Why You May Need Post-Concussion Syndrome Treatment Now and Not Later
If you’ve recently experienced an injury to your head or neck, and you’re feeling unwell even long after it happened, there’s a chance you may have sustained a concussion.
Did you know that the word concussion is actually derived from the Latin phrase “to shake violently”? Most concussions we see and help our clients to recover from are the result of an accidental injury, after a forceful acceleration or decceleration has taken place.
Concussions can manifest themselves very differently depending on the client and the circumstances of their received injury. Because of this (and because concussion research is in its relative infancy), it’s sometimes difficult for a concussion to be properly diagnosed, let alone addressed with the necessary treatments.
There is hope, however—help is available. Let's take a look together at the signs of concussion and post-concussion syndrome, treatment and treatment routes available, and how to know when to seek treatment.
How to Identify a Concussion
As we’ve mentioned, a concussion occurs when trauma causes the brain to move within the skull. While no two concussion cases are exactly the same, most have common threads that can make diagnosis easier.
Some of the most common causes of concussion are:
Car accidents—either from a direct source such as hitting your head on the dashboard or steering wheel, or an indirect trauma such as whiplash to the neck from your seatbelt
Slips, trips, and falls—particularly in young children and older adults
Injuries from high-risk/contact sports like hockey, rugby, football, lacrosse, soccer, and certain martial arts—particularly if the sport is played without proper safety equipment and supervision
Being involved in an accident as a pedestrian or cyclist—particularly if you’re not wearing a helmet while cycling
Being exposed to loud blasts or explosions for long periods—these are frequently seen in people who work in demolition via construction, or in the armed forces
While there are other causes of concussions, the vast majority of cases are a result of car collisions and sports accidents. While most cases will vary in the way that symptoms present themselves, there are some standard signs that are commonly seen. These can be broken into four main categories: physical, cognitive, emotional, and sleep-related.
Physical Concussion Symptoms
Constant/frequent headaches
Neck pain
Sensitivity to light and noise
Visual problems (blurring, migraine ‘aura’, double-vision, etc.)
Trouble with balance and equilibrium
Nausea and vomiting
Cognitive Concussion Symptoms
Difficulty with short or long-term memory
Difficulty with concentration
Confusion
Feeling like your brain is thinking slowly
‘Brain fog’, or difficulty thinking clearly
Emotional Concussion Symptoms
Anxiety and nervousness
Depression and sadness
Irritability
Unpredictable mood swings
Irrational moods and mood-related behaviour
Sleep-Related Concussion Symptoms
Ongoing fatigue and low energy
Sleeping much more or less than usual
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Trouble waking up
If you have recently been experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s highly likely that you’re experiencing a concussion.
Additionally, if you or someone else experiences any of these high-risk symptoms after an injury to the head, you/they should immediately seek emergency treatment:
Seizures/convulsions
Loss of consciousness (for any period of time)
Weakness/numbness in extremities
Increasing confusion/disorientation
Unsteadiness/poor balance while standing or walking
Unable to wake up
Extreme nausea, repeated vomiting
Bruising near eyes and ears
Unusual, irrational behaviour
Slurred speech
Lack of memory of the injury
Now that you understand the causes and symptoms of concussion, we can take a look at post-concussion syndrome, and why prompt treatment is so important for this condition.
What is Post-Concussion Syndrome?
Post-concussion syndrome refers to experiencing ongoing, persistent concussion symptoms, usually for a period of longer than four weeks. Most people who have experienced a concussion will be more or less recovered within this period, however about 15-30% of cases will experience post-concussion syndrome instead. Post-concussion syndrome may also appear well after the initial injury, even if the symptoms were mild to begin with.
Post-concussion syndrome not only extends the pain, discomfort, and debilitation of a concussion, but also research suggests that it may continually add to any existing brain damage as well. There are certain factors that increase the risk of post-concussion syndrome, such as:
A history of previous concussions
Existing mental illness/mood disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, etc.)
Ongoing stress
Age (adolescents tend to be at higher risk)
Sex (females tend to be at higher risk)
Concussion treatment misinformation (e.g. returning to regular activities too soon)
Improper management of the concussion
Despite the many dangers of untreated concussions and post-concussion syndrome, many people believe that the only way to treat them is with rest. While it is recommended that you take time off from work, school, and activities like sports while you recover from a concussion, we’re now learning about other options for medical intervention and care to help people recover more quickly.
How is Post-Concussion Syndrome Treated?
With the right treatment, you can recover from your concussion or post-concussion syndrome much more quickly, providing you relief from pain and cognitive and emotional challenges. There are several modalities of treatment for concussion, including:
Exercise Therapy – Though concussion treatment does include a period of rest after your sustaining the injury, the recommended timeframe for this is shorter than you might expect. When done under proper supervision, guided exercise therapy can improve blood flow, hastening the recovery time.
Manual Therapy – Used to address physical symptoms of post-concussion syndrome, such as dizziness, headaches, balance issues, visual impairment, and blood flow problems, manual therapy can be a powerful technique. Manual therapy primarily focuses on the neck using techniques from physiotherapy.
Visual/Vestibular Therapy – Many people experiencing post-concussion syndrome report issues with their visual and vestibular (inner ear, relating to balance and equilibrium) systems. Visual and vestibular rehabilitation is used to manage and reduce symptoms like poor balance, visual distortions, concentration and memory issues, and more.
Diet & Nutritional Intervention – You may be surprised to learn that diet and nutrition play a large role in managing post-concussion syndrome symptoms. Certain foods, such as processed meat and foods high in sugar, are pro-inflammatory and can worsen your symptoms. A nutritionist or dietician can make recommendations for more nutritious foods to manage symptoms and aid in recovery from a concussion.
Education & Reassurance – Lastly, education is a critical part of post-concussion treatment that shouldn’t be overlooked. By helping clients understand their condition and why they feel the way they do, the emotional symptoms can often be reduced, allowing them to feel more empowered on their recovery journey.
Getting the Treatment You Need
At Triumph Physio and Wellness, post-concussion syndrome treatment is one of our specialties. Using our foundational knowledge of physiotherapy, we’re able to work within your capabilities to guide you toward a speedy recovery.
We begin work with all new clients with an individualized, one-on-one consultation. In this meeting, your physiotherapist will go in-depth on your medical history, lifestyle, and your experience with concussion symptoms in the past and present. From here, they’ll be able to create a detailed treatment plan made up of a combination of physiotherapy techniques.
This plan is flexible and customizable and will be changed and added to as needed. We’ll also provide you with exercises to perform at home to help hasten your recovery even more.
Most of our clients see symptom resolution within the first three months of treatment, with certain severe cases taking longer to resolve. And while symptom resolution does not mean you’re fully recovered, it’s a vital step in allowing you to return to life as usual.
If you’re experiencing any concussion symptoms after an injury to the head or neck, even if it was a long time ago, it may be time to seek help. Our team is here to help guide you through the recovery process, supporting you as you work towards health and wellness once again.
Contact us if you have more questions about post-concussion syndrome treatment, or book an appointment today.
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