#5 - How are concussions treated?

How are concussions treated? 3 important facts:

• No two concussions are the same, and no two should be treated the same;
• Concussion care providers target specific deficits a person experiences after a concussion;
• Patients may be told to do vestibular or vision therapy, participate in active rehabilitation, or put on medications for a short time.

Concussion treatment and research has come a LONG way in the last 10 years. Back then, if you got a concussion, you’d likely be told to rest in a dark room until you felt better, which didn’t actually make people feel better. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. New research has shown that with the right treatment and rehabilitation, people who have gotten a concussion can feel entirely back to normal, usually within 3 weeks of the injury.

Let’s talk a little about concussion treatment in the modern age. First, keep in mind that no two concussions are the same, and no two should be treated the same. A healthcare provider starts by finding out the type of concussion you have based on your symptoms and an evaluation. Once they’ve recognized what kind of concussion you have, they can target specific areas that need improvement. For some, this just means a brief period of rest followed by a gradual return to full activity.

For others, healthcare providers may recommend different types of therapies, like vision or vestibular therapy, if those are the areas you’re struggling in. Sometimes, medication may be needed for a short time to control symptoms. Again, no two concussions are the same and there’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to treating them.

That’s why it’s so important to see a trained healthcare provider when you have a concussion. They’re experts in the injury and can make sure you get back to feeling normal with the right treatments. If you need to find a trained concussion care provider in your area, head to ConcussionCareProviders.com.

Learn more concussion facts and how to protect yourself by reading our Concussion 101 Guide.