What is a concussion?

Your brain floats within your skull surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions it from the light bounces of everyday movement. But the fluid may not be able to absorb the force of a sudden hard blow or a quick stop. A violent jar or shock to your head can cause a concussion.

A concussion is a significant blow to the head that results in loss of contact with the environment and atleast a brief loss of the ability to form new memories. This is usually associated with a loss of consciousness. The unconscious period may be may be instantainious or last several minutes. This episode is often followed by some degree of amnesia. The amnesia may only involve the time of the accident itself, or may include many hours before or after the event. Complete memory recovery for the event may not occur.

In most cases of concussion there is no associated visible damage to the brain but even so, it should be treated as a serious occurrence. Concussions have been known to occur after even minor trauma to the head.

Bleeding into or around the brain can occur with any blow to the head, whether or not a concussion has occured. The patients, therefore, should be observed for atleast twenty-four hours afterwards.

The symptoms that usually follow a concussion may include a headachy feeling, abnormal sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, lack of feeling or emotion, anxiety, blurred vision, vomiting, and the inability to remember events prior to the injury. These are called "post concussion syndrome." If the period of unconsciousness is prolonged the symptoms may be more persistent and severe. In cases of repeated concussion such as that found in boxers, damage to the brain, impaired concentration, slurred speech, slow thinking and the punch drunk syndrome are possible. As with anyone who has been knocked unconscious a doctor may advise bed rest and observation. Depending on the severity of the concussion this can be done at home or in the hospital.

If bleeding has been detected on the CT scan, hospital admission is required. Once the patient is feeling better, able to walk unassisted, and eating normally, they may be followed at home. After discharge, the patient should be seen at regular periods by their family physician.

I recommend Tylenol rather than aspirin for the headaches.

Symptoms of Post Concussion Syndrome
Patients with a concussion may have significant persistent symptoms commonly know as Post-Concussive Syndrome. Most individuals improve without medical attention. However, others may have a slow recovery period, and the symptoms may negatively impact their academic, professional, and private lives. These symptoms may develop days or weeks after the initial trauma.

• Persistent low-grade headaches
• Having more trouble than usual remembering things, concentrating, or making decisions
• Feeling tired all the time
• Feeling sad, anxious, or listless
• Becoming easily irritated for little or no reason
• slight fever

These usually pass in a few weeks or months, but can linger for quite a while. In some cases, the patient never makes a full recovery.

Please make a follow up appointment for one week from discharge, with either my office or your primary care physician.

Mayo Clinic on "concussion"