Concussions are often called “invisible injuries,” but their effect on the brain and the body are anything but. Each year, millions of people suffer from concussions due to car accidents, falls, sports injuries, and banging their heads against the wall to get out of going to their in-laws for dinner.
As a chiropractor for concussions, I know the dangers of neglecting to seek care for concussion recovery.
Just kidding! Or am I? No, I am…
A concussion happens when the went he brain bounces around inside the skull. Perhaps ‘bounce’ is too fun a word to describe a mild traumatic brain injury. Concussions look something like this:
That’s actually a great way to get a concussion, in addition to demonstrating what the brain looks like during a concussion – two birds, one stone. The brain ricocheting around the skull causes contusions, bruising, and even bleeding.
But, of course, we can’t see any of that.
Many people go on with their lives without any apparent injury and don’t seek the concussion treatment they need. Those first 24 hours after the injury are critical to a successful recovery and avoiding a cascade of detrimental effects to the entire body. We’ve seen many athletes sustain an injury and head right back out onto the field, racking up scar tissue and compromising brain function.
Makes sense when we think about the cognitive capabilities of athletes.
No offense.
Keep an eye out for these common concussion signs and symptoms, and if an athlete goes back into the game with any of these signs, scream through the TV until Tony Romo hears.
Concussion Symptoms
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Pressure in the head
- Ringing in the ears
- Confusion or brain fog
- Memory loss
- Nausea or vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Delayed response to stimuli
- Appearing dazed
- Mood or personality changes
- Irritability
- Depression
- Sensitivity to noise and light
- Neck pain
- Clumsiness
The lucky ones will recover completely in the days and weeks following a concussion, but the musculoskeletal impacts of the injury can linger. Instead of popping pain relievers and crossing our fingers that everything will be alright, there are natural concussion treatments that can alleviate discomfort and create space for physical and mental rest.
5 Natural Concussion Treatments
Sleep and Rest
The body’s favorite time to heal is while we sleep. That’s the time when it doesn’t have to worry about us doing something stupid like tripping in public or accidentally telling someone a piece of gossip we were explicitly told not to say to them.
Mental rest is just as important as physical rest. That means no video games, no Netflix, no computer, no Tinder.
Look on the bright side, that means no answering emails, no reading, no Excel. There’s nothing good on Netflix anymore, anyway.
Exercise
I know this seems strange because I just said to take time to rest, but light exercise has been found to reduce the risk of those pesky post-concussion symptoms. This doesn’t mean I’m encouraging people to start their journey towards becoming an American Ninja Warrior in the midst of recovery, but increasing light physical activity as concussion symptoms decrease is a safe and effective way to protect against ongoing symptoms.
Something like this:
On second thought, maybe something more like this:
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
After getting knocked around a bit, it’s normal for the brain to become inflamed. Anything we can do to reduce inflammation will go a long way in our recovery.
Omega-3-rich foods help speed up recovery. Excellent sources of these healthy fats are:
- Wild-caught salmon
- Grass-fed beef
- Flaxseed
- Walnuts
- Tuna
- Grass-fed dairy
Another great anti-inflammatory spice is turmeric. Asking someone to pronounce turmeric is actually a great way to determine if they have a concussion. The spice is excellent for treating depression and inflammation, two common concussion side effects.
Turmeric also boosts immune health, lowers inflammation, and supports brain health. It’s almost like it was engineered especially for brain injuries.
Antioxidant Diet
I always love being encouraged to eat, so it’s really a blessing that two of these treatments involve food. Antioxidant powerhouses like turmeric (it’s everywhere), creatine, red grapes, blueberries, cranberries, pistachios, and green tea, have neuroprotective properties that help with cognition, alertness, and memory. They’re also gems for protecting the brain from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Caffeine is another one of those neuroprotective all-stars. Higher caffeine levels are associated with better outcomes following a brain injury. Coffee, in particular, promotes longevity, fights depression, improves heart health, and protects against some neurodegenerative diseases.
Chiropractic Care
A chiropractor would be the first place I would run to after a concussion.
I may be a bit biased, but remember, the spine has to be aligned for the nervous system to heal and function properly. If our brain is busy crashing around our skull, I can only imagine what happened to our spine during the injury.
Spinal subluxations – misalignments of the spine – interfere with normal nervous system function. That means our ability to heal and our body’s ability to function are impaired. Only by correcting the structural problem will these issues go away.
We see athletes, construction workers, car accident victims, the whole gambit of those at risk for a concussion. We start with a comprehensive history and exam, running tests that will help us customize our care to meet the patient’s unique needs. With various treatments at our disposal, we’re ready for whatever issue comes our way.
Chiropractic Adjustments – aligns the spine and optimize nervous system function.
Massage Therapy – alleviates muscle tension to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and increase overall function.
Spinal Decompression – decompressing the spine to reduce pressure on the nerves and joints, giving them space to heal and restoring optimal function.
Therapeutic Exercises – increase blood flow to the brain to facilitate healing and regeneration as well as alleviate discomfort from neck pain, upper back pain, and shoulder pain associated with the concussive injury.
Part of our evaluation process will help us determine if we can help or if the injuries sustained are more urgent, but chiropractic care is a great way to accelerate healing and fully recover from any concussion. Call us or schedule a time to meet with one of our amazing doctors. Don’t wait! Unaddressed injuries become harder to correct and leave the door wide open for more injuries to pile up.
