Home

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Erectile Dysfunction

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Doctor123.org

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Postconcussion Syndrome Discharge Instructions


About this topic


Concussion is a mild brain injury caused by a hit to the head. This may result in a very bad headache, confusion, or memory loss. Sometimes, people pass out or lose consciousness. Anything that makes the brain bounce around and against the skull can cause a concussion. This might include falling, sports, car crashes, or being hit on the head. ‚  
Some people begin to have other signs within a few days to weeks of having a brain injury. This is called postconcussion syndrome. Your signs may include: ‚  
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Mood or personality changes
  • Problems with memory, thinking, and paying attention
  • Feeling tired

These may last for weeks or sometimes as long as a year. ‚  


View OriginalView Original

What care is needed at home?


  • Recovery may take time so you need to be patient.
  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Make family and friends aware of your condition and how to help. Let someone help you until you are feeling better.
  • Get lots of rest to help your body and brain recover. Rest in a quiet, dark room if you have a headache. Do not exercise or do other heavy activities. Light activity is OK. Ask your doctor when you can return to your normal activities, like work or driving.
  • Rest your brain. Stay away from doing things that need a lot of attention or concentration. Stay away from TV, computers, and video games. Check with your doctor to see when you can return to these things.
  • Keep the same sleep times each night.
  • Take your pain relieving drugs if your head hurts.
  • Do not drink beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) until you fully recover.
  • Lower your stress. Your doctor can help you learn how to cope with stress.

What follow-up care is needed?


Your condition needs close watching. Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Have all the tests needed. The doctor may sent you to physical rehab to help you get back slowly to your normal activities, such as work or school. Follow your rehab plan as directed. ‚  

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Relieve headaches
  • Help with pain
  • Lower anxiety and low mood

Will physical activity be limited?


You may have to limit your activity as long as you have these signs. Avoid tiring activities. You can do light activities and increase them slowly. When you go back to work, talk to your employer about your workload. Talk with your teachers if you are in school. You may need to have someone check your work every now and then. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. Avoid sports until your doctor tells you it is OK. ‚  

What problems could happen?


  • Low mood
  • Bleeding in the brain
  • Damage to the brain which may lead to mental, physical, and emotional changes
  • Seizures
  • If you have one more closed head injury while not yet fully recovered from the first one, you might have brain swelling which could be risky.

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • Do not drive when you are taking drugs for pain. Do not drink alcohol and drive.
  • Wear a seatbelt when you drive or ride in a car.
  • Use a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle, or during other like activity.
  • Limit activities that may result in falling.
  • Wear a hard hat for certain jobs or activities.

When do I need to call the doctor?


Problems with your brain like: ‚  
  • Increasing confusion, drowsiness, or any change in being aware
  • Loss of memory
  • Very sleepy (more than expected) or hard to wake up
  • Behavior changes, such as angry outbursts or thoughts of hurting yourself or others
  • Headache gets worse or feels different

Problems with your eyes, ears, or mouth like: ‚  
  • Trouble speaking or slurred speech
  • A change in the size of one pupil (black part of your eye) as compared to the other eye
  • Blurry eyesight, seeing double, or other problems with your eyesight
  • Bleeding or clear liquid drainage from your ears or nose

Problems with how you move or feel like: ‚  
  • Upset stomach and throwing up that wont go away
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Trouble walking or staggering
  • Weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
  • Stiff neck
  • You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you what I will do to rest my brain.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have problems remembering things.

Where can I learn more?


National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ‚  
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi_htr.pdf ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

Copyright


Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚  
Copyright © 2016 - 2017
Doctor123.org | Disclaimer