Concussion Treatment
Are you experiencing pain and unexpected symptoms after a recent accident or after having hit your head? You may be suffering from a concussion. If you are, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Some concussions can be serious, depending on the severity and intensity of the impact. Even if pain and symptoms do not seem severe after a direct impact to the head, you may still be at risk of a severe concussion. Contact us at AICA Orthopedics to learn more about concussion treatment and pain relief.
Most common symptoms of a concussion include a headache, vision disturbances, seizures, reduced mental function, difficulty with physical coordination, and more. It’s important to seek an examination or treatment from a doctor after any kind of impact or injury to the head, even if your head does not hurt or the injury otherwise does not seem painful. The severity of a concussion is not always apparent without the help of an experienced doctor.
At AICA Orthopedics, we have a number of diagnostic and imaging tests to help identify whether or not you have a concussion and the severity of the injury. Our combination of orthopedic doctors and specialists at AICA will provide an accurate diagnosis and recommendations for effective concussion treatment. Contact our office to get started.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury that can directly impact the function of the brain. Concussions take place after any kind of direct impact to the head or as a result of a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the body (and brain). The brain is protected from everyday movement and jolts by a protective spinal fluid and by being encased in a protective shell within the skull. However, some movements and impacts can be more severe than the protective spinal fluid can brace for, resulting in a concussion, which is essentially a bruise on the brain.
What Can Cause a Concussion?
A concussion is the result of a direct impact to the head. You may experience a concussion after being involved in an automobile accident, having an accident on a bicycle, or otherwise hitting your head against a surface or object. Below are a number of ways an individual may receive a concussion:
- Automobile accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Sports-related accidents
- Head being hit by a moving object
- Slipping or falling and hitting your head on a wall, surface, or floor
- Any sudden acceleration or deceleration of the body that causes the head to start or stop moving suddenly
Diagnosing a Concussion
Diagnosing a concussion is important immediately after an injury. The sooner a diagnosis for a concussion is made, the sooner that concussion treatment can begin to not only provide relief, but also reduce potential swelling and reduce the risk of damage to the brain. When you visit an AICA Orthopedic specialist, you will talk with an experienced medical doctor, get an examination, and be administered diagnostic imaging tests (depending on your situation):
- CT Scan (computerized tomography) – computerized x-ray that creates images of the brain.
- EEG (electroencephalogram) – captures and analyzes electrical activity within the brain.
- EMG (electromyogram) & NCV (nerve conduction studies) – provides data on the electrical activity of nerves and muscles (which can be affected after a concussion).
- MRI scan – creates detailed images of the brain (through the use of magnetic energy, instead of radiation).
- X-rays – provides images of bone fractures within the body.
These tests help a doctor to make an informed and accurate assessment of the brain and any potential damage, swelling, and more. Through these diagnostic imaging tests, a personalized recommendation for treatment can be provided.
Diagnostics
CT scan
If you are suffering from a concussion, your doctor will likely want to confirm their suspicions with various tests such as the CT scan, which will create a composite image of the brain using different angles of cross-sections.
LEARN MOREMRI scan
MRI scans can provide images of the brain using magnetic field technology and radio waves without the use of radiation. They show very detailed visuals of brain injuries like concussions.
LEARN MOREEEG
Electroencephalograms are useful in the diagnosis of brain function based upon electrical activity in the brain. Concussion diagnoses often cause the need for tests like this to confirm that the brain has not suffered harm from the incident that caused the concussion.
NCV
Nerve tests such as NCV’s and EMG’s might also be recommended by physicians to assess if the brain is responding properly based upon the nerves that interact with the brain.
LEARN MORESymptoms of a Concussion
Symptoms associated with a concussion involve more than just a little or a lot of head pain. The severity of a concussion can impact the number of symptoms you may experience and the intensity of the injury overall. In any case, if you experience any of the following symptoms after an impact to the head or any type of accident, reach out to your doctor to get proper medical treatment:
- Vision disturbances (e.g., larger pupils than normal, or pupils of unequal sizes)
- Seizures
- Apparent difficulty in physical coordination and/or mental function
- Any symptoms that worsen as time progresses
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical help immediately:
- Constant vomiting
- Thirty seconds or longer of loss of consciousness
- A worsening headache
- Unexpected change in behavior (especially including unusual irritability)
- Clumsiness, stumbling, and/or any change in physical coordination
- Unusual disorientation and/or confusion, such as a difficulty recognizing where you are, people you know, and so on
- Changes in speech, such as slurred speech
Concussion Treatment Options
If you are experiencing any of the severe symptoms of a concussion, get medical help immediately. If you’ve been involved in an accident or have recently suffered an injury to the head, contact us to see if you experienced a concussion. It’s important to care for any type of head injury as soon as possible, no matter how minor it may seem. With AICA Orthopedics, you’ll have an opportunity to get an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment from our group of medical specialists:
Neurologists
Neurologists are specialized in diagnosing and treating any kind of disease or injury to the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and peripheral nerves. If you’re dealing with a concussion, a neurologist may be the first medical specialist you’ll be recommended if you visit a general doctor.
LEARN MOREChiropractors
In many cases, chiropractic can provide relief from pain and discomfort associated with injuries to the brain and/or spine. Although it may not be a direct form of treatment for an injury to the head and/or brain, chiropractic can be combined with recommended treatment for effective relief, realignment of the spine, reduced nerve interference (especially after an accident or injury), and more.
LEARN MOREYour doctor will provide additional instructions on concussion treatment for optimal recovery, including getting plenty of physical rest (by getting enough sleep and taking naps as necessary throughout the day), avoiding certain physical activities and/or sports (especially if it caused the concussion in the first place), additional medication, and more.
Some non-physical activities that require thinking and mental concentration may need to be reduced, as well, including certain TV shows, schoolwork, video games, texting, reading, using a computer, and more. Generally, these restrictions last for as long as they prompt your concussion symptoms to return.
In rare and extreme cases, surgery may be required if there has been damage to the skull and/or brain. Orthopedic surgeons and spine interventional specialists can recommend surgery options, but in many cases, concussions are not severe enough to require surgery.
Our experienced team of doctors will provide effective treatment for any severity of a concussion. Give us a call at AICA Orthopedics with any questions or to schedule an appointment.
