Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPhysical RestCognitive RestFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Concussion GuideWhat Is a Concussion?
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Table of Contents
Physical Rest
Cognitive Rest
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Concussion Guide
For an injury that can be tricky to diagnose, treating aconcussionis surprisingly straightforward. There’s no medication required, althoughTylenol(acetaminophen) can help if there’s a headache.Sometimes after a head injury, an overnight stay in the hospital for observation is advisable, but it’s rarely necessary. Only a severetraumatic brain injury(TBI) would require an intervention such as surgery.
Verywell / Colleen Tighe
This is especially important for athletes who may be tempted to go right back onto the field after sustaining a blow to the head.
Even a few seconds of feeling stunned or dizzy can indicate damage to the brain, and so it’s vital to stay on the sidelines untiltestingindicates it’s OK to get back into the game.
This is especially important for someone who’s had a concussion in the past. Repeat concussions can cause serious and lasting problems, especially if a second concussion occurs before the full recovery from a first.
This advice holds true for non-athletes as well, but regardless of what you were doing when you sustained an injury that led to a concussion, it’s important to avoid any physical activities that could put you at risk of a second head injury.
This means, for example, if you tripped down the stairs and sustained a concussion after banging your head on the banister, you should probably stay off your bicycle (or your ice skates or your snow skis) until you’re fully healed and get a green light from your healthcare provider. When you do resume normal activity, ease back in.
Athletes often start with light aerobic exercise, for example, before moving on to sport exercises and non-contact drills and finally practicing with contact beforereturning to competition.
Repeated concussions not only increase the risk of further concussion but have been associated with early-onsetdementia.
For many folks, this may be even tougher to do. But, the only way to give the brain the opportunity to truly repair itself is to use it as little as possible—what is often referred to as cognitive rest.
This usually means no reading, no homework, no texting, no surfing the Internet, no playing video games, and no watching television.Even listening to music can tax the brain. You likely will be advised to stay home from school or work while recovering from a concussion.
How long you’ll need to rest your body and brain will depend on how serious your concussion is and what your healthcare provider determines is necessary. One thing that is certain is that there’s no rushing recovering from a concussion.
TheBrain Injury Association of America(BIAA) notes the recovery process for a concussion can be very uneven.
A person who’s on the mend from a concussion is likely to have days during which he or she feels better than other days.
On such good days the temptation is often to try to “do more” in order to make up ahead of time for the next “bad day,” but that approach is likely to slow down the rate of recovery, according to the BIAA.
When you do resume your regular activities, you’ll need to take it slow. Work for only half days, for example, or temporarily move to a desk in your classroom or your office where the light is dimmer, and there isn’t as much noise and activity.
It will also be important to get enough sleep, steer clear of alcohol, lay off the cigarettes if you smoke,drink plenty of water,and eat well—sound advice that may leave you stronger and healthier overall.
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This isn’t ideal.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)such asAdvil(ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) cause blood to thin, which can increase the risk of bleeding in the brain. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a safer option for aheadacheassociated with a head injury.
Only a healthcare provider can definitivelydiagnose a concussion, but there are a number of common symptoms to look out for after a head injury:Dizziness/loss of balanceDisorientation and confusionA persistent headache that worsens over timeNausea and/or vomitingSlurred speechPhysical sluggishnessMental “fogginess"Note that loss of consciousness rarely occurs with a concussion, and also that it may take several hours or even a day or so to experience symptoms.
Only a healthcare provider can definitivelydiagnose a concussion, but there are a number of common symptoms to look out for after a head injury:
Note that loss of consciousness rarely occurs with a concussion, and also that it may take several hours or even a day or so to experience symptoms.
You should begin to feel “normal” and free of headaches, dizziness, fuzzy thinking, and other concussion symptoms after two to three of weeks of rest. This means giving your body and your brain a chance to recover according to your healthcare provider’s instructions. If after 14 days of rest your symptoms haven’t begun to diminish, tell your practitioner.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.Cleveland Clinic.Concussion: management and treatment.Brain Injury Association of America.mTBI/concussion.University of Michigan Health. Michigan Medicine.Concussion treatment and recovery.Brain Injury Association of America.Common symptoms of concussion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Neurology.Position statement on sports concussion.Brain Injury Association of America.How long will it take me to recover from a concussion?
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.Cleveland Clinic.Concussion: management and treatment.Brain Injury Association of America.mTBI/concussion.University of Michigan Health. Michigan Medicine.Concussion treatment and recovery.Brain Injury Association of America.Common symptoms of concussion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Neurology.Position statement on sports concussion.Brain Injury Association of America.How long will it take me to recover from a concussion?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.Cleveland Clinic.Concussion: management and treatment.Brain Injury Association of America.mTBI/concussion.University of Michigan Health. Michigan Medicine.Concussion treatment and recovery.Brain Injury Association of America.Common symptoms of concussion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.
Cleveland Clinic.Concussion: management and treatment.
Brain Injury Association of America.mTBI/concussion.
University of Michigan Health. Michigan Medicine.Concussion treatment and recovery.
Brain Injury Association of America.Common symptoms of concussion.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
American Academy of Neurology.Position statement on sports concussion.Brain Injury Association of America.How long will it take me to recover from a concussion?
American Academy of Neurology.Position statement on sports concussion.
Brain Injury Association of America.How long will it take me to recover from a concussion?
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