“It changes a person”, the powerful testimony of Marie-Alice Yahé on the effects of concussions

Captain of the French women's XV, Marie-Alice Yahé had to end her career at the age of 30 due to concussions. MAXPPP – Christophe Petit Tesson

Captain of the French team, former player for Montpellier and Perpignan, now a consultant on Canal+, Marie-Alice Yahé was forced to stop her career in 2014, because of concussions.

What led you to stop your career in 2014 ?

This is a decision by neurosurgeons linked to the French rugby federation since my last concussion took place with the French team in Marcoussis. The doctor explained to me that given the various concussions, it was becoming too dangerous for me to continue. The last shock I suffered was tiny, it wasn’t normal to react like that. Without visibility for the future, they preferred to advise me to leave my career. After seeing a second specialist, my license was taken away in 2014.

Unfortunately for you, things didn't necessarily work out…

The concussion symptoms never went away. Some were able to be treated because I tried quite a few things. I could no longer get in an elevator, for example. At first I didn't understand the report but it was explained to me that claustrophobia is one of the symptoms. I also developed a lot of anxiety. A sort of permanent anxiety. I was able to treat this with hypnosis. These are things that I have since the end of my career and which have remained.

Did being a top athlete help you get treated ?< /p>

This is something we didn’t know about. From one day to the next we find ourselves alone. But the advantage of having been an international player and having married a pro player (Lionel Beauxis), who was at the time in Toulouse, allowed me to have access to medical exams. The federation also did all the neurological exams before I stopped. At this level I was well supported. Behind what allows us to get up and deal with all these anxieties, which I had not assimilated to concussions, no. In addition, I had to manage the end of my career. So, I had to find something on my own. I asked psychologists who told me that it was not their responsibility, I tried acupuncture, which allowed me to get back on track. above. I was also on antidepressants for a long time. And as a high-level sportswoman, living in that state was not possible for me…hellip; There are lots of things that don't relate to concussion. We try to understand what is happening to us, but by talking with the different doctors we have answers. I didn't have the follow-up that I have today, eight years ago for example.

How have you lived it all this time ?

At first we don't recognize each other so we experience it very badly. Ending your career is one of the worst moments an athlete can experience, but what's more, when you're in that state…hellip; Afterwards, when we have fallen to our lowest point, we have no other choice but to climb back up. So for 8 years we made do, because we had to work. We adapt, I no longer had any reference in space, I could no longer play sports, I recreated a life around all that. What touches me today is that I am not at all the same person as if I had stopped my career normally. It changes a person. I had an agoraphobic episode which was linked to this concussion.

How did you get the opportunity to test photobiomodulation ?

When they launched their study, they approached the concussion alert association and they contacted me to testify to the senate about what had happened to me and where I ;rsquo;was. While speaking, the doctors suggested that I try this method because there are no side effects and I had had symptoms for 8 years, it was interesting for them .

What was the result ?

I followed the protocol of eight 20-minute sessions, twice a week. We did tests before starting, eye tests, stability tests, vision tests. I have adapted my life so much that I have adapted my eyesight. All these tests gave scores then we did a first session with the helmet. We did more tests afterwards and the results were incredible. It was blatant. At the end of the eight sessions we repeated the tests. In terms of stability, I am better than the high average of top athletes. In everyday life, which was the most important, it changed a lot of things. I no longer take headache pills when I'm on TV sets with the brightness of the spots. All my major symptoms are gone.

What's next ?

There remains the rehabilitation of high-level sport, but I no longer practice. I'm going to start training again to see if I still have the discomfort and discomfort that I felt. I already started running and jogging again and I didn’t feel anything.

How do you feel now ?

I went through two stages, the first is a big relief to say that we are rid of that. But also since the end of my career I had lived with a sword of Damocles hanging over my head because I had been told that after the age of 40 I was at risk of a neurological disease. By doing the tests, we proved that this would not be the case. But I also had this moment where I said to myself that if I had had this earlier I might not be here. It’s a bit annoying but I don’t live in the past. The greatest satisfaction is to tell myself that I am fine and that I have no after-effects. And things are disappearing.

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