Concussion and What Types of Injuries Require Concussion Treatment?
A concussion is a type of Traumatic Brain Injury (or TBI) that happens when a sudden impact causes a massive jolt or blows to the head. As a result, the brain will hit the side of the skull or twist inside of it, causing possible damage and chemical changes.
Those facing injuries may find temporary changes to their brain function, memory, balance, and bodily coordination. Fortunately, recovery from a concussion is possible, and the prognosis is positive for many cases.
Car accidents, sports accidents injuries, or a bad fall can lead to serious medical complications, including traumatic head injuries like concussions.
To make matters worse, many people who have suffered a concussion delay treatment because they are not aware of how serious their condition is or that they have one at all.
Despite being considered a “mild” type of traumatic brain injury, concussions are still serious head injuries that can lead to life-altering results.
While many concussions can resolve on their own, severe concussions can worsen over time if left untreated, causing serious consequences and prolonged medical recovery.
Recognizing that you may need medical help when you have been dealing with a concussion is the first step towards the road to recovery. Know that you have an option for treating its aftereffects with the help of Optimum Health Rehab Dacula/ Hamilton Mill by your side.
Schedule your appointment at Optimum Health Rehab in Dacula to begin your healing process. Call (678)546-8044 or schedule your appointment online today.
What Are the Symptoms of Concussions?
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, can manifest in many different ways, and it does not always equal a concussion.
In addition, the symptoms that manifest can be confused for other conditions, such as an infection, congestion, allergies, lack of sleep, dehydration, or other issues that can raise similar cognitive symptoms similar to a TBI.
If at any time you are in an incident that causes a massive jolt to your head, it is possible that you have a concussion, and you should seek medical care as soon as possible.
A concussion cannot be diagnosed without an evaluation by medical professionals. It is safest to have yourself evaluated even if you do not present symptoms after any major trauma that caused a substantial jolt to the skull.
Concussion symptoms do not always appear immediately, and when they do, they can present in ways that can be confused with other diagnoses. However, when someone is experiencing a concussion, they usually see a combination of the following symptoms:
- Blurry vision
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Forgetfulness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Ringing in the ears
- Vomiting
Additionally, there can be subtle personality changes, slurred speech, and issues concentrating or following their usual sleep patterns.
If you have experienced an injury that could possibly lead to a concussion, it is recommended to seek medical attention no later than two days after the incident that caused the injury.
Concussions Often Come With a Delayed Onset
It happens more often than not where a victim will assume that they can handle the symptoms of a concussion on their own. Symptoms appear to improve over time, and what may seem like a relatively minor head injury can be far more severe than most realize.
In some cases, medical intervention is delayed because victims will only seek treatment with a professional healthcare provider when they realize the symptoms are more serious than they initially appeared.
All brain injuries require a professional medical evaluation to reach a diagnosis. When it comes to traumatic brain injuries, early intervention is the best way to protect the health and well-being of the victim.
Performing Concussion Diagnostics
Our physical rehabilitation experts begin working with patients through an initial evaluation. The easiest way to determine the best form of treatment is to understand the severity of the injury sustained.
Some of our diagnostic tools include:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- X-Ray Imaging
- Computed Tomography Scans (CT scans)
However, concussions and other TBIs may sometimes inflict damage that does not show up on typical imaging and scans.
To ensure that your total condition is assessed, we will conduct extensive neurological testing, which includes interviews in order to record all of the symptoms and other relevant sensations you are experiencing.
Treatment Options From Your Concussion Specialist
For those dealing with more serious cases, when you are under Optimum Health Rehab’s care, you can expect treatments in the following ways:
Neurological Treatments
Neurological testing and qualitative exams can provide helpful information when determining the extent of any damages. They can provide details on reflex times, nerve conduction velocity, and other areas indicating nervous system health.
The totality of the condition must be fully understood before physical rehabilitation plans or other treatments can be recommended.
Meeting with a neurologist regularly can also serve to evaluate your progress, ensuring that you are trending towards improving functioning while keeping a close eye on possible issues like hemorrhaging (bleeding) or swelling (edema).
Physical Rehabilitation
Physical rehabilitation is one of the most important components of recovering from a concussion. Physical therapy exercises teach patients to manage their symptoms and avoid symptom-provoking activities.
While rest is the most common recommendation after being diagnosed, it is important for the patient to engage in light forms of brain and body exercises to reduce the risk of further loss of function.
Rehabilitative exercises and massage may be recommended for the neck and upper back, as these areas are often affected by injuries to the skull, and those muscles may have also faced injuries during the event that caused the concussion.
Stretching and aerobic exercise will increase blood flow, reduce stiffness, and engage the brain to retrain it to command the body in coordination with itself. Your physical therapist may also recommend eye-tracking exercises to reduce the effects of oculomotor dysfunction.
Chiropractic Treatment
When someone experiences a head injury, surrounding areas of the body often face some kind of injury, as well. Patients can experience tension and stiffness, and lack of mobility in their neck and upper back.
Chiropractic adjustments may be recommended when these issues are present and contribute to a lack of mobility, pain, stiffness, headaches, and even low-grade neuropathy.
Trigger point therapy can help treat myofascial pain syndrome, which is frequently a side effect of accidents, bad posture, TBIs, or surgery.
Trigger point massages can be one effective therapy for addressing all of these goals. These massage therapies target myofascial tissues that have become tight, rigid, or inflamed.
Myofascial problems can create trigger points that reduce the range of motion and can cause neck pain, back pain, muscle spasms, and other types of pain.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massages are frequently used to treat injuries, alleviate muscle pain, and reduce stiffness. A massage therapist will slowly apply sustained pressure to deep layers of contracted muscles.
Therapeutic massages benefit many patients, especially after experiencing muscular damage due to injuries.
Visit One of Our Georgia Clinics for Concussion Treatment
Start Your Road to Recovery with Optimum Health Rehab Dacula
Dacula concussion patients can find themselves on the road to recovery with help from Optimum Health Rehab.
With our team of medical experts, chiropractors, and highly trained nurse practitioners, we will use our extensive experience to help you recover from your injury and regain the functionality you need to thrive.
Call (678)546-8044 or contact us online to schedule your first appointment today.