A concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury that typically occurs when a person suffers a direct hit to the head or a whiplash injury. This leads to coup and countercoup movement, where the outside force causes the brain to accelerate against the skull before decelerating and hitting the back of the skull.

These movements can lead to bruising and swelling of brain tissues. Damage to blood vessels and nerves may also happen.

To find out more about TBI check out our article: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI): ARE YOU AT RISK?

Data from the Brain Injury Research Institute has shown that every year, approximately 10% of athletes who engage in contact sports sustain concussion injuries. Furthermore, 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from traumatic brain injuries, with at least 1 TBI case occurring every 15 seconds.

In some cases, the MRI or CT scan doesn’t show any abnormalities; however, the patient may experience various symptoms that indicate the concussion. Furthermore, the symptoms often don’t show up for hours or even days after the accident took place.

What are some of the symptoms of a concussion?

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, the symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light,
• Irritability
• Depression and/or anxiety
• Impulsivity
• Lack of initiation
• Impaired awareness
• Attention
• Word-finding and memory problems
• Difficulty filtering noise
• Trouble focusing
• Drowsiness
• Insomnia, and/or altered sleep patterns

Recovering from a concussion

Many patients often fail to report the injury and the concussion remains undetected. Unfortunately, when the concussion is left untreated, it may take much longer to recover from it.

Most people fully recover from concussion within 1 month. The recovery time  should take an average of 7-10 days. However, the length of the recovery largely depends on the severity of the injury, the time it took the patient to seek treatment, the patient’s adherence to the rehabilitation regimen, and the presence of pre-existing medical conditions. In rare cases, recovery can take longer than 6 weeks, which is known as post-concussion syndrome.

Although the severity of brain damage that patients sustain from concussions is mild, the consequences to health and wellbeing may not be. Without timely treatment, recovery might be slower. Therefore, if you have suffered any blow to the head, experts at Neulife Rehab and Brain Injury Center strongly recommend that you seek medical consultation.

This is extremely important as only medical experts can determine the full extent of the injury and the best course of treatment. Worse cases usually warrant a visit to a reputable post-acute rehab facility to help patients return to their pre-injury state in the soonest and safest possible time.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following factors may further delay recovery:

• History of brain injury

• Learning difficulties

• Mental health problem

• Stress

When you are on the road to full recovery, do not overexert yourself. Experts warn against returning to your normal physical activity until you are given the go-ahead by your doctor. If you sustain a second concussion without fully recovering from the first one, then this can have very serious health consequences.

At Neulife Rehab our team of qualified professionals helps our patients return to their pre-injury state through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and many other scientifically-proven rehabilitation practices. At first, you might find it harder to process information. However, this stage is temporary and you will see improvements as you continue with the rehabilitation.

Here are some tips to help you quickly recover from a concussion

• It is important to increase your activity levels gradually

• Take much-needed breaks in between to prevent fatigue 

• Make sure to get an adequate amount of sleep

• Drink a lot of water, and maintain a healthy diet. 

• Do not drink alcohol during the recovery period, as the dehydration it causes will slow down the recovery process. 

With the guidance of our staff at Neulife Rehab, you will achieve recovery.

NeuLife Rehabilitation – the best choice for a Brain Injury Center

NeuLife Rehabilitation is one of the largest residential post-acute rehab programs specializing in rehabilitation for a wide range of catastrophic injuries. We are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in Brain Injury Specialty Programs and Residential Rehabilitation.

Our professional staff make sure that you and your family are being taken care of by the best specialists in the area. We encourage you to find out more about our facility and our programs. If you have any questions at all, we are here for you. Call us or make a referral using our easy to navigate and convenient online form. We are looking forward to helping you achieve your recovery goals.

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health