After a car accident, fall, or sports injury, people often focus on neck pain, back pain, and other obvious physical symptoms. A concussion may be overlooked, especially when the person did not directly strike their head.
During this episode of Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions, legal nurse consultant Kiley Como spoke with Dr. Joshua Wheeler of Lookout Valley Chiropractic about recognizing concussion symptoms, coordinating care, and addressing related neck and spinal injuries.
Understanding Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a broad term that includes many types of injuries affecting the brain. A concussion is one of the most common forms of TBI.
Patients may visit a chiropractor after an accident because they are experiencing neck or back pain without realizing that dizziness, headaches, memory problems, or balance changes may also indicate a concussion.
Symptoms can be subtle immediately after the accident and may become more noticeable over the following days.
Dr. Wheeler explained that chiropractors may look for common warning signs, including:
- Headaches
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Memory problems
- Balance difficulties
- Abnormal eye movements
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in concentration
Identifying these symptoms can help determine whether the patient needs additional evaluation from a neurologist, imaging center, emergency department, or another qualified professional.
Concussion Care Requires Collaboration
A chiropractor should not work in isolation when treating someone with a possible brain injury.
Dr. Wheeler emphasized the importance of referral networks that may include neurologists, physical therapists, orthopedic doctors, imaging facilities, and other specialists.
When a patient shows concerning symptoms, the chiropractor’s role may be to recognize the warning signs and connect that person with the appropriate level of care.
A concussion can affect the brain, neck, balance system, vision, and overall physical function. Treating only one part of the injury may leave important symptoms unaddressed.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
One of the greatest risks following a concussion is returning to normal activities too quickly.
An athlete may want to return to the field as soon as the most severe symptoms disappear. However, the brain may still be recovering even after vomiting, nausea, or intense headaches have improved.
A second head injury during this vulnerable period can cause serious complications.
Early evaluation may also help identify more severe conditions, including bleeding in or around the brain. These injuries may not always produce dramatic symptoms immediately, but they require urgent medical attention.
A Concussion Does Not Require a Direct Head Impact
A person does not have to strike their head against a steering wheel, window, or other object to suffer a concussion.
Sudden acceleration, deceleration, or rotational movement can cause the brain to move inside the skull. This may occur during whiplash, a rear-end collision, or a fall in which the body stops suddenly.
The rapid movement can stretch or disrupt connections within the brain even when there is no visible head wound.
That is why patients should report symptoms after an accident even when they do not remember directly hitting their heads.
Addressing Related Neck and Spinal Injuries
The same force that causes a concussion can also affect the neck, jaw, and spine.
Patients may experience muscle tension, restricted movement, headaches, upper-back pain, lower-back pain, or temporomandibular joint problems.
Dr. Wheeler explained that chiropractic care may focus on reducing muscular tension, improving movement, and addressing related physical injuries while the patient receives appropriate concussion care from other providers.
Treatment should be individualized and based on the patient’s symptoms, diagnosis, and medical needs.
Testing for Subtle Concussion Symptoms
Concussions are not always confirmed through one definitive test.
Providers may use several assessments to gather evidence about how the injury is affecting the patient.
Dr. Wheeler discussed evaluations involving:
- Eye tracking and movement
- Balance testing
- Symptom reporting
- Cognitive performance
- Computerized concussion assessments
These tests may reveal problems that are not obvious during an ordinary conversation.
For example, a patient may say they feel mostly normal while still demonstrating abnormal eye movements, poor balance, or slower cognitive processing.
Collecting this information can help providers establish a diagnosis, create a treatment plan, and document the patient’s condition.
Why Documentation Is Important
Some concussion symptoms may last for weeks, months, or even longer.
Documenting symptoms from the beginning can help medical providers track whether the patient is improving and determine whether additional treatment is necessary.
Documentation may include headaches, dizziness, memory issues, sleep problems, balance difficulties, jaw pain, emotional changes, and limitations at work or home.
Accurate medical records may also become important when the injury resulted from a car accident, workplace incident, or another event involving an insurance or legal claim.
A symptom that appears minor today could become a significant long-term problem. Patients should report changes when they occur rather than waiting until the condition becomes severe.
Do Not Ignore a Possible Brain Injury
Concussions can be easy to overlook when more obvious injuries receive immediate attention.
A person may concentrate on a broken bone, neck pain, or vehicle damage while failing to recognize changes in memory, balance, vision, or concentration.
Anyone who believes they may have suffered a concussion should seek an evaluation from an appropriate medical professional.
Chiropractic care may be one part of a broader recovery plan, but effective concussion treatment often requires communication among several healthcare providers.
For more information about Dr. Joshua Wheeler and Lookout Valley Chiropractic, visit LookoutValleyChiro.com.
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