Understanding concussion symptoms may sound straightforward, but that’s not always true. If you or a loved one has recently suffered a head injury, being vigilant about treating concussion symptoms is both timely and crucial for a multitude of reasons.
Concussions, though often considered “minor” in nature, can substantially impact your brain function and overall health. While a majority of concussions heal on their own within 1-2 weeks, you may find yourself in the unlucky camp of those who suffer from a concussion and have residual symptoms that have yet to recover.
Sadly, most people don’t even know the basics about concussions and what happens after a head injury. As days, weeks, and months go by without any change, life can become difficult. Unfortunately, these symptoms can become daily occurrences if not adequately treated.
At The Neural Connection, we specialize in diagnosing and treating these post-concussion symptoms by focusing on the underlying root causes of dysfunction rather than just the symptoms.
Here’s a brief breakdown to help you with understanding concussion symptoms and what to look for regarding adequate treatment.
Identifying Concussion Symptoms
Concussion symptoms can vary widely but typically include several physical, neurological, cognitive, and emotional disturbances.
Here are some of the most common signs to watch for after a head injury:
Physical/Neurological Symptoms
- Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Balance problems
- Tiredness or drowsiness
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Altered sleep patterns
- Neck or head pain
Cognitive Symptoms
- Feeling as though you are in a fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Delayed response to questions
- Confusion about recent events
- Repeating questions
- Amnesia surrounding the event
Emotional/Behavioral Symptoms
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Fatigue
- Nervousness or anxiety
Why Choose The Neural Connection for Treating Concussion Symptoms?
At The Neural Connection, our approach to treating concussion symptoms sets us apart from the rest. While other providers may focus on masking symptoms with medications and injections, we intentionally address the underlying root causes of your symptoms.
We care about your issues, which is why we need to take an integrative approach to truly understanding why you’re still having symptoms and finding answers for long-term solutions. More importantly, the brain and body are complex. Because of this, we need to consider all aspects of your health to help improve your quality of life.
By focusing on the structural, neurological, and nutritional areas of care, we can uncover and address commonly missed issues that can significantly impact your overall brain health and recovery.
Here’s how we do it:
1. Take a Thorough History:
First, you are far more than your diagnosis, which is why it’s imperative for us to know more about your story, past medical history, and the evolution of your condition. We care about our patients, which is why we want to know you, not just your symptoms.
80% of our diagnosis comes from taking a thorough history. But taking a history also allows us to get to know who you are and understand what you want from your care.
Most medical providers overlook this first step! We believe this is a missed opportunity to build a trusting relationship between a doctor and a patient.
2. Comprehensive Neuro-Orthopedic Assessment:
Next, we perform a thorough structural and neurological bedside assessment to understand the full extent of your concussion and subsequent injuries. This assessment includes a complete neurological examination, structural evaluation, and visual/vestibular testing to pinpoint the specific areas impacted by the injury.
This examination takes us around 60 minutes and can involve:
- Checking reflexes.
- Sensory integration assessments.
- Measuring balance and stability.
- Testing eye-hand coordination.
- Performing objective assessments for balance and visual reflexes to help us quantify your neurological function to use as baselines for pre-and post-testing.
3. Individualized Treatment Plans:
Based on the assessment, we develop a personally tailored treatment plan that addresses both your concussion symptoms and their underlying causes. Your treatment plan might include:
- Brain-Based Therapies: To help restore balance and coordination, sensory integration, core strengthening, eye/hand coordination, and exercises to balance muscular tone.
- Visual and Vestibular Rehabilitation: To help optimize visual and inner ear (balance) functions commonly affected by a concussion.
- Cognitive Exercises: Exercises designed to improve concentration, memory, and other cognitive functions impaired by a head injury.
- Functional Medicine & Nutritional Testing/Counseling: Proving a personalized diet tailored to reduce inflammation, optimize mitochondrial function, promote cellular repair, and essential nutrients to enhance healing and brain health.
4. Ongoing Support and Education:
At The Neural Connection, we believe in empowering our patients with the knowledge and tools they need to understand their concussion symptoms. This includes education about concussion symptoms and prevention strategies and ongoing support from our highly trained doctors.
We believe healing occurs outside the clinic. And that’s why we’re passionate about patient education and helping people change their habits to improve their quality of life. More importantly, our goal is to get our patients back to living their lives without the need to see us consistently.
We will always be here for you, but we know your life exists outside the office. And we want to be aligned on that front!
Patient Success Stories
Our patient-centered approach to care has helped many individuals return to their daily activities with confidence and improved health.
If you want to know more, look at the 88+ 5-star Google Reviews we’ve acquired to get an idea about who we’ve helped and what we’ve been able to do for our patients!
Here’s a great success story from Jill, regarding her daughter’s concussion and work with Dr. Hennes:
“Found Dr. Michael Hennes following a concussion that left my daughter unable to read or go to school. She lost her personality and spent most of every day sleeping or in pain. Dr. Mike walked my daughter through a series of exercises that got increasingly harder over time.
He took the time to teach my daughter and I about her symptoms, what was causing them and how to use the exercises and diet to reduce symptoms and increase her functioning. I am forever grateful for Dr. Mike for helping my get my daughter back. Her personality has returned, she is pain free most of the time and is preparing to go to college in the Fall.”
Understanding Concussion Symptoms Shouldn’t Be Your Job; Let Us Do it For You
At The Neural Connection, we understand the complexities of concussion symptoms. Because of this, we offer a personalized holistic approach to treatment that ensures the best possible recovery for our patients.
Focusing on comprehensive assessments, individualized care, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing education, we help our patients recover from their injuries and improve their overall brain health and quality of life. We know understanding concussion symptoms shouldn’t be your job, so let it be ours!
Similarly, recognizing concussion symptoms early and seeking professional help can significantly improve the effectiveness of treatment and speed up recovery times! Don’t wait any longer than you have already. It’s time to make a change to improve your health.
Contact us today to learn more about our concussion treatment programs and how we can help you or your loved one get back on the path to health.
Click here for a FREE 30-Minute Consultation
*Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Patients are advised to consult their medical provider or primary care physician before trying any remedies or therapies at home.
