Concussion Treatment

The brain is the mastermind behind a healthy body. Even a small damage to it is likely to hamper the normalcy of other nerves in the body. Whenever there is a head injury, the first sign indicating the anomaly is the 'headache'.

This affliction is most common in athletes who encounter unexpected accidents every now and then during their sports activities. Usually, these symptoms disappear by themselves over a period of time, but they can pose a serious concern if a concussion develops into a post concussion.

Following are some of the common symptoms of this condition:

• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Amnesia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Unintelligible speech
• Unsteady walking

This condition is classified into different types based on the severity of the head injury.

Grade 1: This is the mildest form of concussion. It can linger for a small duration of time, and there is no loss of consciousness in this type. This is most likely to happen in cases of minor mishaps. First aid is the immediate medical help in such cases.

Grade 2: In this concussion, there may or may not be loss of consciousness. However, persistent symptoms can lead to problems in vision like high sensitivity to light. Under extreme cases, the treatment for grade 2 suggests a CT scan or an MRI first to confirm the severity of the condition. If the patient is an athlete, then he would be asked to refrain from any sports activities for around a week until the symptoms disappear.

Grade 3: This is a serious form of concussion and indicates a mild damage to the brain. In this case, prolonged symptoms of unconsciousness finally lead to amnesia, or the eyesight can get blurred. Considering the severity, medical attention must be sought at the earliest.

Post concussion, also known as post concussive syndrome, is a type of concussion. This happens when the symptoms prolong for a longer duration of time like, for more than a week or a month.

It is mostly associated with prolonged headaches and dizziness, which in due course of time alter the personality traits and the mood of the person. People aged between 15 to 34 are the most probable victims of this syndrome. However, this syndrome is more prevalent in women than men.

The real cause of this condition has not yet been determined. But, the cause is closely related to damage in the brain structure, which could have been caused by an unexpected and severe head injury. The emotional strain and physiological effects can further aggravate the effects of this condition. If ignored, they may result in seizures and convulsions, in extreme cases.

The most severe and prominent symptom of this condition is headache. Though there is no definite treatment for this syndrome, there are ways to mitigate the effects of post concussion. Regular exercise, and limited use of analgesics and painkillers can stall any further impact of this condition.

Antidepressants are also used to cure anxiety and insomnia caused by post concussive syndrome. Analgesics like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to provide immediate relief, but only after consulting a doctor. On the contrary, excessive dosage of analgesics and painkillers can increase the severity of the condition.

Nowadays, treatment methods like neurotherapy have been initiated. In this procedure, the instantaneous activities pertaining to the audio and visual nerves of the brain are captured and recorded through sensors attached to the body. The recorded reflexes can be influenced to condition the dysfunctional nerves to produce normal activity in the brain.

Even alternate methods like craniosacral therapy are adopted for treating this condition. This treatment involves gentle massage on the head, back, and the neck in order to relieve the stress and pain. Usually, this method is adopted by naturopaths and massage therapists.

Mild concussions are caused by minor head injuries. These can be treated at home itself. The best method is to wrap some ice in a cloth and place it on the swollen area for approximately 30 minutes. The procedure must be repeated once in every 2 hours to alleviate the symptoms.

Following are a few measures to prevent this condition:

• Wear helmets while driving two wheelers.
• Always make it a point to fasten your seat belt while driving four wheelers.

• Concussion in children is very common, you need to keep a close watch over them while playing around staircases or with sharp-edged objects.
• Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes, it increase the probability of trips & falls. Athletes must take extra care when it comes to their shoes. They should wear thin but hard-soled shoes while indulging in sports activities.

A concussion can lead to some life-threatening complications, which can also be fatal. Hence, to avoid this condition, timely diagnosis and prompt treatment is necessary.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.