It is crucial to give your head the time it needs to recuperate after a concussion. Concussions are categorized as traumatic brain injuries, which explains why. They are brought on by a quick, powerful impact that causes the brain to strike the inside of the skull. Concussions can range in severity from mild to severe, but even moderate concussions need time to heal.
The typical time to recover from a concussion is 7 to 10 days. However, this might vary from person to person, and you might still have concussion symptoms after seven to ten days. Some concussions could take longer to recover from, and the symptoms might last for 2-4 weeks. Post-concussion syndrome may also appear in specific circumstances.
The presence of persistent concussion symptoms for several weeks or months following a concussion is known as post-concussion syndrome. In general, three or more of the symptoms listed below must be present in order to identify post-concussion syndrome:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Fatigue
- Sleeping problems
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory problems
- Restlessness
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sensitivity to light or sound
Here is what you should do while recovering from a concussion:
Days 1 & 2
It's crucial to rest and take it easy the first several days after a concussion. Caffeine, screens (computer, laptop, tablet, phone), anything requiring mental focus, bright lighting, loud noises, physically demanding activities, and alcohol should also be avoided. Get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, keep hydrated, eat light, and have someone check on you sometimes. It is advised to use acetaminophen rather than ibuprofen or aspirin if you need to take a modest pain relief because they can both lead to bleeding.
Days 3 & 4
It is advised to continue to take it easy, restrict screen time, and reduce the amount of mental attention if you are still experiencing concussion symptoms. You can gradually add activities to your day, though, if you are starting to feel better. Take a break or try something less strenuous if you start to feel your symptoms returning. Even if you feel better at this point, you still need to stay away from things that could cause your head to get hurt again.
1 Week
You ought should be basically feeling like yourself after one week. Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, you can normally resume your normal activities at this point. The majority of concussions heal within a week. However, you should speak with your doctor to find out the cause if you start to suffer symptoms once more or if they persist after 10 days. Discussing your return to sports or other activities that could result in further head injuries with your doctor is also advised. To avoid suffering another brain injury, you might need to wait 2-4 weeks in some situations before doing these activities again.
