Concussion injuries are incredibly common throughout Canada – approximately 200,000 Canadians suffer from one each year. The brain is very complex and concussions are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, leading to complications with recovery procedures. At CBI Health, our network of clinicians has treated thousands of concussions and we come across common questions people have about this topic. Our team of experts has come together to bust myths on concussions and share the facts with you so that you are better equipped when you’ve gone through an injury or incident.
Myth 1: Concussions only occur if you hit your head.
FACT: Concussion (known as mTBI) is a specific diagnosis and the mechanism of injury may not include hitting the head. Sometimes, the brain undergoes an acceleration/deceleration movement (i.e., whiplash or a rotational force – side to side) without direct external trauma.
Myth 2: You must lose consciousness to have a concussion.
FACT: It is common to have a concussion without losing consciousness. Often people will report short gaps in their memory, or feelings of being dazed, disoriented, or confused immediately after a concussion occurs.
Myth 3: Concussions don’t cause changes in how you function.
FACT: Concussions cause transient changes in how you function physically, behaviourally, and cognitively.
Symptoms can include:
Myth 4: When you get a concussion, you shouldn’t do anything at all until your symptoms are gone, or else you could damage your brain.
FACT: This is inaccurate and could cause a more lengthy recovery. It is important to rest for a few days after a concussion. This could include short-term restrictions regarding the duration of time using mobile devices, computers, or watching television. However, prolonged rest is not recommended.
Myth 5: Dizziness does not need treatment; it will just go away in time.
FACT: Dizziness related to concussion can be a risk factor for prolonged recovery. The good news is that early intervention beginning education and uncomplicated, paced treatments usually lead to the best results.
Myth 6: The mechanism of injury does not play a role in recovery time from concussion.
FACT: The mechanism of injury does play a role in recovery time. A study by Seiger et al. (2015) revealed that for sports-related concussions, the average recovery was 35 days, whereas in car accident-related concussions the average recovery time was 97 days. Recovery time can often be reduced in people who have suffered from car accidents with treatment that addresses psychosocial factors.
Myth 7: A concussion usually causes permanent disability.
FACT: Most concussions resolve completely within 3 months. If concussion symptoms last longer than 3 months, seek help through a concussion specialty clinic – this can help prevent long-term disability.
Do you have any questions about concussions? Are you experiencing a slow recovery from a concussion? Our concussion specialists can help. We have an extensive background in providing concussion diagnosis and rehabilitation for individuals suffering from concussions with exceptional return-to-work outcomes.