Is there really no treatment for concussion and post-concussion syndrome?

I was told by a rehabilitation medicine consultant that there was no treatment for my initial concussion, nor my subsequent post-concussion syndrome, other than to try to avoid bringing symptoms on. I asked the consultant if they were aware of any other treatments, even if they were unable to officially endorse them, and they simply said not to do anything that would cause harm.

I have now tried three different kinds of treatment (none available on the NHS) and all have helped. I wish I had known about them and started them much sooner as it seems that the sooner you start, the better the outcome and the quicker the recovery. However, all of them have helped me, even a year or two after my initial injury. I’ve also read (in scientific studies) and heard (via health practitioners) plenty accounts of people being helped by other therapies even years after their initial injury. There is no deadline for recovery.

“Concussion is treatable”

This is the opinion of 37 concussion experts (from neuropsychology, neurology, neurosurgery, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy, athletic training, and research):

There is already published empirical evidence that concussion is treatable through active approaches involving earlier activity, aerobic exertion, vestibular, and vision therapies. Overall, these studies demonstrate that active treatments are more effective than rest-based approaches.

Concussion is Treatable: Statements of Agreement from the Targeted Evaluation and Active Management (TEAM) Approaches to Treating Concussion Meeting held in Pittsburgh, October 15–16, 2015

Generally, it’s recommended to rest somewhat the first couple of days after your concussion. However, after that you may well benefit from doing some physical and mental exercise.

There’s a good article from the Cognitive FX clinic in the US with useful general advice on what to do after a concussion.

Read the whole article as it gives important details, however, this is the gist:

  • do aerobic/cardio exercise for up to half an hour a day (or whatever you can manage)
  • after exercise, do something that’s mentally stimulating and demanding
  • relax yourself regularly with slow breathing or any other activity that will de-stress and calm you
  • take as much of a break from screens (phones, computers, games consoles, tellies) as you can
  • return to your usual activities gradually
  • eat and drink well – avoid or minimise processed foods, drink a lot (not soft drinks!) to stay hydrated…

 

Different types of concussion

Also be aware that there are different types of concussion, in terms of their causes (in the brain) and their signs and symptoms. American concussion specialist, Michael Collins, and his research team state that there are six different types of concussion. Each type has different root causes, different main symptoms, and requires different types of treatment (which may include specific rehabilitation exercises, sleep regimes, stress management, exercise regimes, dietary changes… ). You might have more than one type, or even the full house if you’re lucky 😉

I’ve put more information about it here: Six different types of concussion

 

My treatments

Firstly I had craniosacral therapy. This is very gentle and uses touch to re-balance your head and body and help you begin to heal. I started having this a year after and continue to have this monthly and it gradually helps my symptoms improve.

After two years, I had red light therapy (photobiomodulation), and at the same time, had chiropractic/spinology treatment from a practitioner who specialises in treating concussion. I initially spent three weeks having three treatments a week of both of these and this resulted in significant improvements in all my symptoms. I have since had more treatments and they continue to help.

There is a lot of scientific research about photobiomodulation and brain injury (and more coming out all the time). As far as I know, there is less scientific research about craniosacral and chiropractic therapies for brain injury, however, several doctors online recommend getting some kind of physical therapy for the head and neck (e.g., craniosacral therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy) soon after a head injury to resolve any structural issues which may hinder your brain’s recovery.

These three treatments are described in separate pages, with links to further information and practitioners/clinics. Further down the page is a wee bit of information on treatments for vestibular issues (which I also had, and which are quite common with head injuries) and vision issues, as well as a few pointers on diet and supplements.

THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE: I’m not a medic or health practitioner of any kind so you shouldn’t assume these treatments will be helpful or appropriate for you. Not every treatment is suitable for every person so check with your doctor/health professional first.

Craniosacral Therapy

Photobiomodulation (red light therapy, low level laser or LED therapy)

Chiropractic or spinology

Treatments for vestibular and vision problems

Diet and supplements

 

Treatment combinations

These treatments I’ve described above are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, I had the red light therapy at the same time as having the chiropractic treatment. As such, it’s hard for me to disentangle the effects of the two treatments. They’re certainly complementary and possibly synergistic. The chiropracter/spinologist said I improved faster than most comparable patients which perhaps could be attributed to the red light.

My subjective sense of it is that the red light therapy gradually improved my clarity but that I wouldn’t have experienced such profound changes so quickly without the chiropractic ‘adjustments’. Of course it could all just be placebo effect, and it is certainly reassuring and healing in itself to feel someone understands your needs and is taking care of you. However, in several of my chiropractic sessions I experienced quite pronounced effects, sometimes instantly and, for me, unexpectedly. They also conveniently seem to have sorted out a couple of niggling nerve issues I had had in my neck and arms for years.

My craniosacral therapist has also just started using red light therapy (using a small portable unit). Her work is similar in some ways to the chiropractic treatment I had, and my chiropracter/spinologist recommends craniosacral therapy too.

Again, that these are just my own personal experiences and there’s no guarantee that they’ll be effective or safe for you. I’m simply sharing them to make you aware that there are options out there. You don’t have to just wait to get better.

 

Other new treatments for brain injury

There are several other innovative treatments for brain injury, which I found out about when I came across this book, by chance, in a second hand bookshop in Glasgow (this is how I found out about photobiomodulation): The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge.

Some of these techniques use electrical signals, some use movement, some use sound, some use light. I loved the idea of being healed by light, and it seemed most relevant to my condition, so this is why I researched and sought out photobiomodulation.

The Brain’s Way of Healing also covers treatments which help other brain-related conditions, including autism, dyslexia, ADHD, Parkinson’s…. it’s a very interesting book with relevance to brain health more generally. There’s a good article about it here: Norman Doidge: the man teaching us to change our minds (The Guardian)

 

If you have tried any of these treatments or others and want to share your experiences, let me know. The more information, the better for all of us: alison at concussionrecovery.uk