If you suffered a concussion in the past, you may have been told what you needed was rest. But if you want the fullest and most successful recovery, rest isn’t your only or necessarily the best option. A comprehensive assessment and customized therapeutic intervention is likely to help you feel better sooner. A short period of rest may be beneficial, but functional neurology is likely to get you back to normal, day-to-day life quicker and with the fullest possible recovery as well.
A functional neurologist can help you take a proactive approach to concussion rehabilitation. Why does a proactive approach matter? It can mean the difference between struggling with ongoing concussion symptoms and feeling your best.
Sometimes concussion symptoms do not fade over time with rest alone. Some individuals keep on experiencing dizziness, headaches, depression and memory problems for weeks, months, years—or even a lifetime. You can avoid persistent physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms associated with a concussion by taking a proactive approach to recovery.
Functional neurology relies on brain-based therapies to help the injured brain regain proper function. A concussion disrupts connections and inhibits function in certain areas of the brain in specific, measurable ways. By identifying which areas of the brain need support, a plan of care that precisely matches the patient’s needs can be developed. A functional neurologist will find out exactly what is happening in the brain as a result of a concussion, and then develop a customized plan of care that is just right for the individual.
To ensure concussion recovery is progressing properly, ongoing testing is a must throughout care. Is the brain being over or under-exercised through therapeutic support? Is the therapy working? Measuring results is the only way to find out for certain. Functional neurologists monitor progress carefully and continually evaluate results. If adjustments to the individual’s plan of care are needed, they are made.
When you work with a functional neurologist for concussion care, there is no risk involved. The Brain-Based Therapies that will likely be used to help you recover are safe, gentle and non-invasive. There are no side-effects associated with this type of care. Recovery is a natural process and results are lasting. This is a very different approach than relying on pharmaceuticals to try to manage concussion symptoms.
Functional neurology can help you be proactive in healing from a concussion, so you can promote and safeguard your best possible quality of life. You do not need to take a ‘wait and see’ approach to concussion care. Instead, you can find out exactly how your brain has been affected by the injury you’ve suffered, and then take steps to facilitate a complete recovery.