Experiencing a concussion can be overwhelming but understanding the recovery process and how to take control of your recovery is crucial to regaining your health and returning to activities. After a concussion, rest is important, but there’s more you can do to manage symptoms than simply rest. Receiving the right treatment after a concussion can help to speed up recovery.

CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS

Most Chiropractors see patients with concussions after they have been diagnosed. Their symptoms often impact school, work, or their ability to return to sports and exercise. The most common concussion symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Difficulty concentrating or feeling like you are in a fog
• Memory problems
• Dizziness
• Visual disturbances like blurry vision or eye strain
• Light or noise sensitivity
• Sleep disturbance
• Mood changes

CONCUSSION RECOVERY AND TREATMENT

The number one thing you can do to maximize your recovery from a concussion is to build a strong recovery and treatment team. Your recovery journey should involve a collaborative team of professionals. Be sure to share your specific goals with your team.

CREATING YOUR CONCUSSION RECOVERY AND TREATMENT TEAM

Who do you need on your team? Your exact symptoms, complications during recovery, and severity of your concussion will influence exactly who should make up your concussion recovery and treatment team. Your team may include:

PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

Your PCP is often your initial point of contact for concussion management. If you were evaluated in the emergency room, you will be asked to follow up with your PCP who will monitor your recovery. Your PCP can also serve as a referral source to other professionals if your insurance requires a referral for coverage.

Chiropractor: Your Chiropractor can help you along your journey to recovery post-concussion. These are some common conditions the Chiropractors at Aascend Chiropractic can help you with:

• Headaches and neck pain: Headache treatment and neck pain treatment may include soft tissue or joint mobilization, spinal manipulation, dry needling, neuromuscular education, stretching, and strengthening. Headaches that occur or worsen with activity can often be improved with a very specific cardiovascular exercise progression and strength training. We always recommend you increase exercise under the close supervision of a medical professional after a concussion.
• Worsening symptoms with activity: Use the knowledge of your concussion recovery team to help you define specific guidelines for when to increase activity and when to rest. Ask questions of your team like, “Which symptoms are ok to exercise through? How intense should a headache be before I stop exercising?” Use this knowledge to allow you to progress safely through your concussion recovery.
• Sleep hygiene: Because sleep is one of the most important parts of your recovery, your provider will likely teach you about proper sleep hygiene and provide you with tips and tricks to improve your sleep quality.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

After a concussion, it’s essential to address the mental and emotional aspects of your recovery. Your mental and emotional symptoms after a concussion may benefit from counseling. If these aspects are overlooked, it may prolong the time needed for physical recovery.

NEUROLOGIST

A neurologist is not always involved after a concussion. However, your recovery team may refer you to a neurologist if your concussion symptoms are severe, if you have experienced multiple concussions, or if your symptoms are not improving as expected.

COACHES AND ATHLETIC TRAINERS

If you want to return to competitive sports after a concussion, your coaches and athletic trainers should maintain frequent communication with your concussion recovery and treatment team.

SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND NURSES

If you are returning to school, your concussion recovery team may recommend “brain breaks” in your school day. Working closely with your teachers, school counselor, and school nurse makes this process less stressful.

HOW TO SPEED UP RECOVERY

Unfortunately, there is no magic pill to speed up recovery from a concussion. However, the key part of recovery that is within your control is building a strong recovery and treatment team and actively participating in your concussion treatment. Start by seeking treatment to reduce concussion symptoms as quickly as possible. Your recovery team will monitor you closely and tell you if you are recovering at an appropriate speed. If not, they can refer you to a specialist to keep your concussion recovery moving forward. Having a skilled and knowledgeable recovery team on your side will help you achieve the fastest possible recovery after your concussion.

IS IT NORMAL FOR CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS TO COME AND GO?

Yes. Concussion symptoms tend to increase and decrease, especially with activity. Knowing when to rest and when to push yourself is not intuitive. Instead, lean on your recovery team to help answer the questions of when to push yourself and when to rest. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER AFTER A CONCUSSION?

I wish I had a simple answer to this question for you, but I do not. Recovery after a concussion is different for each person. The severity of your concussion, number of prior concussions, treatment after your concussion, history of headaches or migraines before your concussion, and many more variables affect your recovery from symptoms and total recovery time after a concussion.  If your goal is to return to school or work that requires constant concentration and a high level of athletic activity, making a “full recovery” will likely take longer than someone who is mentally and physically less active.



START TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR RECOVERY TODAY

Aascend Chiropractic has a specialized team of providers as well as the best technology to be able to help with your recovery. Our Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy chamber is a key to helping place your body in the best environment for recovery. Our TECAR diathermy unit will help ease the pain and tension of soft tissue pains. Our Class IV MLS Laser will also help the healing process by encouraging tissue healing and repair. Contact the professionals at Aascend Chiropractic today to take control of your recovery!