Concussion Specialist in Frisco, TX and Fort Worth, TX

Concussions occur when the body or head undergoes a substantial bump, jolt, or blow that causes the brain to move around back and forth in the skull quickly and is considered a traumatic brain injury. They are not typically life-threatening so the injury is often considered mild, but sustaining multiple concussions or severe concussions can lead to long-term or permanent damage to the brain. Concussions are commonly incurred during incidents with athletes, car accidents, or suffering from a bad fall that results in impact to the head.

The early indicators that one may have incurred a concussion after a significant blow or bump to the head will most likely include a headache with feelings of nausea or lightheadedness. More serious concussions can cause symptoms such as loss of consciousness, vomiting, problems with balance or dizziness, confusion, blurry or double vision, and sometimes ringing in the ears. If you or someone you are with has experienced impact to their head and is displaying any of these early signs, it is very important that they be assessed by a healthcare provider right away.

There are three stages associated with recovering from a concussion: 1. Acute symptomatic phase, 2. Recovery phase, and 3. Recovered phase. The acute symptomatic phase is the stage from the time of injury until the symptoms have started to alleviate. During this period, it is important to keep an eye on the symptoms to decipher if the concussion is mild or requires medical attention. Some signs that are considered severe following a concussion include convulsions or seizures, loss of consciousness, inability to stay awake, persistent vomiting and indicate that the patient should seek emergency medical attention immediately. The recovery stage of a concussion includes when the symptoms start to lessen, allowing for the patient to start partaking in slightly more intense physical and mental activities without experiencing worsened symptoms afterwards. Moving into stage 2 should be gradual to ensure that the brain has time to heal properly. Once the patient is entirely symptom-free and is back to engaging in activities as they did before the concussion, they have reached the final, recovered stage. Each individual will have differing timelines for each of these phases.

The most common symptom of a concussion is a headache, or feeling of pressure building in the head. Other common symptoms for mild concussions include:

– Sensitivity to noise or light
– Vomiting
– Nausea
– Blurry vision
– Lethargy or grogginess
– Confusion
– Struggling with concentration or memory
– Problems with balance or dizziness

It is common in more severe concussions to develop symptoms such as significant changes in mood or personality, loss of consciousness, struggling to stay awake, and more. If the patient is displaying more severe symptoms, they should be assessed by a healthcare professional as quickly as possible.

Most people are able to recover from a mild concussion fairly quickly, often only needing a couple of weeks before they can resume normal activities, but sometimes requiring a few months or longer before their symptoms are entirely gone. Severe concussions can easily take months or even years before the patient is able to resume all activities normally again, with many people suffering from long-term effects that prevent them from engaging in some activities again. Everyone recovers differently, and recovery from one concussion may be entirely different compared to previous concussions in the same person. The pace of full recovery is difficult to determine but it is very important that the process is not rushed to ensure that the brain is able to heal entirely to prevent incurring another concussion before the brain has fully healed.

A concussion is the immediate but brief loss of mental function caused by a blow to the head or other injury to the head. If you are suffering from a concussion Pain Specialist of Frisco may be the right place to visit. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Frisco, TX and Fort Worth, TX. We serve patients from Frisco TX, Fort Worth TX, Prosper TX, Little Elm TX, The Colony TX, Haltom City TX, Benbrook TX, North Richland Hills TX, and surrounding areas.