Concussion

After suffering a concussion, you’re five times more likely to have a second one if you don’t seek immediate treatment and give your brain the rest it needs to heal. The expert team at Dayton Center for Neurological Disorders (DCND), which staffs offices in Centerville, Springfield, Eaton, Wilmington, Hillsboro, Beavercreek, and Huber Heights, Ohio, offers comprehensive care for concussions, including testing to accurately diagnose the severity of your brain injury and close monitoring while you heal. Don’t wait to get a concussion evaluation at DCND. The first step is to obtain a referral from your primary care physician; then, the team will reach out to you to schedule an appointment.

Concussion Q & A

What causes a concussion?

Concussions occur when an impact forces your head to snap back and forth or side to side. You may take a blow to your head, but a strong impact to your body can also cause a whiplash movement.

The rapid movement forces your brain to bang into your skull. Though a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), it still causes trauma, bruising your brain, damaging nerves, and affecting your memory and other brain functions.

What symptoms appear after a concussion?

Concussions seldom make you lose consciousness. But if you do, and you’re out for five minutes or longer, you have a severe concussion or a more serious traumatic brain injury.

You may or may not have symptoms right after your head trauma. Symptoms can be delayed for hours or days. When they appear, you may experience one or more of the following:

Memory loss
Confusion
Headaches
Dizziness
Neck pain
Nausea
Fatigue
Blurry or double vision

Concussions can also cause symptoms you may not expect. For example, you may be sensitive to light or feel anxious, irritable, sad, or depressed.

What treatment will I need for a concussion?

Whether you have severe symptoms or feel fine, you should schedule an exam after suffering a head or whiplash-type injury. It’s important to have an assessment that evaluates the severity of the injury and get treatment recommendations.

Rest is the primary treatment for a concussion. Your brain needs plenty of time to heal, and the only way to do that is to limit your mental and physical activity.

Taking a break from sports and rigorous activities or exercise is crucial. Your brain is vulnerable in the days after you sustain a concussion, and a slight bump or impact can cause more damage or brain swelling.

Your provider may also recommend avoiding or limiting activities requiring mental concentration, such as using a computer and playing video games. You may need to take a few days off to rest or reduce your workload, depending on what your provider suggests.

As your brain heals, your provider helps you create a plan for gradually returning to your usual activities.

After securing a referral from your health care provider, call Dayton Center for Neurological Disorders to get help for a concussion.