George Kukurin DC DACAN 12409 W Indian School Rd C304, Avondale 623.5474727

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Why should I care about Post-Concussion Syndrome?


Historically the prevailing wisdom has been that concussion injuries from blows to the head were self limited conditions. This meant that with a little rest, the concussion would heal itself in a few weeks.  Concussion symptoms, if they persisted were called post-concussion syndrome. This condition, it was felt, would rarely last more than six months. Boy were we wrong with our thinking of concussion and its long term effects. Research in the past decade has lead us to redefine concussion as traumatic brain injury. Brain trauma can occur from automobile accidents, sports injuries, even playground falls, and can produce serious life long problems for patients. Some of the persistent symptoms of traumatic brain injury include recurrent headaches, dizziness and unsteadiness, brain fog, fatigue and even cognitive impairment. What research has shown is that the initial head trauma affects one part of the brain, but also can trigger brain inflammation that spreads throughout the brain.  If this spreading inflammation is not stopped or if additional concussions occur while the brain is in a state of inflammation it can actually lead to a specific type of premature dementia, called traumatic encephalopathy. So you can see brain injury is complex and requires comprehensive treatment.  There are a number of natural substances that have been shown to quell brain inflammation, specific exercises can often help to restore impaired brain function secondary to brain trauma, massage of the neck often reduces headache and balance training can be very effective in reducing light headiness and dizziness.        



~ George W. Kukurin DC DACAN