If you’ve suffered a concussion, an evaluation by a functional neurologist can help ensure you recover as swiftly and as fully as possible. Most people expect that they will need some time to recover from a concussion. They plan to follow the advice from the health care provider they see at the time of injury, typically in an ER or Urgent Care setting. With rest and perhaps the use of pain medications for headache, they anticipate returning to normal activity in a few days or at most, a few weeks. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, concussion symptoms linger.
Concussion symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, dizziness and difficulty with balance may last far longer than expected, even if you’ve taken every precaution to rest and keep stress to a minimum. Changes in mood and behavior can present challenges at work or school and at home when this occurs. Ongoing symptoms of concussion can end up creating a new norm for an individual over time, one that involves limitations. In time, this may result in a steady decline in their well-being and quality of life.
A functional neurologist can help adults, teens and children who’ve suffered concussions by identifying precisely which areas of the brain have been affected by the brain injury. Sophisticated tools and techniques can assess brain function in very specific, measurable ways. A customized program of care that includes brain-based therapies can then be developed to bring about healing and recovery.
Functional neurology can often help with stubborn concussion symptoms—ones that don’t seem to improve, regardless of other types of therapeutic support. It can also help however when the individual who’s suffered traumatic brain injury seems to have no symptoms at all. It is possible for a concussion to cause damage that goes unnoticed, but later leads to problems. A thorough evaluation can help you avoid missing out on support that may be most beneficial to begin right away.
The brain-based therapies functional neurologists rely on to promote recover and healing do not involve any side-effects or health risks. These are non-invasive therapies that encourage the formation of new connections as needed by stimulating or calming specific areas of the brain. There’s no guesswork involved in brain-based therapies for concussion rehabilitation. Specific areas of the brain or nervous system are targeted based on the results of the individual’s evaluation. This type of therapeutic support provides measurable results, and the patient’s program of care can be adjusted as needed based on progress.
It’s important to know that you have a choice when it comes to post-concussion rehabilitation and care. You can take a ‘wait and see’ approach, or you can be proactive. If you opt to work with a functional neurologist, you can rest easy knowing you’re doing all you can to facilitate efficient and comprehensive recovery.