Why See a Chiropractor After a Concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that occurs by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another type of injury that causes the brain to shake inside of the skull. There may be bruises or cuts on the head or there may not be any visible injuries. Many people think you may need to lose consciousness for a concussion to occur, but in reality that is not always the case. Below are some symptoms and treatments for concussions.
What are some of the symptoms that occur?
There are many symptoms from concussions that you may experience all of or only a few of, including:
- Confusion
- Balance
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light/noise
- Headache
- Nausea/vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Ringing in ears
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Behavior changes
- Personality changes
Treatments
Although concussions are widely experienced, the level of healthcare varies and there does not seem to be a criterion standard for concussion management. This is dangerous, because some doctors will do whatever they see as necessary and others may not help with the concussion, which can cause long-term injury.
As a chiropractor, we will evaluate and diagnose concussion patients as part of our physical examination. If you’re suspected of having a concussion we will refer you to a neurologist that specializes in the treatment of concussion. We will also coordinate your care with a physical therapist that helps the rehabilitation process.
One important thing to note is that a force great enough to cause a concussion of the brain will most likely cause physical trauma to the spine¹ and cause subluxations (misalignments) to occur. Many of the symptoms of subluxation can overlap with concussions. Many patients that suffer from headaches and vertigo post-concussion have found chiropractic adjustments to help with those symptoms. Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments can truly help with the symptoms that occur from a neck injury following a concussion.
Chiropractor
When selecting a chiropractor, consider the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol live in Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Plainville or Southington. We specialize in a whole-body approach to wellness and will focus on you with an individualized plan that will provide an overall improvement in health and wellbeing.
Don’t let a concussion go undiagnosed or untreated because the long-term effects could leave you with memory loss and confusion that can last a lifetime.
Dr David M. Spitz is the founder and clinic director of the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol, located in Bristol, CT. Since 1982, he has treated thousands of patients for various conditions ranging from neck and back pain, to migraine headaches. He specializes in treating patients who have suffered whiplash injuries and/or back injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
Dr Spitz was a volunteer EMT-I and a lieutenant for several years at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department. He has lectured throughout CT on various topics including, chiropractic, stress management, headaches and preventing back injury in the workplace.
