December 12, 2018

What You Should Do If You Recently Suffered From A Concussion

In previous posts, we have outlined what signs you can watch for to determine if you suffered from a concussion and we dove into the things you should know about concussions. If you have determined that you or a loved one most likely suffered from a concussion, you might be wondering what to do next. In this week’s post, we are going to look at both the immediate steps you should take and the long-term treatments you should seek.

Find out how brain training and Plasticity Centers might be the key to unlocking healing for your brain after a concussion and learn more about the do’s and don’ts of concussion treatment.

What Immediate Steps You Should Take

A concussion can happen when someone takes a forceful blow to their head. They usually occur due to an injury, such as a sports injury or a fall. Car crashes and other accidents can also lead to a concussion or any other forceful impact to a person’s head. If you or a loved one has recently experienced a head injury and you believe it might have resulted in a concussion, the following actions should be your first priority.

Seek Medical Help

When in doubt, have a doctor check your head out. If you aren’t quite sure whether or not the injury resulted in a concussion, it is better to play it safe than sorry. A doctor will be able to best assess whether or not the injury was severe enough for a concussion to have occurred. This is an important step to take as not all concussions are the same. Your doctor will be able to tell you what steps you need to take right away and what damage may have occurred.

Avoid Strenuous Activities

After visiting a doctor, you will probably have a list of orders from them on how to best heal. One of the keys to healing is to avoid strenuous activities for a while. A concussion is a brain injury and as with any injury, your body needs rest in order to heal. Further strenuous activities can lead to increased injury. Take time away from activities such as sports, running, or any other activity that requires a lot of energy.

Don’t Overstimulate Your Mind

Because the injury is to your brain, it will be important to avoid strain on your mind. This is a good time to kick back and relax in the evenings, rather than take part in any difficult mental challenges. While mental stimulus is normally good for growth, after a concussion, you want your brain to relax and focus its energy on healing.

Rest, Rest, Rest

The moral of the story is that after a concussion, the very best thing you can possibly do is rest. You may have heard of the old myth that you can’t allow someone to sleep after a concussion, but this is simply not true. As long as the person in question is walking normally, their pupils are not dilated, and they can carry on a conversation, sleep might be the best thing possible for them. Make sure to listen to the advice of your doctor when in doubt.

Today, doctors usually encourage patients who have suffered from a concussion to get as much sleep as they need. In some cases, the injury will result in a need for more sleep than normal. Fit in naps and other periods of rest as your body demands them.

 

What Long-Term Steps You Should Take

While the above are the actions you should take right away after you or a loved one has suffered from a concussion, there are long-term steps to take as well. For improved healing, seek out further treatment.

Plasticity Centers

This brain training treatment works to record a patient's responses to visual, gross motor, and neurocognitive tasks. From here, recovery from a concussion can occur through ongoing brain training treatment sessions. Not only can concussion recovery be improved, but for many, reaction time and coordination will also be increased.

Looking For Concussion Treatment?

If you are looking for long-term healing and recovery from a concussion you sustained, we invite you to reach out our team at Plasticity Centers. We can work with you to determine if our programs are a worthwhile treatment for your particular needs. Once you contact our team, we can set up a free, 30-minute evaluation to determine whether or not our brain training methods will be the ideal fit for you. Contact us today to get started and to get back on the road to recovery.

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