Concussion FAQs

Concussions can be devastating injuries, and the more we learn about their long-term effects, the more it is apparent how seriously head injuries should be taken. It is important to know the signs and symptoms of a concussion in order to start early treatment and minimize symptoms and their duration. The science on concussions is relatively new and still developing. Here are my answers to frequently asked questions regarding concussions. Scroll to the bottom for my favourite concussion resources and supplements.

How does one get a concussion?

Concussions can be sustained from playing contact or extreme sports, driving incidents and everyday chance injuries, such as bumping your head on a cabinet. The most common cause? Falling.

What are common concussion symptoms?

Common concussion symptoms include headaches, brain fog, dizziness, balance issues, sensitivity to light and sound, migraines, nausea, fatigue, increased emotional reactivity, and anxiety. Concussions also tend to come with whiplash-related problems, sometimes referred to as whiplash-associated disorder. This is because the force needed to sustain a concussion is greater than the force required to create whiplash injury. So all concussions involve a whiplash injury! These symptoms and severities vary from person-to -person and depend on the location and severity of the impact.

How long should I rest fully after a concussion?

There is new research that shows that the old approach of complete rest and zero stimulation in a dark room until symptoms subside is outdated and potentially detrimental to recovery. It is now recommended that the amount of complete rest time should be 2 days, after which point daily activities should be incorporated back into your routine, with necessary accommodations. There are a wide range of severity of head injuries, and it takes an experienced professional to help navigate through a personalized treatment plan. However, no one is a better judge of how you are feeling and what your symptom-flaring threshold is, besides yourself. I learned many important life lessons on my road to recovery, but one of the most important lessons was definitely listening to myself and treating myself with compassion. Patience, positivity, self-respect and confidence to stand up for myself and ask for what I needed were major players in a successful 5-month recovery.

How long does it take to recover from a concussion?

An interesting observation is that 10-20% of concussion patients have prolonged symptoms lasting longer than 4 weeks. Researchers are still trying to figure out why this is, and why it seems to be more prolonged in women. What we do know, is that as symptoms persist, more inter-professional and multidisciplinary care is needed to help resolve symptoms.

What is the best way to treat a concussion?

Because symptoms can be quite variable, targeted treatments for each symptom seem to be the most effective. Some examples of professionals and treatments that can help with concussion treatment include neurologist, sports medicine doctor, neuropsychiatrist, neuro-ophthalmologist, physiotherapy, chiropractor, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, dietitian, and naturopathic doctors.

What does the nervous system have to do with concussions?

Did you know that sore neck and back muscles can activate your vagus nerve, and increase levels of stress and anxiety? Also, the top two spinal chord segments converge in your brain so your brain can’t actually tell the difference between neck pain and head pain. Resolving sore neck and shoulder muscles can significantly reduce headaches! Massage, physio, intramuscular needling, stretching, and heat can help relax and relieve your sore muscles and reduce headaches. Amazing! There is also evidence linking concussions to an over-active vagus nerve (constant fight or flight mode), which involves an increased release of acetylcholine, as well as depression and anxiety symptoms. One theory behind migraine pain, is that because the trigeminal nerve covers a large portion of our faces as well as the meninges or outer layer of our brain, inflammation in one of those areas may cause pain in any of the other areas. The alteration of the nervous system with chronic pain is quite interesting and is an area of concussion research that I believe deserves further study.

Should I get any medical imaging done?

Because a concussion is a functional cellular impairment, not a structural impairment, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI’s are usually normal despite the pain and symptoms that one may experience due to a concussion. MRI’s and CT scans are able to detect bleeding or swelling in the brain as well as skull fractures. Unless your doctor suspects any structural damage or internal bleeding, these imaging tests will likely not be necessary and will not be helpful in diagnosing a concussion. Water tomography may be able to detect small functional differences but is difficult to confirm if there is no baseline imaging done.

What medications should I take, if any?

I am not a doctor, so please consult your doctor or psychiatrist for what is best for you. Some doctors may prescribe NSAIDs, which are “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,” like Advil and Motrin to decrease headache pain. However, it is recommended that you do NOT take these medications within 72 hours of incurring a concussion as you may be covering up life-threatening symptoms. It is also not recommended to take these drugs for more than 10 days, as they are only proven to be effective for short-term pain relief and may have unwanted side effects.

