These are the signs that your concussion has persistent effects

A concussion is a type of light traumatic brain lesion that occurs strongly in the head. It can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizzy, fatigue, memory disorders and mood changes. Post-collaboration syndrome is when the symptoms of a concussion last last than usual.

Post-Collaboration syndrome is a continuation of some of the symptoms you may have felt when you have obtained a concussion, such as headache and confusion. Some of your initial concussion symptoms can disappear.

Exact symptoms and severity may vary from person to person and can affect you physically, cognitively or emotionally:

Physical symptoms

• Headache
• Light sensitivity
• Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
• Hypersomnia (too sleep)
• Healthy sensitivity
• Dizziness and bad balance
• Nausea
• Vision changes
• Fatigue

Cognitive symptoms

• Mistious or slow thought
• Easily distracted
• Difficulty concentrating
• Confusion
• Problem to remember things

Emotional symptoms

• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression

When this happens: Post-collaboration syndrome can occur after having undergone a kind of cranial trauma which causes a concussion or another type of traumatic brain damage. Accidental falls, sports injuries, car accidents and physical violence are some of the most common causes.

Why it happens: The concussion itself can damage your nerves and affect the signaling between your brain cells, which can cause inflammation that can cause concussion symptoms. In post-collaboration syndrome, some of these underlying causes may not be completely resolved.

How often it happens: In 85 to 90% of people with a concussion, the symptoms disappear in a few days or weeks after the injury. However, the 10 to 15% other people will always experience certain symptoms of weeks or months later.

Why only some people get it: Experts do not yet fully understand why some people are developing post-collaboration syndrome while others do not do so. There does not seem to be a strong correlation between the severity of the initial injury and the risk of developing a post-collaboration syndrome. In other words, persistent symptoms can still occur even in people with light initial lesions.

Risk factors

You might be more at risk of post-collaboration syndrome if you:

• Are a woman
• Had an earlier concussion
• Have had chronic pain in the past
• Have had mental health challenges
• Feel serious symptoms a few days after your concussion

However, people who do not have risk factors can develop post-collaboration syndrome.

The diagnosis of post-collaboration syndrome often takes place at two stages: diagnosis of initial concussion and a subsequent diagnosis of post-collaboration syndrome.

How it is diagnosed

Medical history and physical examinations are essential to diagnose both the concussion and the post-collaboration syndrome. Indeed, no laboratory test or specific imaging test can identify a concussion. Your doctor will want to know any head trauma and the symptoms that followed. They will also check any sign of damage to your nervous system and examine your overall mental state. In some cases, your doctor may also request more detailed psychiatric assessments.

Excluding other causes

The diagnosis can also involve eliminating other potential causes, which may require a specialist. For example, a person with dizziness several months after a concussion may need to see a specialist in the ear, nose and throat (ENT). Or a person with vision problems may need to see an ophthalmologist.

Sometimes an imaging technique such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help exclude other causes and check the underlying damage. The results are generally normal in post-collaboration syndrome.

When the diagnosis comes

Most doctors do not diagnose post-collaboration syndrome before at least three months after an initial brain. Once the symptoms last for so long, they will improve the diagnosis of concussion with post-collaboration syndrome.

Persistent symptoms can disappear over time, but treatment can help reduce them or help you recover more quickly. Treatment will usually depend on your symptoms.

• For insomnia: You may need to make environmental and behavioral changes, such as bed at a regular hour and reduce your caffeine intake. Short -term medication like Desyrel (trazodone) or melatonin can also help.
• For anxiety or depression: Cognitivo-behavioral therapy could be an important part of treatment. Medicines, including selective serotonin recovering inhibitors such as prozac (fluoxetine), can also be beneficial.
• For headache: Your doctor may recommend pain medication like Advil (ibuprofen) or Elavil (amitriptyline), a type of antidepressant sometimes used for headaches. Other techniques to help the neck tension, such as massage or physiotherapy, can also help.
• For light sensitivity: Treatment may include wearing black glasses outside.
• For dizziness: Your doctor may recommend vestibular rehabilitation therapy.

In general, experts do not recommend full rest after the first two days after your concussion. Instead, a regular aerobic exercise (cardio) at a level that does not worsen your symptoms can help accelerate your overall recovery.

The best and the only way to prevent post-collaboration syndrome is to prevent concussion in the first place. Although you cannot prevent all injuries, what follows is some ways to help reduce the risk of concussion:

• Install the staircase doors and window guards to protect young children if they are at home.
• Use stresses adapted to age and weight inside the car, including safety belts or car seats.
• Always wear appropriate and well -adjusted helmets during bikes and other activities.
• Keep your house well lit and away from obstacles, especially if the elderly are at home.
• Install current hands or use assistance devices if you may fall.

Post-collaboration syndrome itself will not cause complications. On the contrary, the concussion itself – in repeated concussion – is rather what can lead to complications.

Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) is a condition that results from repetitive impacts of the head, generally sports. If the brain fabric has certain damage under the microscope (an examination which can be made after the death of a person), it could be called a chronic name traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition can cause symptoms such as movement problems, mood changes and dementia.

Your / CTE is not the same as post-collaboration syndrome. If you have only had one concussion that led to your post-collaboration syndrome, we do not think of causing your / cte. However, people who have had thousands of repetitive head impacts, such as some football players, are likely to develop years / CTE after their initial concussions.

In the majority of people with post-collaboration syndrome, symptoms are completely resolved in a few months. However, the symptoms can be painful while they last, especially if you thought they would have fun faster. You may not be able to continue all your normal work and leisure activities at your regular rate. Know that your symptoms are likely to be worse in the first weeks, then things will usually start to improve.

Do not hesitate to call other professionals when you get. Your doctor can make specific recommendations on specialists who could support you more fully.