Post-concussion syndrome(PCS) may be devastating, especially if your loved one is suffering from it. PCS can last for a few months or years, but the good news is that its symptoms don’t worsen, and you can recover from the syndrome over time. Research shows that about 20% of patients experience PCS, and their symptoms last for over six weeks.
How do you tell you are experiencing concussion symptoms? Here, we’ll discuss the most common post-concussion syndrome symptoms.
1. Headache
Headache is the most common symptom of post-concussion syndrome. A concussion makes you feel pressure in the head and the headaches are severe than any other that you may have experienced before. Unlike other headaches, concussion headaches can take up to one year to heal. If you had a headache history before the injury or had several head injuries, you might suffer chronic headache problems.
Post-concussion headaches come in two forms; migraines and tension headaches. However, tension headaches are common and can result from a neck injury that co-occurred as a head injury.
2. Fatigue
You may experience moderate or severe fatigue after a head injury, and it can persist even after most other symptoms ease. When you experience post-concussion syndrome, it’s advisable to take enough rest, especially in the first weeks after the injury.
3. Poor concentration
If you are experiencing post-concussion symptoms, you may find it hard to concentrate. Loss of concentration is a common non-physical symptom after head injuries. Poor concentration may result from visual changes, anxiety, neck pain, and depression.
4. Memory loss
Three out of four persons living with post-concussion syndrome suffer from memory loss. This loss could be caused by other concussion symptoms such as headache, insomnia, and anxiety.
5. Depression
A concussive injury could result in depression, which most people have more emotional problems. Unfortunately, depression can take years to treat after a concussion, resulting in delayed recovery. When you experience post-concussion syndrome, talking to your medical professional about your emotional side effects is wise to accelerate your recovery journey.
6. Noise sensitivity
People with post-concussion syndrome are susceptible to sounds. This side effect may take years to heal after a concussion and may cause other sensory problems like photophobia and light sensitivity.
7. Anxiety
Post-concussion syndrome can cause chronic anxiety, especially for sensory problems such as noise and light intolerance. Unfortunately, stress after a concussion can negatively impact the patients’ behavior, and they may lose hope of their recovery.
Endnote
Suffering from post-concussion syndrome is not the end of life; there is still hope. Depending on the level of your injury, you can heal from a concussion. However, be sure to wear a seat belt whenever traveling or driving, always wear your helmet when skating or cycling, and be cautious at home and in the workplace to avoid falls.
These tips will help you in preventing head injuries hence preventing post-concussion syndrome. It is advisable to remember that the recovery from post-concussion syndrome has no treatment to speed it up, but medications are there to relieve its symptoms.
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