Concussions and the hospital procedures regarding them ?
Asked by: Nadine Berg
What does the hospital do for a concussion?
Depending on the severity of the injury and symptoms, initial treatment for a concussion often includes rest from both physical and mental activities — specifically, things that require concentration, such as: Reading. Watching TV. Using a smartphone or computer.
What is the protocol for concussions?
It’s recommended that individuals with a concussion have a 1-2 day period of rest followed by progressive increases in activity. This return to activity should always be monitored by a trained healthcare provider. Most providers will try to see their patients 24-72 hours after the injury to assess their functioning.
Do you go to the hospital for a concussion?
Should I Go to the Hospital for a Concussion? In general, any head injury associated with loss of consciousness, seizures, prolonged confusion or amnesia, neck pain, vomiting or numbness or weakness in arms or legs should be transported to the emergency room in an ambulance right away.
When do you need a CT scan for a concussion?
Brain scans are usually not helpful for a concussion.
A CT scan takes pictures to create images of the brain. The scan can show if there’s a fracture or bleeding. An MRI creates clear images of brain tissue. But these scans cannot show if you have a concussion.
What are the 5 stages of concussion protocol?
Here’s a quick recap of each protocol step (you can read the official outline from the NFL here).
- Step 1: Rest and recovery. This one is simple. …
- Step 2: Light aerobic activities. …
- Step 3: More aerobic exercise and strength training. …
- Step 4: Football specific activities. …
- Step 5: Full football activity.
What is the 2 point rule concussion?
You rate your current symptoms out of 10 (0 being no symptoms at all and 10 being the worst symptoms you can imagine). Then, you are allowed to continue your specific activity (going for a run, watching TV, typing on a computer) until your symptoms increase by 2 points, then you must stop.
What are the 4 categories of concussion symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of concussion reported within 1 to 7 days post injury (see Table 3-3) typically fall into four categories—physical (somatic), cognitive, emotional (affective), and sleep—and patients will experience one or more symptoms from one or more categories.
How do doctors check for concussion?
Your doctor may order imaging tests — such as MRI or CT scans — to make sure there’s no bruising or bleeding in your brain. To confirm a concussion diagnosis, your doctor will use the data from your: Exam and interview.
Concussion testing and exams
- Verbal and visual memory.
- Brain processing speed.
- Reaction time.
What are the symptoms of a slow brain bleed?
Symptoms
- Increasing headache.
- Vomiting.
- Drowsiness and progressive loss of consciousness.
- Dizziness.
- Confusion.
- Unequal pupil size.
- Slurred speech.
- Loss of movement (paralysis) on the opposite side of the body from the head injury.
Which is better MRI or CT scan for brain?
Both MRIs and CT scans can view internal body structures. However, a CT scan is faster and can provide pictures of tissues, organs, and skeletal structure. An MRI is highly adept at capturing images that help doctors determine if there are abnormal tissues within the body. MRIs are more detailed in their images.
Why would a doctor order a brain MRI?
Why Are Brain MRIs Done? A brain MRI can help doctors look for conditions such as bleeding, swelling, problems with the way the brain developed, tumors, infections, inflammation, damage from an injury or a stroke, or problems with the blood vessels.
Why would a doctor order a CT scan instead of an MRI?
A CT scan may be recommended if a patient can’t have an MRI. People with metal implants, pacemakers or other implanted devices shouldn’t have an MRI due to the powerful magnet inside the machine. CT scans create images of bones and soft tissues.
Why would a neurologist order an MRI of the brain?
MRI is used to diagnose stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain and spinal cord tumors, inflammation, infection, vascular irregularities, brain damage associated with epilepsy, abnormally developed brain regions, and some neurodegenerative disorders.
Does your whole body go in for a brain MRI?
Does your whole body go into the machine for a brain MRI? In most cases, your whole body won’t go into the MRI machine tunnel if you’re only getting a head or brain MRI.
Does an MRI show nerve damage in the head?
An MRI may be able help identify structural lesions that may be pressing against the nerve so the problem can be corrected before permanent nerve damage occurs. Nerve damage can usually be diagnosed based on a neurological examination and can be correlated by MRI scan findings.
What does a CT scan of the head show?
Brain CT scans can provide more detailed information about brain tissue and brain structures than standard X-rays of the head, thus providing more data related to injuries and/or diseases of the brain. During a brain CT, the X-ray beam moves in a circle around the body, allowing many different views of the brain.
How soon do doctors receive CT scan results?
After analysing the images, the radiologist will write a report and send it to the doctor who referred you for the scan so they can discuss the results with you. This normally takes a few days or weeks.
Is brain CT scan painful?
A CT scan does not hurt. If a dye is used, you may feel a quick sting or pinch when the IV is started. The dye may make you feel warm and flushed and give you a metallic taste in your mouth. Some people feel sick to their stomach or get a headache.
Should you have a CT scan after a head injury?
Often, CT scans aren’t necessary.
CT scans can show if there is swelling or bleeding in the brain or a fracture in the skull. If you have signs of a serious injury, a CT scan is usually the best first test to diagnose it. Your health care provider will look for specific signs of a more serious problem.
What happens if a concussion goes untreated?
A: Concussion left untreated can lead to long-term complications. Potential complications of a concussion include chronic headaches, memory problems, vertigo, and post-concussion syndrome, which is headaches, dizziness, mood swings, and brain fog that can continue for months or years after a concussion.
Can an MRI detect post-concussion syndrome?
MRI can detect resting state changes in the brains of patients with post-concussion syndrome. Results showed that communication and information integration in the brain are disrupted after mild head injury.
How do you know if your brain is bleeding after hitting your head?
Sharp and painful headaches, along with confusion, are often the first signs of brain bleeding. However, the symptoms often depend on the bleed’s location. If you recently suffered from brain trauma and begin experiencing different or worsening symptoms, seek emergency medical help immediately.
What are the first signs of internal bleeding?
Signs and symptoms of internal bleeding
- weakness, usually on one side of your body.
- numbness, usually on one side of your body.
- tingling, especially in hands and feet.
- severe, sudden headache.
- difficulty swallowing or chewing.
- change in vision or hearing.
- loss of balance, coordination, and eye focus.
What are the symptoms of a severe concussion?
Concussion Danger Signs
- One pupil larger than the other.
- Drowsiness or inability to wake up.
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination.
- Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching).