Crosby still experiencing headaches and says injury is taking a toll on him

Sidney Crosby’s timetable for a return to the ice remains unclear, let alone clearance for even dryland activities.

The Penguins captain spoke again today for the second time in about a week and while Crosby is feeling better, there is no significant improvement at this time.

Crosby said today he is still experiencing headaches and expressed clear frustration in how the injury is taken a toll on him.

“Headaches, ” Crosby said when describing his symptoms. There’s never a consistent cause… It’s really hard to find out what causes them. That is the tough part and the frustrating part about concussions. They come and go, but the last few days have been better and they haven’t been as intense…. That’s a good thing.”

Crosby again said today that it’s been a frustrating process for him.

“It’s really difficult. It doesn’t get any easier with each day that goes by. It gets tougher and tougher to work your way back in it. At the end of the day you keep reminding yourself that everything is clear, and when you do come back you’ll be ready to go hard and do the things it takes to get back.”

Crosby indicated that he hasn’t been cleared for any activity.

“It’s brutal, ” Crosby said. You sit around and can’t do anything. Early on I could barely watch tv but I’ve been able to do that more. It’s the things you take for granted and do everyday like driving. That would set me off, the kind of stuff you take for granted. You realize going through something like this that being able to drive is a good step. I’ve been driving since it happened. Just getting through that without getting a headache or feeling a little off are the things you take for granted.

There is no timetable for Crosby’s return and in reality the first step is just getting him cleared for dryland activities and the vibe from both sides is that they’re going to take this process very slow.

“I think you are always careful, ” Crosby said. “No matter if it’s your first, or in his {Marc Savard’s} case he’s had multiple ones. I don’t know how they deal with that, but I think in any case it’s something that you’re seeing more and more. Guys are being really careful with this and it’s for a good reason. You don’t want to be in that situation where you come back too early. Like I said, it’s not going to do me any good to come back too early feeling like I do now and putting myself at risk to have it happen again.