“Currently, there is limited evidence to support the use of pharmacotherapy. If pharmacotherapy is used, then an important consideration in return to sport is that concussed athletes should not only be free from concussion-related symptoms, but also should not be taking any pharmacological agents/medications that may mask or modify the symptoms of [sports-related concussion] SRC.” – 2016 Berlin Concussion Consensus Statement.

Some doctors may also prescribe antidepressants or mood stabilizers to target different cognitive symptoms. I was offered dextroamphetamine to help me deal with my difficulty focusing, but I declined as I knew that this would only be a band-aid solution, and wanted to let my body take the time it needed to heal on its own. Everyone is different and I respect that everyone’s medication needs and choices are valid and will be their own.

How do I heal from a concussion?

A full-body holistic approach to recovery is vital! Our brains control and are influenced by all systems of our body (cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory and psychological). The health of our, body, mind, and soul are all connected. Some effective lifestyle strategies that are easily implemented on an individual level include proper nutrition, supplementation, exercise, sleep hygiene, hydration, vestibular training, and pre-emptive cognitive rest. Mindset shifts, meditation, acts of self love, and mindset shifts may also significantly improve symptoms. I have learned many life lessons during my concussion recovery, which I believe were also key to my recovery. Concussions tend to test our strength, determination, and self-compassion, pushing us to confront our identities and our life goals in greater detail than ever before.

Where do I go for a cost-effective holistic education-focused recovery plan?

I have put together a comprehensive evidence-based concussion recovery coaching program online, for people suffering from concussion symptoms and longer-term post-concussion syndrome. I help you create a personalized holistic plan to manage your symptoms, learn new rehabilitation and brain health habits, and empower you with knowledge and techniques to regain your optimum brain health!

Other options include seeing individual practitioners, such as sports medicine doctors, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, dieticians or occupational therapists, who may only be educated on concussions within the scope of their profession, and who may not be in contact with each other. If you are lucky and willing to invest a fair amount of money, you may be able to find an integrated concussion clinic near you.

What made you become a brain health coach?

I have been researching concussions for the past 3 years and have a degree in neuroscience and biochemistry, and have successfully healed from several concussions with the help and knowledge from 11 different health-care practitioners. I find joy and fulfillment in helping others learn and grow into healthier versions of themselves that will serve them for the rest of their life.

Want to learn more about my services? Check out my program description, apply to join my concussion recovery program, and follow for more brain health and nervous system health tips @heather_neurofit.

I will keep fighting for more awareness and will cheer you on through the ups and downs to your full recovery. Cheers to continued learning and loving our brains!

Hugs,

Heather

References:

Giza, C. C. and Hovda, D.A., The Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion. Journal of Athletic Training. 2001; 36(3): 228–235.
Evans, R.W and Whitlow, C.T., Acute mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) in adults. 2018.
Ellis, M. J., Leddy, J., & Willer, B. (2016). Multi-disciplinary management of athletes with post-concussion syndrome: an evolving pathophysiological approach. Frontiers in neurology, 7, 136.
Hall, E. D., Vaishnav, R. A., & Mustafa, A. G. (2010). Antioxidant therapies for traumatic brain injury. Neurotherapeutics, 7(1), 51-61.
Kolasinski, S. L., Neogi, T., Hochberg, M. C., Oatis, C., Guyatt, G., Block, J., … & Gellar, K. (2020). 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 72(2), 220-233.
McCrory, P., Meeuwisse, W., Dvorak, J., Aubry, M., Bailes, J., Broglio, S., … & Davis, G. A. (2017). Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016. British journal of sports medicine, 51(11), 838-847.
Patterson, Z. R., & Holahan, M. R. (2012). Understanding the neuroinflammatory response following concussion to develop treatment strategies. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 6, 58.
www.cdc.gov,

Extra Resources

I have found many books, articles, podcasts, and webinars very helpful in my recovery journey and brain health coaching. Here are some of my favorites.

Books:

The Concussion Repair Manual: A Practical Guide to Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injuries. By Dr. Dan Engle

The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge

Brain Food by Dr. Lisa Mosconi

Websites:

Canadian Concussion Centre free webinars and other resources

Cattonline.com concussion awareness training tool

Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation

Headway foundation

Concussionproject.com

Complete Concussion Management App

Norman Doidge’s blog