Diagnosing a sports-related concussion as soon as possible is a very important factor in preventing serious damages that may affect your recovery and to prevent further injuries.
You may have suffered a concussion if you have one or more of these symptoms. Try to contact your family doctor or a trained healthcare provider in diagnosing and treating concussion as soon as possible.
- A feeling of pain and/or pressure inside your head
- Loss of consciousness for any period of time even a few seconds
- Mental fog or feeling of confusion
- A sense of lightheadedness, dizziness or vertigo
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sound of ringing in your ears
- Can’t remember events leading up to injury
For those who have suffered a concussion, the first 7-10 days are crucial in monitoring symptoms closely but the road to recovery can potentially be longer than one might expect. It is important to ensure that you are equipped to manage your concussion on an ongoing basis.
6 Things You Must Know about Concussion Management
Concussion management isn’t something to be taken lightly, but for the sake of brevity, we’ve isolated 5 things that everyone should know about how to manage a concussion.
- Vision & Cognitive Testing is Always Required
If you think you’ve suffered an mTBI, seek help from a licensed professional. It is important to undergo a series of assessments of your vision, balance and cognitive function, among other things.
Do your best to be compliant with your licensed medical professional, and help them help you, every step of the way.
- Assess Everything Related
If you have suffered a concussion, an assessment for head trauma, airway (breathing), and cervical spine injury is also a must. You don’t know how far the damage has gone until you are carefully looked at by someone who understands the complexities of your concussion.
- Know the Risks
The risks associated to concussions are no laughing matter. People who have had a concussion have an increased likelihood of complications such as epilepsy, multiple brain injuries, post concussion syndrome, post-traumatic headaches, vertigo, and experiencing two concussions back-to-back can cause brain swelling which could cause serious damage to brain.
- Be Prepared
In order to get the best help possible, come prepared to every consultation with a healthcare provider. Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions and make a list of your symptoms or any questions you may have before you arrive so you don’t leave anything out.
- Never Go It Alone
Until you have been cleared by your therapist, whether it’s for an appointment, or to buy groceries –don’t go anywhere alone, don’t operate a vehicle, and don’t allow anyone to reel you back into doing any of the activities that got you that concussion in the first place (see point 3 again if you think throwing a football around is harmless).
- Be Compliant With Your Home Program
You may have been instructed to rest, not to text or spend time on computer. It is absolutely important to follow the instructions as it can speed up your recovery tremendously. You may be instructed to participate in light physical activities such as walking outside, or may be suggested to avoid busy environments, make sure to be compliant with all of these instructions. It is better to restrict your activities for a while than suffer for a long time. However, staying active is very important as well. The new studies in concussion management, do not support sitting in a dark room as it was a common practice years earlier.
In Summary
Once all of the initial testing is done and you’ve made it through the first weeks, rehabilitation may likely be prescribed. In such cases, we have licensed staff at our Toronto-area concussion clinic that can serve you, and get you back on your feet again.
If you need rehabilitation after a sports-related injury or concussion, don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about how we can help you.
