Concussion Symptoms.
Cognitive/Mental Status:Inattention, Slowed thinkin, Amnesia, Confusion, Disorientation, Vacant stare, Loss of consciousness.
Physical:Headache, Nausea/vomiting, Photophobia, Phonophobia, Dizziness, Slurred speech, Blurred vision, Incoordination.
Affective Emotional:lability, Depression, Anxiety, Mania.
Sleep:Increased latency, Frequent waking, Increased sleep time, Decreased sleep time.
Diagnosis and Management of Concussion
Diagnosis: The doctor will ask about your injury history, do neurological exam, neuropsychological test and will schedule a number of neurological tests including Blood test, MRI or CT, EEG, Carotid Doppler Duplex, EMG or Ultrasound tests depending on your clinical symptoms. Then the doctor is able to determine if you have a concussion and guide the treatment and management according to phases of concussion.
Treatment:
1. Medications: Depending on your symptoms such as headache, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, sleep disturbance, anxiety or depression etc.
2. Education and Recommendations about resting as needed, returning to learn and play.
3.Peripheral nerve block, regenerative Injections with ultrasound guidance for cervicogenic headache or whiplash injury.
4. Acupuncture Therapy
5.Follow up visit to monitor your status of concussion.
Adolescents and Children in Sports Concussion
Most individuals participating in contact and collision sports are adolescents and children.
1. 1.In general, objective measurement of early signs and symptoms is challenging in younger patients, and many commonly used assessment tools await rigorous validation for younger patients.
2. 2 The youth sports related concussion takes longer in high school athletes compared with collegiate or professionals. While most individuals with concussions recover to baseline within 10 to 14 days in comparison of adults within 7-10 days. The majority of youths(90-95%) normally recover within 3-4 weeks.
3. 3.Legislation of All 50 States:
(1) mandatory education of athletes, parents, and coaches.
(2) removal from play or practice if a concussion is suspected.
(3) evaluation and clearance by a licensed health care provider before returning to play.