Can you have a concussion without knowing? The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not show up immediately . Symptoms can last for days, weeks or even longer. Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion.
Can you have a concussion and not realize it?
Since something as ordinary as a fall or sudden movement can cause your brain to move within your skull, you may sustain a concussion and not realize it . Don’t ignore any new signs or symptoms you feel after an event that involves your head.
How long can you go without knowing you have a concussion?
“For some people, the symptoms after a concussion may not become apparent until later in the day,” says Beth Kolar, advanced clinician at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Main Line Health, who explains that delayed concussion symptoms may present 24 to 48 hours after and injury.
How do you check to see if you have a concussion?
- Headache or “pressure” in head.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
- Bothered by light or noise.
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
- Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
- Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”.
Can you walk around with a concussion and not know it?
Not necessarily . Symptoms may start right away, or days or even weeks after an injury. Delayed symptoms might make it difficult to connect your injury with the symptoms you’re now experiencing. “Some people complain of mild dizziness, nausea or vomiting and just blow it off,” Scherr adds.
What happens if a concussion goes untreated?
A: Concussion left untreated can lead to long-term complications . Potential complications of a concussion include chronic headaches, memory problems, vertigo, and post-concussion syndrome, which is headaches, dizziness, mood swings, and brain fog that can continue for months or years after a concussion.
How can you test for a concussion at home?
- Changes in day-to-day functioning.
- Eye pain and/or eye fatigue.
- Headache.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Neck pain or stiffness.
- Imbalance, dropping things, bumping into things.
- Impaired depth perception (having difficulty seeing the distance between two items)
- Difficulty remembering things.
What if I didn’t know I had a concussion?
Mild or no symptoms does not mean you don’t have a concussion . Some people don’t notice their symptoms immediately. And the symptoms may not be extreme — it’s possible that you’ll only experience a mild headache and moderate fatigue for a few days before getting back to normal, for example.
What does a concussion headache feel like?
Characteristics: Following a concussion, you can develop a headache that resembles a migraine headache . Pain tends to be in the front of the head area of your forehead or temple. It is commonly described as a ‘pounding’ or ‘throbbing’ pain. It is sometimes associated with nausea and sensitivity to light and noise.
Why do I feel like I have a concussion but didn’t hit my head?
Whiplash occurs when a person’s back, neck, and head experience a forceful back-and-forth motion . This can jostle the victim’s brain inside of their skull, even if their head does not make contact with any other object. Other common contexts in which people may sustain a concussion include: Truck accidents.
How do you rule out a concussion?
- Verbal and visual memory.
- Brain processing speed.
- Reaction time.
What do you do for a mild concussion?
Rest (for 1–2 days after the concussion)
You can try it again after a few minutes or longer, or you can try a less strenuous version of the activity. Avoid or cut down on screen time. Video games, texting, watching TV, and using social media are likely to cause symptoms or make them worse. Don’t drive.
Can you go to sleep with a concussion?
Generally, both adults 2 and children 3 can safely sleep after a concussion, once they have visited their doctor or an emergency room . Although sleeping after a concussion is considered safe, it is more difficult to assess a person’s symptoms when they are asleep.
What are the 4 categories of concussion symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of concussion reported within 1 to 7 days post injury (see Table 3-3) typically fall into four categories— physical (somatic), cognitive, emotional (affective), and sleep —and patients will experience one or more symptoms from one or more categories.
What is a quick test for concussion?
If the athlete takes a blow to their head, the athlete goes to the sideline and retakes the test. If the athlete completes the test five seconds slower than the first time they took the test, they may have a concussion. This test has also been called the 1-minute concussion test or the 2-minute concussion test .
How do you check if someone has a concussion with a flashlight?
After more serious head injuries are excluded, a diagnosis of concussion can be made. Medical professionals have long used the pupillary light reflex — usually in the form of a penlight test where they shine a light into a patient’s eyes — to assess severe forms of brain injury.
When should you go to the hospital after hitting your head?
Anyone who has just sustained an impact to the head should immediately seek emergency medical care by calling 911 or visiting an emergency room if they experience any of the following symptoms: Loss of consciousness . Inability to recognize people or places . Trouble with balance or walking .
What can be confused with a concussion?
Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion . The amnesia usually involves forgetting the event that caused the concussion.
Can anxiety mimic a concussion?
Anxiety and Stress After Concussion
Anxiety can mimic or worsen concussion symptoms , so it is important to identify and address.
What will a doctor do for a concussion?
If you visit a general practitioner, you probably won’t get any treatment you couldn’t get at home. Most family doctors stick to old concussion advice: bedrest in a dark room with no screens or strenuous activity . If any structural damage is suspected, they might order a CT scan or an MRI.
What is delayed concussion?
Persistent post-concussive symptoms, also called post-concussion syndrome, occurs when concussion symptoms last beyond the expected recovery period after the initial injury . The usual recovery period is weeks to months. These symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, and problems with concentration and memory.
How do you check if someone has a concussion with a flashlight?
One simple concussion assessment test is to shine a low-beam flashlight from the outer edge of each eye inward . Pupils should quickly get smaller (constrict) in response to the light. A slow pupil response to light may be a sign of brain injury (increased intracranial pressure or ICP).
What does the doctor do for a concussion?
If you visit a general practitioner, you probably won’t get any treatment you couldn’t get at home. Most family doctors stick to old concussion advice: bedrest in a dark room with no screens or strenuous activity . If any structural damage is suspected, they might order a CT scan or an MRI.
How do doctors diagnose a mild concussion?
Evidence of a concussion may not always be visible on MRI or CT scans, so a doctor may perform neuropsychological tests to determine if you are having difficulty with cognition and memory after a concussion. These tests may also detect any emotional changes.
Do I have a concussion or just a headache?
A post-traumatic headache typically occurs after a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion . This means that aching associated with a concussion is actually a post-traumatic headache, but a concussion is not the only cause of a post-traumatic headache. Patients may experience both conditions simultaneously.
