Head injuries aren’t always just a bump on the head. Sometimes they don’t resolve easily, as the body struggles to process the trauma that’s occurred. Normal physiology is interrupted when a head injury occurs, and although rest is often enough to allow for recovery, this isn’t always the case. When healing is fragmented or incomplete, symptoms may linger or worsen over time. Even a mild traumatic brain injury can end up causing problems that persist for weeks, months or many years.
A variety of symptoms are associated with head injuries, including ongoing headaches, dizziness, fatigue, problems with balance and sleep disturbances. Anxiety, irritability or depression may occur. Someone suffering from ongoing symptoms of a head injury may seem to experience a personality change. Difficulties with concentration or memory can occur. The normal tasks of daily life, even basic routines, can become a challenge.
The variety and combination of head injury symptoms is often quite complex. It isn’t always easy to recognize the problem is related to a head injury. Sometimes individuals think that because they received medical care immediately at the time of the injury, any issue must have been resolved. This is not always the case however. A trip to the ER can minimize the risk of immediate complications associated with head injuries. But there is no guarantee it will help prevent long-term problems or lingering symptoms.
If you suspect you’re experiencing symptoms that may be associated with a traumatic brain injury, it’s important to be properly evaluated. A functional neurologist can perform a comprehensive evaluation that will determine exactly what is going on. Whether your symptoms are due to a concussion or another condition, the reason why you feel the way you do will be uncovered. In the case of lingering head injury symptoms, rehabilitation may help you recover and heal.
In standard medicine, head injury symptoms are often addressed through an approach that focuses on masking symptoms. Someone with headaches is told to take pain medicine. In the case of mood disturbances, antidepressants may be recommended. Sleeping pills are advised for sleep problems. The goal of this types of care is to alleviate symptoms by masking them. The problem is, medications don’t always work. They sometimes cause unwanted side-effects. Ultimately, they do nothing to address the root cause of the individual’s symptoms.
Functional neurology involves a different approach: pinpointing exactly what is going on with brain function and the brain-body connection, and then facilitating recovery through safe, natural therapeutic support. A functional neurologist is trained and equipped to help you achieve the swiftest, fullest possible recovery following a traumatic brain injury. Whether it’s been a month or several years since your injury occurred, it’s likely you can feel much better with the right support.