General Information:
- A concussion is a mild injury to the brain. it can occur following a hard blow or jolt to the head
- Concussions can occur with or without loss of consciousness
- Feeling dazed or confused or being unable to remember events around the time of the injury (amnesia) is common
- Most people with mild injuries to the brain have a good recovery
- Proper management of concussions can help speed recovery
- All concussions should be taken seriously
Concussions are also called mild traumatic brain injuries. Common causes of concussions are motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, or assaults. You might hear people say, "I had my bell rung" or "I saw stars" and this suggests they might have had a concussion. Concussions in general are described as "mild injuries" because they are not usually life threatening and in most cases there are no lasting effects.
The rate of recovery varies from person to person but most symptoms fully resolve within 3 months or so. Recovery might be slower for older individuals, people who have had multiple concussions in the past, or for those who have problems with pain, depression, or anxiety. Recovery from more serious injuries involving such things as skull fractures or bruising to the brain often require more recovery time.
What is a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury?
- Concussions are also called mild traumatic brain injuries.
- Concussions can occur following a hard blow or jolt to the head.
- Concussions can occur with or without loss of consciousness.
- Feeling dazed or confused or being unable to remember events around the time of the injury (amnesia) is common.
- Most people with mild injuries to the brain have a good recovery.
- Proper management of concussions can help speed recovery.
- All concussions should be taken seriously.
When to Get Help:
Immediately following a concussion, you should be examined by a doctor. This can be done at an emergency department or a doctor’s office. You should also seek medical attention right away if within the first few days after the injury you experience any of the symptoms listed below :-->
- Headache that persists or gets worse over time
- Drowsiness or cannot be awakened
- Repeated or forceful vomiting
- Seizures (i.e., convulsions, body goes stiff, or a fixed stare)
- Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
- Unsteadiness or clumsiness
- Blurred vision or unequal size or shape of the pupils
- Blood or clear fluid coming from the nose or ears
- Slurred speech
- Cannot recognize people or places
- Unusual behavior: increased confusion or significant irritability
Common Concussion-related Symptoms and Problems:
Physical:
- Headache
- Lightheadedness/Dizziness
Poor balance - Nausea
- Feeling tired or sluggish
- Changes in sleep
- Changes in vision
- Sensitivity to light and/or noise
Cognitive:
- Reduced concentration
- Memory problems
- Trouble expressing your thoughts
- Trouble finding the right word
- Feeling mentally foggy
Emotional:
- Irritable or grumpy
- Anxious
- Depressed
- Feeling more emotional
Rest: For the first few days you may need to rest. Your symptoms may seem worse when you are tired or if you have done too much. Be sure to get a good sleep each night.
Alcohol & Drugs: Only take medication that has been approved by your doctor. You should avoid alcohol and other recreational drugs while you are recovering from a concussion. Alcohol and/or drugs might slow your recovery and could place you at further risk of injury.
Exercise and Sports: You can start light aerobic exercise such as walking or stationary cycling once you are symptom free. Gradually increase activity frequency and intensity as long as you remain symptom free. Avoid any activities and sports where there is a risk of getting another concussion. It is strongly advised that you get medical clearance before returning to sports. Always wear proper protective equipment.
When can I return to sports? If you have any of the signs or symptoms of concussion listed above after a blow to the head or body, you should not go back to play the day of the injury. A health care professional, experienced in evaluating for concussion, needs to let you know when it is safe to return to play. If your concussion involves memory loss or loss of consciousness, you may not be able to return to play for 1 to 2 weeks. After a severe concussion, you may not be able to return to play for a month. If this wasn't your first concussion, your return to play may take even longer.
What are the risks of returning to play too early? A player returning too early could suffer from "second impact syndrome," which can be fatal. A second blow to the head, even a minor one, can cause a loss of control of blood flow to the brain. Never return to a sports activity until you are cleared by a doctor.
Daily Activities: Do not attempt to immediately do all of your usual activities, including work or school, at the pace you did prior to the concussion. It is strongly recommended that you gradually ease back into your usual routine and pace yourself by resting between activities. It is often necessary to plan to return to work or school only a few hours each day at the beginning. This is particularly important if you are a full-time worker or student. You might benefit from having a health care professional assist you with your transition back to work or school.
Headaches: Headaches are on of the most common symptoms experienced following a concussion and can be a result of injury or strain to soft tissues, nerves, joints, or bones of the head or neck region. They can also be due to the general stress experienced following an injury. Fortunately, as with other concussion symptoms, headaches typically resolve over time. However, do not take a sit-and-wait approach. It is important to take steps to actively manage your headache pain. Treatment of headaches often requires a combination of approaches, including medication, lifestyle changes, and rehabilitation.
Medication. This is usually the first line of attack for headaches and can be a very effective treatment. It is important to review your medication usage, including any prescription and non-prescription drugs, with your physician throughout your recovery.
Lifestyle Changes. Lifestyle adjustments include such things as getting proper sleep, conserving energy, identifying and avoiding headache triggers and learning how to manage your stress. If needed, various health care clinicians can assist with these changes.
Rehabilitation. Other treatments, such as physiotherapy or massage, might provide some relief as well. Consult your family physician to help guide what treatments you should try for your headaches.
Dizziness: There can be number of causes of dizziness following a concussion. Possible causes might be trauma to the balance organs in your ears, an injury to your neck, changes in your vision, or possible side effects of certain medications.
Typically, dizziness settles down over time but while you have this problem, it will be very important to take precautions to avoid falling or hitting your head. Use common sense! Recognize if any particular movements make you feel dizzy and either avoid them or move cautiously. Use handrails when going up and down stairs and avoid ladders and heights.
If you have not experienced improvement over time as expected, other factors that could be affecting your recovery should be considered. These include such problems as pain, poor sleep, depression, or anxiety. Be sure to talk to your doctor if things don’t improve.
Information provided by The Fraser Health Concussion Clinic - Early Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
LINKS:
Brain Injury Association of BC
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association