Most individuals recover from concussion within a few days or at most weeks. Prompt emergency care at the time of the injury can help avoid potentially serious, lasting damage to the brain. It’s essential that care is taken to avoid a second concussion during recovery, too, regardless of how long that may take.
Even when proper medical care is provided for a traumatic brain injury right away, recovery doesn’t always proceed like it seems it should. Symptoms can linger. Some people continue to struggle with dizziness, balance problems, ongoing headaches, difficulties with concentration, and mood swings or emotional problems. They appear to have healed on the outside, but inside, the effects of the concussion compromise their quality of life. This can go on for weeks, months—even for years or an entire lifetime if the underlying cause of the symptoms remains unaddressed.
Functional neurology can often help individuals recover from or avoid lingering concussion symptoms. This is an alternative type of care that is different from the emergency medical support that is needed immediately at the time of injury. It also differs from care that focuses on drug therapy for symptom management. Functional neurology focuses on identifying the areas of the brain that have been affected by traumatic brain injury. A functional neurologist will rely on sophisticated tools and techniques to assess brain function. The reasons why recovery is eluding the patient can be precisely identified in measurable ways.
Following an in-depth evaluation, a functional neurologist can develop a customized plan of therapeutic support to promote recovery and healing. Functional neurology relies on natural, non-invasive therapies that target specific areas of the brain or nervous system. Therapy may involve various sensory experiences that stimulate or calm the targeted areas, encouraging the formation of new connections that facilitate proper function.
Some individuals suffer with ongoing concussion symptoms for years. They seek care and want to recover, but are disappointed when nothing seems to work. Standard medical care primarily offers support through pharmaceuticals that can cause side-effects or present additional problems in the form of health risks. Functional neurology offers an alternative. You can take advantage of neuroplasticity–the brain’s ability to change and adapt through interactions with the environment. A functional neurologist can facilitate healing and recovery through safe, natural and effective therapeutic support.
If you’ve been told there’s nothing more that can be done to help you with concussion symptoms, functional neurology may be the solution. Regardless of how long you’ve struggled with the aftereffects of concussion, recovery and healing may be possible with the right approach. You can find out what may be possible by scheduling a comprehensive evaluation with a functional neurologist who is experienced in concussion care.