You may have heard of something known as post-concussion syndrome, or persistent post-concussive symptoms. This happens when the symptoms of a concussion are prolonged and persist for months or even years after the initial trauma has occurred, be it a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or some other form of brain trauma. These prolonged symptoms can often leave patients and loved ones feeling helpless and in search of answers, wondering if their case will be treatable and if they’ll ever be able to return to their normal lifestyle again. So, is post concussive syndrome treatable? Yes! Within this blog post we’ll discuss different aspects of this syndrome, the timeline, and expectations for recovery, what you can do yourself to help symptoms, and more. Consider this your guide on how to crack down on these concussions!
Symptoms of Post-Concussion Syndrome
The first sign of post-concussion syndrome includes having experienced the persistent symptoms of a concussion for three months or longer since the initial trauma. The trauma does not necessarily have to be just blunt force trauma to the head but can also be something like whiplash from a car accident. The symptoms felt can include but is not limited to:
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Issues with sleeping patterns
- Issues with vision
- Issues with balance
Causes of Post-Concussion Syndrome
There are a variety of avenues from which an individual may have acquired post-concussion syndrome: mild, moderate, or severe TBIs; carbon monoxide poisoning, ministrokes, or other brain traumas. Once you have one concussion, you are at a greater risk for further concussions, which can make multiple concussions an overall risk factor for developing post-concussion syndrome. Following every concussion, a patient does have a chance of developing post-concussion syndrome, further emphasizing that seeking appropriate treatment following a concussion is imperative.
Treatment for Post-Concussion Syndrome
It’s important to get proper treatment for each individual case of post-concussion syndrome, otherwise the symptoms may be permanent. Overlapping with other conditions that a patient has may make it more difficult to recover and treat, which is why it is so important to pursue treatment as soon as possible. It is also imperative to know that treatment is an option and something available to you. Depending on the findings noted during a complete exam evaluation, doctors will be able to make a customized care plan for you that targets your persistent issues and can even help with findings that may have been present prior to concussion. If imaging is needed, doctors will work with you to get that completed so the treatment team can get an idea of what areas of your brain are being affected.
Treatment includes a variety of therapies including electrical stimulation, visual and vestibular therapies, proprioceptive exercises, and integration drills that combine all these systems together to retrain them to work in harmony. These care plans are not static either — based on your visit-to-visit subjective reporting of your symptoms along with staff evaluation of your progress, the care plans are updated to ensure that your progress is continual and that your specific concerns are targeted and addressed.
Another counterpart to many individual treatment plans is to address any deficiencies found in bloodwork and labs. As a response, you may be recommended supplements such as B vitamins, magnesium, or melatonin for you to take at home as an additional step in your care plan.
The length of treatment varies largely as treatment is not a one size fits all protocol. This is why it’s important to have dynamic therapies and plans that progress alongside you to give you your best chance at returning to your routine lifestyle and perhaps even bettering it. There are so many things to learn regarding concussions and post-concussion syndrome, but the number one thing to know is that these symptoms do not have to be forever.
