Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for concussion or brain injury

by Duncan Bahringer DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Your doctor will recommend that you physically and mentally rest to recover from a concussion. Relative rest, which includes limiting activities that require thinking and mental concentration, is recommended for the first two days after a concussion.Feb 17, 2022

Medication

Researchers found that people who had good cognitive outcomes were more likely to have higher life satisfaction one year after their concussion. The life satisfaction test given to participants ranges in score from five to 35, with lower scores indicating lower life satisfaction.

Therapy

Your doctor may also prescribe the following:

  • Get enough sleep at night so that you feel fully rested
  • Avoid emotionally draining activities or those that require intense concentration
  • Stop taking alcohol or illegal drugs
  • Don’t play video games
  • Stay home from work, if possible
  • Place a cold or ice pack on any swelling
  • Take pain medication

Nutrition

What is the healing process for a concussion? Recovery time from a concussion is usually based on the severity of the concussion, and typically ranges from resting for a few minutes to resting for a month with careful observation for the development, return, or worsening of symptoms during the rest period.

See more

What Is the Difference Between a Concussion and a Traumatic Brain Injury?

  • Sorting Out the Confusion. A traumatic brain injury is an injury that results in physical trauma to the brain. ...
  • Concussion as a Traumatic Brain Injury. A concussion is a milder form of a brain injury. ...
  • Brain Injury by the Numbers. ...
  • Traumatic Brain Injury Compared to Concussions. ...

How long does it take to recover from a concussion?

What to do immediately after a concussion or brain injury?

What is the healing process for a concussion?

What's the difference between a concussion and a brain injury?

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What is the best treatment for a concussion?

In fact, the most effective prescription for a concussion is rest—total rest. 1  For some people that may be easier said than done. But, by giving both the body and brain an extended time-out, the damage caused by a concussion will heal.

How long does it take for a concussion to go away?

You should begin to feel "normal" and free of headaches, dizziness, fuzzy thinking, and other concussion symptoms after two to three of weeks of rest. This means giving your body and your brain a chance to recover according to your doctor's instructions. If after 14 days of rest your symptoms haven't begun to diminish, tell your doctor. 3.

What happens if you get a concussion right away?

If you sustain a head injury and experience symptoms of a concussion right away—such as dizziness, loss of consciousness, or vomiting—do not go back to whatever you were doing even if those symptoms disappear. If you were hurt while playing a sport, for example, do not go back on the field until you've been evaluated by a healthcare provider. 3

How to tell if you have a concussion?

Only a doctor can definitively diagnose a concussion, but there are a number of common symptoms to look out for after a head injury: 5. Dizziness/loss of balance. Disorientation and confusion. A persistent headache that worsens over time. Nausea and/or vomiting.

How long does it take to feel better after a concussion?

A person who's on the mend from a concussion is likely to have days during which he or she feels better than other days .

Why is it important to stay on the sidelines after a blow to the head?

Even a few seconds of feeling stunned or dizzy can indicate damage to the brain, and so it's vital to stay on the sidelines until testing indicates it's OK to get back into the game.

Can you take Tylenol for a concussion?

For an injury that can be tricky to diagnose, treating a concussion is surprisingly straightforward. There's no medication required, although Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help if there's a headache. 1  Sometimes after a head injury, an overnight stay in the hospital for observation is advisable, but it's rarely necessary. Only a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) would require an intervention such as surgery.

What is the best treatment for TBI?

Emergency Treatment for TBI. Emergency care generally focuses on stabilizing and keeping the patient alive, including making sure the brain gets enough oxygen, controlling blood and brain pressure, and preventing further injury to the head or neck. 3 Once the patient is stable, other types of care for TBI can begin.

How to help a person with TBI?

Therapies can help people with TBI recover functions, relearn skills, and find new ways to do things that take their new health status into account. Rehabilitation can include several different kinds of therapy for physical, emotional, and cognitive difficulties and for a variety of activities, such as daily self-care, driving, and interacting with others. Depending on the injury, these treatments may be needed only briefly after the injury, occasionally throughout a person’s life, or on an ongoing basis.

What is the purpose of a hole in the skull for a TBI patient?

Increased pressure from swelling, blood, and other things in the skull damage the brain. A TBI patient’s ICP is monitored during emergency care. In some cases, making a hole in the skull or adding a shunt or drain is needed to relieve pressure inside the skull and allow excess fluid to drain. 4.

How to recover from a TBI?

If a person returns to their normal activities too soon and starts experiencing TBI symptoms, the healing process may take much longer. Certain activities, such as working on a computer and concentrating hard, can tire the brain even though they are not physically demanding. A person with a concussion might need to reduce these kinds of activities or take frequent breaks to let the brain rest.

What is rehabilitation in healthcare?

Rehabilitation generally involves a number of healthcare specialists, the person’s family, and someone who manages the team. 6 They often work together to design a treatment program to meet a person’s specific needs and to improve his or her abilities to function at home and in the community.

