Overview
What is post-concussion syndrome? Post-concussion syndrome is a typical state of being where a person undergoes symptomatic differences in his or her normal behavior after a traumatic head injury or traumatic brain injury. There are many possibilities for how traumatic brain injuries can take place. It can occur through motor vehicle accidents, T-bone accidents, rear-end collisions, sports, conflict, and unending reasons.
The post-concussion syndrome does not occur immediately, followed by brain bleeds or brain-damaging accidents. A concussion comes into effect soon after the accident affecting the brain. As the trauma is treated, the lapsing period is given for rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the patient may develop post-concussion syndrome. This will be the subject matter of discussion in this blog.
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What causes post-concussion syndrome?
Post-concussion syndrome is caused by a brain injury. It is predominantly caused by an external force, providing space for a violent blow to the head or a whiplash injury alike. Communication is passed from the brain to the entire body to react positively or negatively. A strong blow to the head can cause a serious concussion.
The concussion can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. Both physical injuries and psychological wounds caused by the brain can ignite post-concussion syndrome in men and women. This is identified through various persisting post-concussive symptoms.
What are the long-term effects of post-concussion syndrome?
As the hit affects the head, we tend to have certain difficulties even after the treatment. It may have some serious effects for a longer period. It may include walking difficulty, dementia, migraine headache, anxiety, depression, impulsive behavior, aggression, cognitive impairment, sensitivity to light and noise, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Can post concussion syndrome get worse over time if left untreated?
Any injury left untreated for a longer time will have repercussions. It is applicable to persisting post-concussive disorder too. Untreated headaches will have sleeping disorders, and post-concussion syndrome’s long-term effects can diminish brain growth over time. The more you push without any treatment and guidance from a psychiatrist will lead to dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s symptoms. It is good to take precautions before it evolves into something unprecedented.
How long does post-concussion syndrome last?
Many believe that persisting post-concussive syndrome may not last for long. It may exist after 5-10 days of concussion or a violent hit on the head. As it surfaces, it remains for up to 6 weeks. If the side effect is very severe, it may prolong to 6 months. Till 1 year can be tolerable for rehabilitation. If post-concussion syndrome persists even longer, it needs to be treated with immediate effect. It can sometimes lead to aimers’ disease or Parkinson’s disease, which is incurable.
Can you fly with a concussion?
Flying with concussion can be safe, but it often makes symptoms worse, at least temporarily. Doctors generally recommend waiting until the worst symptoms have improved and the brain has had time to heal.
Some airplane rides can worsen concussion symptoms because of the lower oxygen levels. People with concussions may experience increased headaches, dizziness, and mental fog due to the changes in air pressure. If you have to fly after a concussion, it’s best to take it easy and avoid anything too physical to give your body the chance to rest and recover.
What are the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome?
Various symptoms indicate post-concussion syndrome after the concussion. It does not necessarily mean the typical effect of the trauma is preceded by the persisting post-concussive signs. It can also be a minor shock alleging the brain wire to get the following indicators like behavioral disorder, disorganized expression, forgetfulness, and illogical thought sharing.
It can also cause other deep-rooted symptoms to recognize the persisting post-concussive syndrome in both men and women. At the same time, the physical complications emphasize migraine and headaches. Psychological issues of post-concussion symptoms surface apathy, anxiety, stress, and cognitive impairment- concentration and memory loss.
Diagnosis for post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome diagnosis is not as easy as people imagine. The magic of diagnosis depends on the health care professional and the doctor. The neurologist gives time for the patient to recover from the concussion. Even after the month-long wait gives no relief to the patient, the doctor goes to identify the symptoms occurring.
The observation will give a decent idea of specific treatments. If it is too tough to identify, the doctor may persuade the patient to go for an MRI or CT-Scans. They will try to rule out all the possibilities of any brain damage or concussion persisting until now. This in-depth diagnosis will lead to better treatment for persisting post-concussive syndrome.
Treatment for post-concussion syndrome
How to deal with post-concussion syndrome? Treatment for persisting post-concussive syndrome is little different from any other external wound. Treating the brain tissues and the entire nervous system can create a lot of complications leading to headaches or migraine. Health care professionals avoid suggesting fastidious methods of post-concussive healing.
Medications for post-concussion syndrome include antidepressants, antihypertensive medicines, and anti-epileptic medications. Doctors approve some therapies to overcome persisting post-concussive syndrome. The treatment for post-concussion syndrome may include
- Vision therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Exertion therapy
- Physical therapy
- Neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy
- Balance therapy
How to get rid of post-concussion syndrome? It is easy to get rid of post-concussion syndrome following the therapies. Some doctors say there is no specified treatment for long-term post-concussion syndrome. Neurologists suggest that proper rest and a healthy diet will help people overcome post-concussion syndrome.
The environment needs to be pleasing to the sufferers. Symptoms like migraine and headaches can be cured through medication. The stress can be reduced through happy moments and spending time with like-minded groups. It has a deep relationship with psychological factors too.
Frequent queries on post-concussion syndrome
People with persisting post-concussive syndrome have no ease, so they ask various questions connecting with their social situations. Let me point out a few frequent thoughts about people’s research on a daily basis. These views will be helpful in dealing with such situations to remain ever healthy and lead a comfortable life.
