Understanding Concussions and The Recovery Process

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that affects the way your brain functions. Concussions are caused by a direct or indirect blow to the head or body causing the brain to move within the skull. This type of injury causes the brain cells or neurons to stretch or shear, which results in chemical and metabolic changes including a decrease in the production of energy.

Some concussions cause loss of consciousness; however, 9 out of 10 do not. Other early physical signs of a concussion may include:

• Imbalance
• Disorientation
• Holding head
• Slowed movement

Common symptoms that typically occur within the first 24-48 hours include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Fogginess
• Nausea
• Ringing in the ears
• Visual changes
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood changes
• Difficulty remembering
• Neck pain

If you are concerned that you had an injury which may have resulted in a concussion, seek out medical care. Depending on how your injury occurred, a head CT scan may be recommended to rule out brain bleeds or skull fractures. With a concussion injury, CT scans will be negative because there are no changes structurally post-concussion, only changes at the cellular level.

Concussions are temporary injuries, and most people fully recover. Studies have found that for most people, abnormal brain function recovers within 28 days. There are certain factors, however, that can prolong recovery time including:

• Medical history of migraines
• A history of multiple concussions
• Psychological disorders
• Attention deficit disorder
• Learning disabilities

Ongoing family and social stressors and sleep disruption can lengthen recovery as well.

Your doctor may recommend a referral to concussion therapy. At Sheltering Arms, our interdisciplinary team including physical therapy, speech language pathology, physiatry, and medical psychology will perform extensive testing to determine what is driving your symptoms. No two concussions are the same, so we examine all possible domains including neck, ocular, vestibular, psychological, cognitive, and physiological to determine which services you would benefit from the most to allow for a complete recovery. We provide individualized care to each patient and promote active recovery.

To learn more about the Total Concussion Care program at Sheltering Arms, or to schedule an appointment, visit https://shelteringarmsinstitute.com/conditions-and-services/concussion-therapy/ or call (804) 764-1000.