It is common for people to experience concussion symptoms just hours after injury, but the majority of concussions are not diagnosed until days later. Concussion symptoms may include headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea. These symptoms typically start within a few minutes or hours following an impact to the head that causes trauma or if there was a loss of consciousness.
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that results from the head being hit with enough force to cause damage. People who play contact sports like football and soccer are more likely than others to sustain concussions, but anyone can get one after falling or getting into an accident where they bump their heads against something hard. Most people recover completely within weeks of sustaining a concussion; however, it may take months for some symptoms – such as headache pain or dizziness – to disappear entirely.
A concussion may not be immediately obvious, and the symptoms might continue for days or even months. Among the signs and symptoms are:
Common symptoms in children include:
No matter when your symptoms present themselves, you should start recovering as soon as they appear. Avoid strenuous activities for the first 24 to 48 hours like sports or other physical activities that might jostle your head until you check with the doctor.
During your brain’s resting period, avoid stimulating yourself with tablets and phones. If you can’t do without them on the bedside table, try to reduce their use as much as possible by keeping them out of sight or even turning off notifications for a few hours if they usually stay within arm’s reach at all times during sleep time. Remember that physical activity like driving or exercise is also not recommended because it will interfere too much with your natural ability to fall asleep quickly in this short amount of time.
Following a 48-hour period, you should be able to gradually resume your normal routine. However, avoid sports and extracurricular activities for the time being; instead, focus on walking around.
If you have a severe concussion, symptoms may take up to 14 days for complete recovery. If it’s more than 10 days after the initial injury and your doctor recommends that you go through a comprehensive concussion recovery program at an inpatient facility, this means that there is likely further damage from the brain trauma which needs time to fully recover.
Headaches, nausea, dizziness, difficulty remembering, and fogginess are all symptoms of a concussion. Although the severity of these symptoms can vary from person to person it’s important to call your doctor if you experience any at all. If you want help determining when or how severe your injury is contact us today!
Dr. Chen sees patients at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Center for Sports Medicine in Walnut Creek, California. He is a board-certified Pediatrician and Sports Medicine Doctor that specializes in the non-operative medical treatment of a wide variety of various musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Chen graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine and went on to complete Pediatric residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey (Rutgers), then went on to fellowship training in Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, one of the perennially top-ranked children’s hospitals in the nation. There he provided sideline coverage for NCAA Division I athletics at the University of Cincinnati and Miami University (OH). Since graduating, Dr. Chen has continued his love of sports coverage by volunteering for the San Francisco Marathon, the San Francisco Giant Race, and as the team physician for Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. Being a part of The Center for Sports Medicine allows Dr. Chen quick access to a multidisciplinary team of orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, physiatrists, and physical therapists to return you to your highest functional level quickly and safely. Click here to contact us for your next appointment!
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stephen.chen@eastbaysportsdoc.com