A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. The sudden movement can cause the brain to twist or bounce, leading to chemical changes and sometimes damaging brain cells.
Because concussions are rarely life-threatening, medical providers may describe the condition as a mild brain injury. Still, the effects can be serious. A person with a severe injury must be hospitalized and may face long-term challenges with:
- Thinking
- Memory
- Coordination and balance
- Learning
- Emotions
- Speech, hearing, and vision
Severe concussions can impact all aspects of life, including social relationships, work, or the ability to do normal daily activities.
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How Our Concussion Care Plan Works
1. Get To The Root Cause Of The Problem
We’re not interested in temporary solutions, we want to address the underlying issue for long-term relief. We’ll take the time to listen to your story and conduct a thorough exam to get to the root cause of the problem.
2. Receive A Plan Based On Your Goals And Our Findings
No two people experience the same issue in the same way. That’s why we use your health goals and our exam findings as the guideposts to design an action plan that is unique to you.
3. Live Your Best Life
Having control over your health will unleash your full potential. You’ll no longer be held back from doing what you need, want, and love to do. Without physical limitations or emotional worry, you can be the blessing to your friends and family.
Common Causes and Symptoms of Concussion in Wheaton, IL
Causes of Concussions
Our brain is made of soft and squishy tissue. A layer of cerebrospinal fluid cushions the brain, protecting it from hitting the skull. A concussion happens when you experience a blow or whiplash-type movement that causes the brain to collide with the skull. The injury stretches and sometimes damages brain cells, which can cause alterations in the brain.
The leading causes of concussions, as seen in emergency departments, include:
- Falls
- Auto accidents
- Unintentionally being struck by an obstacle
- Playing sports
Each of these injuries can cause abnormal brain function for a period of time, resulting in concussion symptoms. Car accidents, falls, and injuries while playing a sport are common causes; any contact sport could lead to a concussion. For kids, most of these injuries occur while riding bikes or playing sports like football and wrestling on the playground.
In most cases, concussions aren’t life-threatening. Still, the effects can last for days, weeks, or even longer.
Concussion Symptoms
Common concussion symptoms include:
- Headache
- Confusion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Double or blurry vision
- Balance problems and dizziness
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Feeling drowsy or tired
- Sleep pattern changes
- Ringing in the ears
- Being irritable, nervous, or anxious
- Feeling in a “fog” or “not right”
Diagnosing symptoms in infants and toddlers can be challenging since they cannot say what’s wrong. Watch for the following symptoms in young children:
- Head bumps
- Being irritable, cranky
- Vomiting
- Sleepy at unusual times
- Will not nurse or eat
- Blank stare
- Fussier than usual
Of course, you need to see a doctor after you or your child bumps their head.
Types of Concussions in Wheaton, IL
Doctors determine how severe a concussion is by three grades, ranging from mild to severe. Some signs make it clear which grade you’ve experienced.
Grades 1 and 2
A Grade 1 concussion is the most mild form; symptoms don’t last any longer than 15 minutes.
Grade 2 is more intense. This moderate injury results in symptoms longer than 15 minutes, but you still don’t lose consciousness. Factors like symptom intensity and durability will determine the grade of your injury.
Even if a doctor diagnoses you with a Grade 1 or 2 injury, don’t assume that means you can return to normal life. You may need to wait until certain symptoms clear up before continuing regular activities, which could take as long as a week.
Grade 3
The most severe brain injuries are Grade 3 and may include a loss of consciousness, even for a few seconds. Doctors always recommend getting a medical evaluation for this type of injury; a severe concussion could result in life-threatening complications, such as brain bleeding.
There may also be cognitive problems following a Grade 3 injury. A doctor may ask simple questions to evaluate your concentration and memory.
Hitting your head can result in a robust list of symptoms that seem minor at first, such as a headache and dizziness. Still, visiting your chiropractor for next steps is the best course of action.
How We Treat Concussion in Wheaton, IL
There are several ways to tackle treatment and expedite recovery for a concussion.