What are some ways to reduce pressure in the brain?

Diuretics to help remove fluid that can increase pressure inside the brain 1. Muscle relaxants to reduce muscle spasms and to relax constricted muscles. Stimulants to increase alertness and attention 5. Researchers continue to explore medications that may aid recovery from TBI.

What is the term for a large area of blood in the brain?

Removing blood clots or pools. Bleeding in the brain or between the brain and skull can lead to large areas of clotted blood, sometimes called hematomas. These areas of clotted or pooling blood put pressure on the brain and can damage brain tissues. 1. Repairing skull fractures.

Concussion Risk Factors

The number of people who experience a concussion each year is difficult to pinpoint because many concussions go undetected or unreported. However, mild traumatic brain injury accounts for at least 75 percent of all traumatic brain injuries in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Concussion Signs and Symptoms

A concussion can cause loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. Immediate symptoms may include headache, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, difficulty concentrating, feelings of grogginess, fatigue, or sleepiness, slurred speech, blurred or double vision, and confusion.

Concussion Diagnosis

To diagnose concussion, a doctor will look for symptoms such as confusion and memory loss following a blow to the head or body that may have jostled the brain. They may also test hearing, vision, balance, and reflexes or conduct neurocognitive tests to assess recall, concentration, and problem-solving.

Concussion Treatment

It’s important to get medical care following a head injury. A doctor can help with recovery and monitor for more serious or longer-term effects. If a person is playing sports when the concussion occurs, they should be removed from play, evaluated by a neurologist, and cleared before returning to play.

Concussion Research Efforts

As concussion continues to gain more attention in sports and the media, developing protocols for diagnosis and recovery has become a focus. Current research is also investigating the biological and biochemical mechanisms of traumatic brain injury, secondary conditions such as depression, and how concussions affect the brain long term.

In The News

Beginning with the fall sports season, clinical staff from Orthopedics and Sports Medicine will provide services for Blugold athletes on all 25 men's and women's athletic teams.

The real impact of a concussion

As fall approaches and students prepare to return to school, many look forward to the return of fall and winter sports. However, there are risks associated with sports participation, including concussion.

Baseline concussion testing helped prevent Lake City football player from returning too soon

Before football season officially started this fall, 14-year-old Grant Borgschatz found himself sidelined. A concussion took him out of play for nearly a month. Baseline concussion testing helped him get back in the game safely.

What is a concussion?

Concussions are a hot topic in sports, especially when it comes to the health of our children. What is a concussion? How is it diagnosed? How can it be prevented? Learn all this and more.

What to do after a concussion?

After sustaining a concussion it is very important to avoid any activity that places the individual at risk of sustaining another concussion. Assure the individual that he or she will be okay and that symptoms will reduce soon if he or she follows a recovery plan that balances rest and activity.

How to recover from a concussion?

On the Road to Recovery 1 After sustaining a concussion it is very important to avoid any activity that places the individual at risk of sustaining another concussion 2 Assure the individual that he or she will be okay and that symptoms will reduce soon if he or she follows a recovery plan that balances rest and activity 3 Since most individuals will recover completely, accommodations will be temporary 4 Evaluation by healthcare professionals trained in the care of concussion is important 5 It is just as important that those professionals who are selected to diagnose specific symptoms have expertise in managing those symptoms, such as headache or dizziness

Why is it important to evaluate a concussion?

Evaluation by healthcare professionals trained in the care of concussion is important. It is just as important that those professionals who are selected to diagnose specific symptoms have expertise in managing those symptoms, such as headache or dizziness.

How long does it take for a concussion to go away?

Most people can expect their symptoms to diminish after 2-3 weeks. If symptoms continue beyond 14 days, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional trained in concussion management.

What is the treatment for a concussion?

The current treatment for concussions and TBI (traumatic brain injury) is rest and time. These are helpful, but there is more that you can do.

How to heal a concussion?

Concussion Rescue Healing Protocol. To treat a head injury, I recommend supplements to quench inflammation, antioxidants to reduce oxidative damage, a dietary strategy to help get the brain the fuel it needs to heal, and the right kinds of exercise at the right time.

How many lessons are in Concussion Rescue?

My new online course, Concussion Rescue, is a 15-lesson comprehensive online course designed to put you on a path to brain repair and recovery.

Did David's brain heal after a concussion?

Fortunately, in David’s case, I was able to help his mother develop a strategy that put David’s brain into a healing state instead of allowing his brain to suffer the cascade of events that happen in the brain after a concussion. While David did take it easy and rest for much of the week following his injury, once put on a plan, his symptoms rapidly began to improve. Several weeks later, he had no symptoms and had returned to his happy self.

What is a concussion?

minus. Related Pages. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain ...

Is a concussion serious?

Concussions Are Serious. Medical providers may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a concussion can be serious. YouTube. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 536K subscribers. What Is A Concussion?

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