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After a concussion, one of the questions that may be on the forefront of your mind is, “So, when can I go back to work?” While some might tell you a rough estimate of 1-2 weeks, the accurate answer to this varies depending on who’s asking because no two concussions look the same and, of course, no two lives are the same. The answer to this question depends on a few variables that professionals consider:
Before any of these variables can be considered, a visit to a doctor would be the first step. They will be able to provide you the most accurate answer to the question, “When can I go back to work after a concussion?” A series of evaluations will be done, from a physical to a neuropsychological evaluation, to check out how your functioning has changed. Dr. Nicole Murray is a trained Psychologist who can provide you with a neuropsychological evaluation to give you a better grasp on the severity of your symptoms. The evaluation will feel like a series of mind puzzles and tasks over a span of a few hours that can give her a precise picture of the concussion’s impact. If you have experienced a concussion and would like to know more about how Dr. Murray can help you on your recovery journey, contact her today!
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Concussion recovery may vary between cases that depend on the severity of the injury. However, there are usually two to three phases of the recovery period: acute, recovery, and chronic.
It may be difficult to walk through this journey of recovery, even in reading about these phases. If your symptoms or timeline do not match these phases perfectly, don’t despair: everyone’s concussion experience will be a little bit different. No two injuries are the same, and no two individuals are the same. What we can do for you at 360 Healing Centre is provide you with a more individualized treatment and healing plan to match your needs and better suit your lifestyle. Dr. Nicole Murray can give you specific goals to best personalize and maximize your recovery goals. Concussions can be caused by a hard hit to the head or vigorous shaking of the upper body. These movements may result in your brain to hit against your skull that can lead to broken blood vessels and bruising. While one is at higher risk of this when playing contact sports like football or basketball, risk is also high when one is prone to falling.
If you read our previous blog post, you’ll know that concussion symptoms manifest in four different domains: cognitive, physical, emotional, and sleep. If you notice yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, take note of the following steps: Stop certain activities. If you started experiencing symptoms after playing a sport, don’t continue playing until after you’ve visited a doctor. Continuing play increases the risk of reinjury, and this isn’t a good idea if you’re already experiencing concussion symptoms. You should also avoid operating machinery, including driving. Have company. It might be especially challenging to navigate tasks after a potential concussion, especially if you have to avoid driving. It’s best if you have someone with you for at least 24 hours to help you move about your world. The other person, or people, can also help keep an eye on any other concussion symptoms that show up that you might not be able to notice yourself. They can also help you in arranging an appointment with your doctor. See your doctor. If you have severe symptoms, you may also consider visiting the emergency room for immediate care. Your doctor will talk with you to gather information about your symptoms and potentially run a few tests to get a better understanding of what may be the cause of them. Diagnosing a concussion takes a bit of exploration! So what kinds of questions might your medical doctor ask? What kinds of tests might they run? What other tests can be taken?
The process of diagnosing a concussion isn’t always straightforward. However, there are definitely supports that we can provide to help you walk through the diagnosing, treatment, and recovery process. Contact Dr. Murray for more information on how she can support you through 360 Healing Centre’s services! Concussion symptoms can range from mild to severe, and many of them can be frustrating. Sometimes they can impact our ability to function throughout our days and make it harder to navigate our worlds, especially if it may have been caused by a concussion. But that begs an important question: how might you know when you have a concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that may have been caused by a hard blow to the head or vigorous shaking of the upper body. These can cause your brain to hit against your skull which can result in bruising, broken blood vessels, or nerve damage to the brain. Concussions can happen to anyone of any age, though there are some factors that may put us at higher risk like playing high-contact sports, with or without protective equipment, or being prone to falling. While most people who are diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion fully recover, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms to know how to properly treat and rest. Concussion symptoms usually occur in four different domains: Cognitive Symptoms that impair our ability to perform cognitive tasks like remembering, concentrating, or manipulating information in our heads.
Physical Symptoms that impact our ability to perceive and engage with our surroundings.
Emotional Symptoms that will usually affect our ability to regulate how we respond to people, events, and other stimuli we experience.
Sleep Symptoms that will affect our usual circadian rhythm and impact how tired or rested we feel during the day.
Sometimes, some of us may not know when we are experiencing these symptoms at a significant level, so it also helps to get a second perspective on whether you have a concussion. You can do this by asking people with whom you interact regularly, because those around us may be able to point out symptoms, too. Friends and family may be able to name whether there was a temporary loss in consciousness, though this may or may not occur. They may also notice slurred speech, delayed responses to questions, a dazed appearance, and forgetfulness that may lead to having to repeat information many times. These symptoms can last between days to weeks after the initial impact, so it’s important that during this time you seek adequate treatment and give yourself sufficient rest. Some of the things that we can do for clients who think they might have had a concussion or are experiencing these symptoms would be providing screenings and neurocognitive tests to give us a peek into how your functioning may be impacted. We provide our clients with a comprehensive testing procedure that can help us know what the best treatment route would be for your specific needs. Experiencing concussion symptoms can be a frustrating experience, and we can be there to help you walk through it. |
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360 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 1K9
(Phone) 365-688-4355
(Fax) 855-753-4315
(Phone) 365-688-4355
(Fax) 855-753-4315