| Ani (fictitious name of a patient) was 19-years-old | | | | WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF |
| when she was involved in a mild "fender-bender" type | | | | POST CONCUSSIVE SYNDROME? |
| of motor vehicle accident. While driving in a traffic | | | | Following a Concussion, a wide variety of cognitive |
| congested California freeway, she was rear ended by | | | | (thinking abilities), physical, and psychological symptoms |
| a driver talking on the cell phone. Since the damage to | | | | occur, typically in stages. The symptoms may not |
| the car was so minor and there was no need for | | | | develop until days or even weeks after the injury. Few |
| medical services, they decided to just exchange | | | | patients will experience all of the symptoms, but even |
| insurance information and proceeded to drive off. Ani | | | | one or two can be unpleasant. Some patients find that |
| was a student at the local college and she needed to | | | | at first, PCS makes it hard to work, attend classes, get |
| get to school. The first sign that something was wrong | | | | along at home, or reach short-term goals. Most |
| was when she began experiencing difficulty navigating | | | | patients with PCS don't develop symptoms until days |
| her way around to the school. She had driven this path | | | | or even weeks after the accident, but the syndrome |
| on numerous occasions, there was no reason for her | | | | can begin sooner. |
| to get lost and nervous. She attempted to call her | | | | I Early Stageo Headacheso Nausea and Vomitingo |
| mother, but could not remember her phone number. | | | | Dizzinesso Drowsinesso Blurred or Double Visiono |
| She became dizzy, confused, began experiencing pain | | | | II. Late Stageo Continual Headacheso Dizzinesso |
| in her neck and head. She wondered whether the | | | | Irritability and Angero Anxiety, Depressiono Insomniao |
| accident could have caused her difficulties....but it was | | | | Fatigueo Short-term Memory Losso Attention and |
| so minor.... What did she have??? As the days went | | | | Concentration Problemso Planning and Organizing |
| by, Ani's health deteriorated, to a point, where her | | | | Difficultieso Decision Making and Problem Solvingo |
| mother finally took her to see her family doctor who | | | | Disorientationo Confusiono Ringing in Earso Change in |
| referred her to a neurologist and a neuropsychologist | | | | Behavior (impulsive)o Change in Personality |
| for proper diagnosis and treatment. Subsequently, Ani | | | | WHAT IS THE COURSE OF RECOVERY? |
| was diagnosed with Post Concussive Syndrome | | | | The recovery process depends on several factors; 1) |
| (PCS). | | | | age (longer if older than 30), 2) severity of symptoms, |
| WHAT IS A CONCUSSION AND | | | | 3) the location of the injury (area in the brain injured), 4) |
| POSTCONCUSSIVE SYNDROME? | | | | mental and physical health before the accident (if you |
| A blow to the head or sudden jerky motion of the | | | | had emotional or medical challenges before the injury, it |
| neck, as in a "whiplash" type injury (head does not | | | | may take longer for you to recover), 5) any prior head |
| need to hit something or be hit); can disrupt normal | | | | injuries (the accumulated effects of brain injury |
| function of the brain. This type of brain injury is called a | | | | influences the course of recovery), and 6) alcohol or |
| Concussion or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Concussions | | | | drug use (interferes with healing process). The most |
| are not life threatening and in most cases, there are no | | | | rapid recovery happens the first 6 months after mild |
| lasting effects from injury to the brain. Eight out of ten | | | | head injury, and most patients will be back to normal |
| patients with a mild head injury show some sings of | | | | after 3 months. The best way to cope with these |
| the syndrome during the first 3 months after the | | | | difficulties is to pace yourself, get all the rest you need, |
| accident. However, 15% of patients with mild head | | | | resume activities and responsibilities gradually, a little at |
| injury continue to experience symptoms of PCS 1 year | | | | a time, and most important of all, be PATIENT (the |
| after the injury. | | | | brain has a mind of its own, it will get better in its own |
| The brain is made up of millions of long, thin nerve | | | | time). If symptoms get worse or new symptoms |
| fibers. Some of these fibers can stretch, snap, or | | | | develop, this is a sign to cut back on activities. |
| break as a consequence of a head injury. Like any | | | | Symptoms are your body's way of giving you |
| other part of the body, the brain also has blood | | | | information. Just as a broken bone prevents you from |
| vessels that can tear and bleed. This happens soon | | | | using it, so does PCS, it is your brain's way of telling |
| after the injury, it often stops on its own and heal like | | | | you need to rest. Ignoring the symptoms often makes |
| any cut will. Moreover, due to the microscopic size of | | | | the symptoms worse and recovery longer. Whenever |
| these nerve fibers, modern technology has yet to | | | | in doubt, consult with a doctor specialized in diagnosing |
| visualize them. Therefore, CT/MRI scans of the brain | | | | and treating brain disorders (i.e., neurologist or |
| of a patient with PCS are typically normal. Snapped | | | | neuropsychologist). |
| nerves and broken blood vessels are the cause of | | | | Stay Healthy, |
| symptoms after a head injury | | | | Dr. |