- Post-concussion and high altitude
It is natural to understand that as the altitude increases, the oxygen level decreases, so we feel freezing. Oxygen plays an essential role in blood supply. And the brain needs oxygenated blood for the proper functioning of the nervous system. At high altitudes, the cerebral blood flow increases, making the artery blood puff and increasing intracranial pressure. Such an attempt leads to a brain bulge, creating more damage to the brain. Here, persisting post-concussive syndrome gives way to other nerves to malfunction. Therefore, it is not advised to travel by flight during the post-concussion rehabilitation period. So also, no more mountaineering for such patients.
- Post-concussion syndrome and migraines
It is a common symptom to note that immediately after a concussion or a hit on the head will start headaches and migraine headaches in some people. It can last for a few hours to 7 days. Nevertheless, for persisting post-concussive syndrome, the migraines will start after 7 days of the concussion and may last for 3-6 months. It can create a lot of sleeping trouble for the patient. It can also bring havoc to the quality of life. It feels like a tight band in the head, creating pressure on the entire body.
- Post-concussion syndrome and alcohol
Patients have the misunderstood identity that people can sleep better as alcohol is consumed. A healthy body needs proper sleep. This is true to the typical understanding. However, for a person with post-concussion syndrome, taking alcohol is suicidal. Alcohol is a neurotoxin. It can destroy the brain cells and leave long damage to the brain.
Nobody can circumvent the rule for persisting post-concussive syndrome by replacing medicine and therapies with cocaine and alcohol. The suggestion from the doctor and neurologist would be to avoid alcohol while the concussion syndrome gets cured. The patient has no alternative but to pay heed to neuro specialists.
- Post-concussion and vertigo
After a traumatic brain injury, people tend to get vertigo or misbalance. It is because dizziness projects the world and the environment to be moving ruggedly around them. There is a strong connotation between post-concussion syndrome and vertigo. The vertigo symptoms may last for a few hours in severe brain damage cases. In fact, it occurs even after the persisting post-concussive syndrome rehabilitation. The sudden movement of the head causes vertigo. It makes patients no longer move but static.
- Post-concussion syndrome and COVID
The concussion management, after comparing and analyzing, determined that no more assumptions were left unnoticed on post COVID rehabilitation. Many clinical presentations showed that inflammation creates risk for the central nervous system. There is an association between brain fog and concussion. This happens among chronic COVID patients.
The inflammation in the central nervous system can bulge the brain tissues causing a detrimental effect on the brain. Post-COVID can lead persisting post-concussive syndrome patients to be more stressed in the future. How to get rid of brain fog from concussion? According to concussion management, it is long-lasting, and the recovery remains less than 20%.
- Post-concussion syndrome and anxiety
Persisting post-concussive syndrome causes anxiety and depression in the patient. It is enervating and weakening mental health. The neurons can pass the information related to the external objects. For instance, as we go to the malls and other shopping areas before the concussion, we feel the pleasantness of enjoying all the colors associated with it.
The post-concussion syndrome makes things worse for people with depression and anxiety. The same incident of visiting a mall will turn out to be a terrifying occasion for the patient. The pleasant music becomes irritable. The attractive colors become a stimulus creating tension and ill-temper. Post-concussion syndrome, depression, and anxiety need to be dealt with accordingly with the help of a psychiatrist.
- Post-concussion syndrome and caffeine
Doctors have mixed responses about caffeine and post-concussive syndrome. Doctors strictly ask the patients to avoid caffeine immediately after the concussion. As the recovery takes place from the concussion, some suggest caffeine would be adopted for the purpose of relaxation.
Can you have caffeine with a concussion? Some neurologists point out that caffeine kills sleep, so it should be avoided even during post-concussion syndrome. This is because the patients suffering from persisting post-concussion syndrome need to have timely sleep to overcome stress, tension, depression, and anxiety.
- Post-concussion syndrome and exercise
It is very evident that post-concussion syndrome leads to neuro-metabolic changes and blood flow dysregulation in the brain tissues. According to scientific research, the mind needs 7-9 hours of rest every day, but it is 6-10 hours for some. The brain cannot be occupied with various work after the concussion.
Post-concussion exercises will help the patient to overcome the persisting post-concussive syndrome. It provides better sleep, giving complete rest to the human brain and the entire body. It improves cognitive performance and eludes debilitating emotional distress, anxiety, fear, tension, and burdensome feelings.
The persisting post-concussive syndrome will be so slow in the curing process if it is not suggested with proper exercise. Non-exercise will lead to fatigue, depression, and short-tempered behavior. After a few days of any concussion or traumatic head injury, one must have certain exercises suggested by the doctors.
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Conclusion
Post-concussion syndrome is a set of symptoms that appear after a few days of concussion. It can last for hours, days, weeks, months, and even years. Though there is no specific medical treatment, behavioral therapy can help improve the persisting post-concussive syndrome. Along with this, there are few developing trends helping people with persisting post-concussive syndrome. They can be psychotherapy, upper cervical care, neuro-therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychological therapy.
The longevity of post-concussion syndrome affects his or her physical and social wellbeing: chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and preexisting vulnerabilities in the brain dysfunction. All of them together process the central nervous system for information sharing. They then reveal it through daily actions, which we call persisting post-concussive symptoms.
This blog has explained the new way of dealing with post-concussion syndrome. I wish you to share your thoughts in the comment box.
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