- December 20, 2019
What Treatments Are Prescribed for Post-Concussion Syndrome?
Head injuries are common in automobile accidents, falls, and other personal injury cases. Concussions are often the result of a head injury. A concussion can develop after a minor blow to the head. It can also occur after whiplash or other violent movement of the head that causes injury to the brain when it moves within the skull.
In many cases, there are no outward signs of head trauma, and the person does not lose consciousness. The only signs of trauma may be the symptoms of concussion that doctor’s use to diagnose the condition and the severity of the concussion. In some cases, brain damage may be visible on a CT scan or other diagnostic scan.
While most people recover from a mild concussion or mild traumatic brain injury in a few weeks, there could be complications. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is just one complication that can cause long-term impairments.
What is Post-Concussion Syndrome?
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) describes the persistent physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms associated with a concussion that last beyond the usual recovery period. The symptoms can be mild to severe and last for several weeks, months, or years. In a small number of cases, PCS could be permanent. Someone who has suffered from a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury previously could be at a higher risk for developing PCS after a head injury.
It can be difficult to diagnose PCS because most brain scans do not detect the minor damage that can cause PCS. In most cases, doctors must rely on the subjective symptoms reported by the patient and the history of a head injury or injuries.
Common symptoms associated with post-concussion syndrome include:
- Slower response speed
- Poor concentration
- Memory problems
- Disorganization
- Mental fogginess
- Headache
- Nausea, dizziness, and vertigo
- Fatigue
- Vision changes
- Noise or light sensitivity
- Sleep disturbance
- Depression
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Personality changes
- Irritability or lowered frustration tolerance
- The cost of medical care and personal care
- Loss of income and benefits
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional disorders
- Loss of quality of life and enjoyment of life
- Permanent impairments and disabilities