Every head knock is different. Sometimes the symptoms linger for days, sometimes they disappear almost immediately.
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But the one thing I have come to learn is that you have to treat them all the same even if you feel like nothing is wrong.
I'm excited about getting back into Super Rugby for our game against the Japan Sunwolves in Wollongong on Friday afternoon.
It will be my first in almost a month after missing games against the Highlanders and the Chiefs before a bye last weekend.
I thought this column might be a good opportunity to tell you about what protocols we go through after a head knock.
No one wants to rush back from a concussion because there are still so many unknowns about the impacts, so we follow a seven-day return to play process.
Each day you tick off milestones, depending on how you're feeling and whether you are symptom free. You have to be 24 hour symptom free before you can move through the phases.
One day you'll start easing your way back into gym training. The next you might start running before rejoining training and eventually resuming contact work.
Through it all you're continually ticking off head injury assessments - things like spacial awareness and memory - based on a timeline of your return. If anything raises a red flag through that, you stay at that stage until you're symptom free.
The process is deliberately set out to protect players, which is comforting because you know that you'll be in the best position when you are eventually cleared to return to the field.
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It can be slow, but you commit to it knowing your health is the No. 1 priority and you will be ready to play when you're eventually cleared to return.
The bye has given me an extra week of training and I'll come off the bench at some stage against the Sunwolves.
I'm excited about the chance to play in Wollongong on what will be a historic night for Super Rugby.
Many of us have never played at the ground before. In fact, there's only three who have run on to the beach-side stadium.
Our NRL boys Solomone Kata and Tom Wright have both scored tries there in their former sporting lives, while Will Miller grew up just down the road and has won a junior grand final or two there as well.
Will has done a great job in the No. 7 jersey over the past two weeks and it shows that when you get your chance, you take it.
A lot has been spoken about our back-row depth this year, but we're just as excited to see one of our mates lining up from the Sunwolves.
Ben Hyne will make his comeback from a knee reconstruction. It will be great to see Hyney, who made his debut for the Brumbies in 2017 but had his time here cut short because of injury.
I know how hard coming back from a major knee injury can be, and the fact he's had to do it twice speaks volumes for his dedication to recovery and tenacity.
Hopefully the boss gives you an early mark so you can see us go up against Hyney. I couldn't think of a better way to start the Canberra Day long weekend.
- Tom Cusack is an ACT Brumbies back-rower and a rugby sevens Olympian
SUPER RUGBY ROUND SIX
Friday: Japan Sunwolves v ACT Brumbies at Wollongong, 2.45pm.
Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Caderyn Neville, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Tom Wright.