{"id":25270,"date":"2022-07-21T16:31:14","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T08:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spinefitchiro.com\/?p=25270"},"modified":"2022-07-21T16:32:22","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T08:32:22","slug":"post-concussion-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spinefitchiro.com\/cn\/post-concussion-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Know If I Have A Concussion, and What Should I Do If I Suspect That I Have A Concussion?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When someone hits their head, we often hear the word \u2018concussion\u2019 thrown around. People will often advise us to check with a doctor to see if we are suffering from a concussion, but how exactly is a concussion diagnosed and how do we know if we have it? An even more urgent question is, what should we do if we suspect that we have a concussion? This article will serve as a concise and straightforward guide to those questions and give you the immediate answers you need.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

What is a concussion?<\/b><\/h4>\n

Concussion is a form of<\/span> traumatic brain injury<\/b> that causes a disturbance in brain activity. It commonly happens as a result of an <\/span>accident or sports injury<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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There are 2 ways in which one has a high risk of getting a concussion:<\/span><\/p>\n

First mechanism \u2013 Being hit directly over the head, as seen in contact sports like rugby or boxing.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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Direct impact concussion: A heavy external force to the head can cause the brain to move and twist, causing a compression of the brain when it hits the surface of the skull.<\/p><\/div>\n

Our brains are not free-moving inside our skulls. They are encased by three thin membranes called <\/span>\u2018meninges\u2019 <\/i><\/b>which function to protect the brain from trauma by absorbing shock forces. In between the meninges, fluid called <\/span>\u2018cerebrospinal fluid\u2019<\/i><\/b> flows which also helps to cushion against any sudden impact. The combination of these two brain coverings, the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid, helps to anchor our brain within the hard skull and stops it from moving around whenever we turn our heads (or go to a Metallica concert!).<\/span><\/p>\n

When something heavy hits our head, like a rugby ball at high velocity or a boxer\u2019s fist, it can be impactful enough to cause our brain to move despite the presence of these protective casings. The <\/span>force of the brain colliding against the hard casing of our inner skull <\/b>can cause a compression to the brain, injuring it where the force was applied. When minute swelling occurs inside, it can then cause symptoms when the surrounding nerves become sensitised (<\/span>Look below to section: How do I test if I have a concussion? What are the symptoms?<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Second mechanism \u2013 There is a hit over other parts of the body, resulting in indirect rapid movement over the head, as seen in car accidents and whiplash injuries.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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Secondary impact concussion: A high velocity movement can cause your brain to shift forwards and backwards in the skull, bruising both the front and back of the brain.<\/p><\/div>\n

When this happens, the impact may not be direct to the head but it can cause a similar injury to the brain. <\/span>High velocity impact to external surroundings<\/b>, like your car getting hit from behind or even getting shaken hard, can cause a shifting and twisting of your brain in the skull. The brain hits the front and back of the skull, giving multiple areas of impact and usually comes along with a neck strain.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How do I test if I have a concussion? What are the symptoms?<\/b><\/h4>\n

Concussion symptoms consist of a wide range of signs and presentations. Common post-concussion syndrome presentations can appear immediately after an injury, or within 24-72 hours after an impact. They include but are not limited to:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n