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
We begin the assessment of a patient presenting with a concussion by taking a detailed history including the mechanism of injury, associated symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, and the subsequent change in cognition. In this section, pronator comparisons and range of motion of the individual, the level of non-paralytic muscle activity, and neural reflexes or vaginal birth are rated.
In the physical exam, we assess the range of motion, strength of the muscles, and neurological aspects like reflexes and coordination movements. I am also concerned with the cervical spine as it is more likely than not that there will also be neck trauma with a concussion. If needed, imaging studies such as X-ray or MRI might also be done to rule out other complications. After this examination, we design an individual management program for the patient, including spinal correction, soft tissue manipulation, and therapeutic exercises aimed at recovery.
Specific Chiropractic Care
Conventional medicine usually focuses on medicated management, but you can take treatment one step further with chiropractic care. Instead of throwing anti-inflammatories at your muscles, your chiropractor will attempt to address the root cause of the pain and the origin of the injury, which is often a musculoskeletal or nervous system dysfunction.
In the spine, 33 vertebrae keep you upright and active, including those holding your head in place. Experiencing whiplash or blunt force in the brain can knock the vertebrae out of place; even a millimeter’s misalignment could disrupt cellular communication and result in a surprisingly high number of symptoms.
A chiropractor can evaluate and help manage your symptoms in the long term. Chiropractors with sports medicine training are often especially well-trained to treat concussions, but all have the essential expertise to help.
Cervical Spinal Decompression
As a chiropractor treating patients who are recovering from concussion injuries, we frequently recommend cervical spinal decompression especially if the neck is involved since this part of the body is affected in most cases with concussion. The cervical spine is usually stretched using this non-invasive procedure thereby relieving pressure on the disc and nerves resulting from an impact on them. With decompression, there is better alignment of the spine as well as increased blood circulation around the several affected areas thereby promoting implantation of new tissues itself and reducing other symptoms including headaches, neck pains alongside dizziness as well. The reduction in muscle tension which is associated with concussion, makes it easier for the nervous system to recover significantly leading to better treatment outcomes among all patients.
Physical and Mental Rest
In the first few days, letting your brain rest is the most appropriate way to let it recover. Your doctor will recommend physical and mental rest following a concussion.
Relative rest, including limiting activities that require mental concentration and thinking, is advocated for a couple of days after an injury. But complete rest, such as avoiding all stimuli in the dark, is neither beneficial nor recommended.
Instead, you should avoid any physically-taxing activity that exerts your body and increases symptoms until such a time that they no longer do.
Returning to Routine Activity
As your symptoms improve, you may slowly introduce new activities involving more mental exertion. Your chiropractor can tell you when it’s safe to resume light physical activity. When all the symptoms have resolved, you can start a discussion about safely returning to sports without risking another brain injury.
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2150 Manchester Rd. Ste. 100, Wheaton, IL 60187
Frequently Asked Questions
What are concussions?
A concussion is a strike to the head or body resulting in headaches, dizziness, and confusion. It results from a microscopic brain injury that is sometimes not detected on brain scans.
What happens during concussions?
A strike to the head or body can cause the brain to rapidly move back and forth, colliding with the skull. These can also result in rotational injuries in which the brain twists and possibly shears some nerve fibers. It’s not currently known what exactly happens to the brain cells, but chemical function changes appear to happen. In other words, a brain injury could lead to a robust menu of symptoms that burdens the body during recovery.
Are concussions common?
Concussions are the most common head injury. Falls are most common in infants and older adults, but otherwise, motor vehicle accidents cause the most concussion. Males are three times as likely to experience a head injury.
How long do concussion symptoms last?
Though more than half of people with minor brain injuries have symptoms a week after the incident, more than 80% recover within one month. Symptoms gradually go away for most, but a small percentage of patients still have them after six weeks. At this point, they are diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.
What determines a concussion’s outcome?
Everyone heals differently; recovery depends on age, health, the severity of the injury, and whether or not this is their first concussion. Remember, more than 80% of people recover within three weeks of their injury with correct treatment management.