Why is my concussion recovery so slow?
Struggling to recover from a recent concussion?
Going through concussion recovery can be a frustrating and bewildering journey. One day you feel like you’re on the mend and things are finally starting to look up, the next day you’re glued to the bed, exhausted, symptomatic (headache, fatigue, mood swings, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, poor balance and clumsiness). On top of all that your emotions feel like they are all over the place.
What happens the brain during a concussion?
When a person experiences a concussion there are physiological changes that happen in the brain. These are not seen on imaging (X-ray/MRI) as these changes happen at a neuronal level, it is the interconnecting nerve fibres that are effected usually due to a coup-contrecoup injury (where the brain makes impact with the skull and then makes a second impact with the opposite side). This nerve fibre damage slows our processing of information down. The way I imagine it is that (for a while) all of the roads and pathways in the brain are like uneven gravel roads with potholes so we are no longer able to fly down them like we would a tarmac/asphalt road.
We also get a flood of energy (ATP) during the time of injury, which essentially uses up all of our energy reserves for the month, leaving us depleted. We need time to make this up again and restock the shelves. This lack of energy is what contributes to the slowness and delayed processing we can experience with concussion. It also explains why we tire so quickly after we have had a concussion, one, because there isn’t much reserves and two, because our body is using up energy trying to repair itself, so it doesn’t have as much energy for extra curricular activities. Generally, the body recovers from this within a month, max. 2 months and it will have repaired any damages that were incurred at the time of injury.
Why are my concussion recovery longer than it should?
It is common that a person may experience concussive symptoms well beyond this time and this can be for a variety of reasons.
Concussion can be broken down into 5 different subtypes:
Autonomic Nervous system dysregulation
Neuroinflammation
Visual/Vestibular Dysfunction
Neck Dysfunction
Psychological/ Default mode interference.
Many people will have a clear driver/subtype in which they fit into, others may have a combination. Your concussion recovery program will depend heavily on the concussion subtype category you fall into. Treating concussion symptoms without having a targetted plan is a recipe for persistent symptoms and flare ups.
Why we recommend thorough Concussion Screening/Assessments:
It is important that you complete a thorough assessment after a concussion to screen for these different factors as when these go undiagnosed and untreated, a person is likely to experience ongoing difficulties with concussive symptoms such as persistent headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, difficulty reading, poor memory, restlessness, insomnia, poor sleep, oversleeping, being ‘wired tired’, fatigue, and exercise intolerance.
Sleep Difficulties after concussion/brain injury:
Poor sleep pattern and interrupted circadian rhythm are very common side effects of concussion and many people report being exhausted in the mornings unable to get out of bed, but feeling wide awake or wired at night time and struggling to drift off to sleep. Others may fall asleep fine but wake in the middle of the night and struggle to get back to sleep. This pattern can really perpetuate other symptoms and a person can feel really flared up. Luckily, there are a lot of small changes you can make during your concussion recovery to improve this situation and you can retrain these patterns to create a more regular routine again.
Returning to work and meaningful activities after concussion:
Unaddressed symptoms can be the reason a person is struggling to return to work after a concussion. They may also feel unable to return to hobbies, sports and running after concussion. If you have had a recent head injury, concussion or whiplash associated event and are struggling to get back to work, it might be worth speaking to a professional trained in musculoskeletal, neuro-physiotherapy and vocational rehabilitation to help you get to the root of the issue find the driver in your delayed concussion recovery. They will be best able to guide you and your employer on a supported return to work programme to ensure your best chance of success in both your personal and professional life. It is really important to consider both when doing this. The last thing we want is for you to be giving work your all and to be fit for nothing when you come home in the evening. It is important we try and strike a balance and find harmony during your return to work journey.
If this is something you would like support with, Reale Recovery offers Concussion Screening and Corporate Wellness packages. If you’re unsure which package suits you best, why not get in touch with a complimentary 20 minute discovery call.