Concussions, though referred to in medical terms as a “mild traumatic brain injury,” are a serious matter that needs immediate medical attention. If you have suffered a traumatic injury or blow to the head and are feeling even some of the classic concussion symptoms, now is the time to see a doctor or proceed to your local emergency room, urgent care centre, primary care clinic or similar. If witness someone injured and demonstrating signs of a concussion, make sure they get proper medical care soon.
If you did not witness the injury but are concerned that someone you know may have experienced a concussion, it’s best if you speak with them. This way you’ll get more information about what may have occurred; they’ll know you’re concerned; and you might also notice slurring of speech or other symptoms. If you do suspect that they have suffered a concussion, encourage them to seek medical attention ASAP.
TREATMENTS FOR CONCUSSION
Vision Therapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Transcranial Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Eye Exercises
Somatosensory Evoked Potential
Ear Insufflation
Non-surgical Decompression Therapy
Non-surgical decompression therapy can resolve head and neck pain
Non-surgical Decompression Therapy
Nutritional Recommendations
Auditory Therapy
Laser Guided Proprioceptive Feedback
TESTING FOR CONCUSSION: YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR URGENT CARE DOCTOR
The next step is to visit the ER or primary care physician, depending on the nature of the injury, the symptoms and when it occurred, etc. Here are some tips in advance of your doctor visit:
- Since you may have foggy memory, write down the events as you remember them; think about the details of how you were injured, what was happening with your head, what symptoms you felt at the time and what have you been feeling since
- If you can, bring a list of all medications you are currently taking
- Don’t let a wait time deter you; concussion is not to be treated lightly, and ignoring it will only make things worse
The emergency doctor or primary physician will likely go through a standard checklist of diagnostics. He or she may request some tests, such as a CT scan or MRI. Usually nowadays, the way things go is that you will get a call back if there is anything to report; otherwise they often do not call you with ‘negative’ results (meaning scans showed no concussion).
The hospital or clinic may also give you electronic access to your file with doctor’s notes, depending on the facility. They may also give you some advice, e.g. get plenty of rest, don’t rush back to work, etc.
WHEN YOU’VE BEE DIAGNOSED WITH CONCUSSION: SEE BROADVIEW FOR TREATMENT
If you have been diagnosed with concussion, you’ve probably been sent home and told to get lots of rest and that your symptoms will probably get better in a few weeks. But what if they haven’t? Or what if you’re concerned as to the severity of your traumatic brain injury?
At Broadview Spine & Health Centre in Ottawa, we are experienced and highly specialized in treating concussions of varying nature and degree. Our training and practice is in the field of chiropractic neurology. This guides us to consider the physiological, vestibulo-ocular and cervicogenic components to formulate a more customized course of concussion treatment for you. Treatments include:
- Vision therapy & eye exercises
- Auditory therapy
- Vestibular rehabilitation
- Nonsurgical decompression therapy
- Nutritional recommendations
- Auditory therapy
- Ear Insufflation
- Photobiomodulation
Our team has the necessary experience and equipment to provide a more thorough diagnosis and incorporate a wholistic approach to your recovery.
The 3 Components of Concussion Treatment at Broadview
PHYSIOLOGICAL
The PHYSIOLOGIC component focuses on the injury at a cellular (neuron) level. Symptoms addressed include fatigue & headaches with cognitive and/or physical activity, brain fog, nausea, light and sound sensitivity, dizziness and poor concentration.
VESTIBO-OCULAR
The VESTIBULO-OCULAR component refers to the visual & balance system. Evaluating concussions/mild traumatic brain injury using these biomarkers is increasingly supported by research & evidence. Symptoms include blurred or double vision, difficulty with tracking moving objects and difficulty with reading.
CERVICOGENIC
The CERVICOGENIC side refers to damage to structures of the neck. Symptoms include neck pain and headaches.
A CONCUSSION: VISUALIZED
Impact
A blow to either the head or body initiates the concussion sequence. Brain fluid and protective membranes (meninges) are susceptible to sudden jolts or bumps, triggering a reaction that is traumatic and has lasting effects.
Brain Movement
The brain is pushed against the inner walls of the skulls and can be bruised, while nerve tissue can be stretched or torn in the process. Brain cell function is impaired. Loss of consciousness is also possible.
Brain Injury
Short-term and long-term brain injury can occur with a concussion. Blood flow and oxygen delivery are lessened. Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, dizziness, loss of focus and/or reduced cognitive function as well as light sensitivity.
Frequently asked questions
Sustaining a single concussion, in many cases, results in a straight-forward recovery with few complications. However, for those who have suffered multiple concussions, especially when the original has not fully healed, the recovery time can grow exponentially. Take care during recovery as while you might feel better, the concussion could still need time to fully heal.
- We utilize quantifiable concussion evaluation tools
- We measure eye movements and balance
- We take care to ensure your recovery is objective, not subjective
A major side effect from sustaining a concussion injury is cervicogenic pain or headaches, which is focused in the neck area. The challenge for doctors is neck pain does not always point to a problem within the neck, but could be a result of spine or eye misalignment.
- Concussions cause eye misalignment, leading to head tilt
- Neck pain is a flag for helping identify contributing issues
- Our treatment is built to help protect your long-term recovery
A common symptom for those who have suffered concussions and experiencing symptoms of post-concussion syndrome includes fatigue. Fatigue can come from many different factors. However, concussions build fatigue symptoms on a cellular level from the damage sustained in a concussion, interrupting your body’s ability to build and use energy.
- Fatigue from concussions is a result from calcium leaks
- Other fatigue could stem from problems with thyroids or anemia
- Fatigue problems can take some time to fully recover from
Post-concussion syndrome is a complex condition that requires a lot of care and time to fully recover from. You could experience significant fatigue, inability to effectively concentrate, headaches, poor balance, and loss of fine motor control. These and more are the result of concussion damage to three major areas in your body, which all require the care our clinic can provide:
- Physical damage the cell wall of the brain
- Damage to the motor systems of the eyes and balance
- Cervucigenic symptoms such as pain in the neck
Broadview Health Centre offers specialized equipment and technology that helps us diagnose problems and treat them effectively in regards to concussions and other mild-traumatic brain injuries. These tools are a mix of physical tests and electrical monitors working in tandem to give evaluations of the body’s control over balance and motor control, giving us invaluable information on a patents condition by:
- Evaluating the body’s ability to balance on flat and uneven surfaces
- Balance when a patents head is turning in various directions
- Building information on how a concussion effects an individual
Broadview Spine & Health Centre utilized state of the art diagnosis equipment to allow us to gain quality information on how to approach treatment to every patent’s unique symptoms. A Videonystagmography allows us to get a fine-tuned reading of eye movements on video and with graphical representation.
- Helps us identify where damage is located in the brain
- Helps develop a customized program for the patient
- Provides conclusive evidence for brain injury symptoms