It started like any other simple Tuesday. A boring commute to work, coffee in the right hand, left on the steering wheel. That is, until a car came from behind, screeching metal, and slamming you forward. You didn't hit your head on anything. You were lucky — or so you thought.
But the following days you felt sluggish and foggy. Maybe a bit nauseas. "Just rest," your doctor may have told you. Only, rest wasn't helping. Days turned into weeks which dragged into months. Lights and crowds became unbearable, simple tasks felt herculean. This is post concussion syndrome.
Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is a condition where patients continue to experience symptoms such as headaches, brain fog, and sleep disturbances for more than three months following a head injury. And while it can happen after a direct hit or loss of consciousness, even simple things like a whiplash injury in the car can cause PCS. It's estimated that a whopping 30% of head injury patients can develop post concussion syndrome.
Considering there are an estimated 1.6-3.8 MILLION concussions in the USA each year, that's a huge number of people... that aren't being treated or taken seriously by much of the medical community.
Post Concussion Syndrome Symptoms
Concussion symptoms, and especially post concussion symptoms aren't one-size-fits-all. And Symptoms can range from physical to emotional.
Cognitive Symptoms:
Difficulty concentrating
Memory problems, both short-term and long-term
Brain fog and difficulty processing information
Feeling overwhelmed
Physical Symptoms:
Headaches
Dizziness
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia
Light and noise sensitivity
Vision problems
Nausea
Balance problems (vestibular dysfunction)
Changes in blood pressure and heart rate
Gastrointestinal issues, like loss of appetite and stomach upset
Temperature regulation problems (feeling hot or cold)
Neck pain
Emotional/Mood Symptoms:
Irritability
Anxiety
Depression
Mood swings or "personality changes"
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Other Symptoms:
Dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system dysfunction)
Hormonal imbalances
Difficulty with exercise due to symptoms like dizziness or headaches
Intolerance to substances like caffeine or alcohol
Surely An MRI or CT Scan Can Detect This... Right?
One would think that modern advancements in science means that if you're undergoing PCS, your doctors would be able to spot it on a scan. But in most cases, your brain will look shiny and new, even if you're feeling cruddy and low.
These imaging modalities are primarily designed to detect structural abnormalities, such as brain bleeding, swelling, tumors, fractures, and other physical damages.
In the context of concussions and PCS:
CT scans: These are often used immediately after a traumatic event to rule out acute issues like bleeding, fractures, or significant swelling in the brain. A CT scan can show hemorrhages, hematomas, and contusions, which are more severe forms of traumatic brain injury than a concussion.
MRI scans: These provide more detailed images than CT scans and can detect subtle abnormalities or changes in the brain tissue. Sometimes, in the case of persistent or unusual symptoms, an MRI might be ordered to rule out other brain conditions. However, typical concussions and their lingering symptoms (as in PCS) do not usually result in visible changes on standard MRI scans.
Is It Permanent?
The good news if you're suffering is no, post concussion syndrome does NOT have to be permanent — even if you're only discovering it years after the fact.
The more thorough answer is this: the treatment that will work for you may not work for everyone. For some, medication may be the best option. For others, supplements and photobiomodulation may be the ticket. For others, a combination of those and many other treatment modalities will help. The aim of this blog is to begin exploring these treatments and how you can win the Brain Bet.
