4 Symptoms of Post-Concussion Recovery
Over 3.8 million concussions occur yearly in the U.S., and many go undiagnosed. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, jolt, or an object hitting the head.
Depending on the injury severity, it can take a few days to several weeks or even months for some patients to recover. Patients who have had more severe concussions may need to continue recovery with rehabilitation.
A concussion affects everyone differently, which means each person will experience different symptoms. This blog will dive into the symptoms of concussion recovery.
Headache
Headaches are a common symptom of post-concussion syndrome, also called PCS. If someone has PCS, they will have headaches that last at least 3 months after the injury. Headaches that interfere with someone's ability to do everyday things are a medical emergency.
There are different types of headaches:
A tension headache causes pain in the front and sides of your head, and sometimes there is neck pain.
Migraines can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of your head. They can also cause other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Cervicogenic headaches are caused by problems in the cervical spine. These kinds of headaches can also occur due to head or neck trauma. This headache starts on the neck, then on the shoulder, and sometimes travels to the top of the head.
The severity of these headaches and the ability to bear them without further worsening the condition of a concussion is something that physicians use to gauge.
Dizziness
You might feel dizzy when standing up or sitting down. Dizziness can change as you move your head, turn in a specific direction, or close your eyes.
The dizziness may vary from mild to severe. Dizziness may make it hard for your patients to stay on their feet. They may even have chills or hot flashes. Dizziness is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in patients following concussions. This symptom has several consequences, such as causing people to fall, stumble, or loss of balance.
Nausea
It typically occurs within the first few hours after an injury and can be treated with medication prescribed by your doctor. Afterward, you'll want to eat small amounts of food rather than having large meals throughout the day. It will help prevent nausea from coming back again.
The first step in treating nausea caused by concussion is understanding what might be triggering it. It helps rule out more serious conditions like bleeding in the brain and skull fractures.
Memory Loss
There is an effect on memory and learning skills after a mild traumatic brain injury, sometimes for weeks, months, or even years, resulting in the loss of language skills, mathematical and spatial reasoning skills, or difficulties with concentration or attention.
A person who has suffered a mild traumatic brain injury may not be able to concentrate or comprehend complex materials or may lose the ability to pay attention or follow instructions.
Conclusion
If you have suffered a concussion, it is quite likely that you are experiencing some of these symptoms. As you recover, your condition will more than likely improve. But, if new symptoms develop or the old ones persist after several days, you may have sustained a more severe injury than initially thought.
At that point, it might be time to see a doctor to rule out other issues and ensure that your recovery is successful by undergoing physical therapy. Contact Cawley Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation through email at-or call-. Let's walk with you on your journey of recovery.