impact of the concussion and has opened up about enduring daily suffering that includes sleepless months, nausea and dizzy spells.
"I get headaches, nausea and dizziness. Some mornings I wake up and I can't get out of bed," Seedsman revealed to Grandstand SA. "Other days, it gradually just increases throughout the day until I have to stop everything."
"When I hit the red zone, I can't move, I can't speak, I just have to lie down. In December, I was bedridden for two to three weeks after doing just a couple of small things one morning."
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Comparing his post-concussion episodes to a stroke, Seedsman shared the frightening reality of being immobilised and trapped in pain due to the injury's lasting effects, reports Surrey Live.
"I've never had a stroke, but it sort of feels like one," Seedsman elaborated. "Eventually, I can move again, but during those moments, I'm completely stuck and in agony."
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To cope with the severe pain he encounters, Seedsman takes antidepressants, though he admitted that he is still figuring out his tolerance levels when it comes to how much he should be taking.
"I have to be really careful about how much I do," he shared when speaking of his antidepressant use. "Every day is different, and I haven't figured out the line yet."
Post-2021 concussion, sleep has become a challenge for Seedsman, who disclosed that getting rest without assistance was impossible initially, as he hopes his personal saga might benefit others.
"For six months I couldn't sleep at all without help, and that just compounds everything else," he confided. "This is what I live with now. If my story can help someone else or bring awareness, then it's worth telling."
During these testing times, the former Collingwood national draft selection finds motivation from his wife, Alice, and their young daughter, Cami, who instil him with optimism.
"They've given me so much to hold onto and focus on," he expressed, acknowledging the comforting impact of his family. "Even on the worst days, I try to find something good."