If you have just sustained a head injury or concussion, you are likely experiencing a number of uncomfortable symptoms. From headaches, brain fog, vertigo, and memory issues, a concussion can leave you feeling less than great for quite a while. What many people don’t know how about is the link between neck pain/injuries and post-concussion syndrome.
Studies have shown that most concussions deliver 95 g’s of force, while it can take less than 10 g’s of force to damage important ligaments in your neck. The overwhelming majority of people who suffer concussions will experience neck pain and other neck issues. In many cases these symptoms can be very similar to Post-Concussion Syndrome symptoms, leading to confusion and misdiagnosis. Recent research has identified Cervicogenic Post-concussion Syndrome (CPCS), which is similar to Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) but with symptoms caused by damage in the neck.
TREATMENTS FOR CERVICOGENIC POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME
Depending on the extent and severity of your injuries, Broadview Spine & Health Centre’s Advanced Concussion Clinic has a wide range of therapies to help treat and manage your Cervicogenic Post-Concussion Syndrome. Our concussion treatments are effective, safe, and backed by research. Some of the most common forms of treatment for Cervicogenic Post-Concussion Syndrome are:
Vision Therapy: A neck injury can cause eye misalignment, which in turn can cause headaches and other symptoms. Through videonystagmography and saccadometry, Broadview Health Centre can help treat your symptoms and get you back to feeling well.
Vestibular Rehabilitation: Vestibular Rehabilitation is a form of exercise-based treatment that helps address brain injuries such as a concussion. Vestibular Rehabilitation focuses on balance, neck mobility, visual stability and more to ensure the best outcomes.
Contact Broadview Health & Spine today for more information on treatments to alleviate your post-concussion symptoms today.
DO I HAVE WHIPLASH OR A CONCUSSION?
After a head or brain injury, you might find yourself experiencing a variety of symptoms. You might be wondering whether you have a concussion, whiplash, or both. As the symptoms for both conditions are similar, there is often confusion between the two.
Concussion Symptoms:
- Headache
- Neck Pain
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Fatigue or Low Energy
- Dizziness
- Concentration & Memory Problems
Whiplash Symptoms:
- Neck & Shoulder Pain
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Concentration & Memory issues
- Lower Back Pain
As you can see, there is a significant amount of overlap of the symptoms of the two conditions, and they can be confused with each other. To make sure you have the right treatment with the best outcomes, contact Broadview Health Centre today – or try our online concussion testing tool. We will help you understand exactly what you are experiencing and come up with an effective treatment plan.
3 GROUPS OF CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Physical Signs
Concussions bring on a cluster of physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, stumbling, slurring speech, ears ringing, blurred vision and more. These are usually the first signs that one would experience or observe in a concussion.
Internal & Intangible Signs
Beyond the more apparent physical symptoms, many signs of concussion are things that are “felt” or displayed in more subtle ways, often with delayed effect. Concentration & memory issues, disorientation, lack of balance, trouble sleeping, sensitivity to light, etc.
Child with Concussion
Perhaps your child suffered a concussion while playing sports, with friends, in the house or at school. Whether or not you witnessed the injury, it’s vital to watch for signs including the standard adult ones as well excessive crying, loss of usual interest, etc.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AGAINST CONCUSSIONS & NECK PAIN & CPCS?
Whether or not you have already suffered a concussion, it is important to take all the necessary steps to prevent future concussions. While it is impossible to prevent every possible concussion, proper preparation and prevention strategies can help dramatically reduce the risk of concussions, and cervicogenic post-concussion syndrome.
- Always wear seat belts, no matter how short or long the drive
- Always a helmet that fits when riding bikes or motorcycles or playing contact sports
- Put up handrails on stairs to prevent falls
- Place grab bars in the bathroom with non slip mats in the tub and floors to prevent slips and falls
- Place stair gates at the top and bottom of stairs to protect infants and toddlers from concussions
- If you are playing a contact sport, consider strengthening your neck muscles
When followed properly, these steps will help you reduce the likelihood that you suffer a concussion. In the unfortunate event that you do suffer a concussion, contact Broadview Health Centre for the most effective treatment.
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