Post-Concussion Syndrome – Life After Injury

September 01, 2020, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

We often hear our clients tell us that they wish they had a road map for recovery post concussion. This is even more true if the diagnosis evolves to post-concussion syndrome. All brain injury is serious, but post-concussion syndrome impacts the patient, their family, loved ones and friends. Experts suggest that anywhere from 5-30% of those individuals diagnosed with concussion will go on to suffer post-concussion syndrome.

It can prevent you form living your life like you did before, it can result insignificant cognitive, emotional, and personality changes. Symptoms can include lack of impulse control, anger issues, head aches, blurred vision, insomnia or other sleep disorders, cognitive impairment, physical coordination and balance impairment, and frustration.

Diagnosis is key to understanding what is going on, to reassuring the patient that they aren’t imagining things, and to reassuring the family that their loved one is very unwell.

Post-concussion syndrome is a complex and multifaceted disorder with symptoms that may present for weeks, months or even years after the initial concussion. Symptoms can include:

• Headaches
• Increased sensitivity to light and noise
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Increased intolerance to alcohol
• Irritability
• Lack of impulse control
• Changes in emotional state - stress, depression, and anxiety
• Lack of ability or difficulty in concentrating
• Memory problems
• Difficulty sleeping or maintaining sleep
• Changes in appetite

These symptoms can make holding a job impossible. It’s an invisible injury which makes it difficult for people to understand what’s going on, and how to react to a patient. The patients often feel either disrespected, misunderstood, or dismissed.

Living with post-concussion syndrome is a challenge. The important thing to remember is that the vast majority of individuals recover in time. Recovery is slow and involves good and bad days with plateaus and sometimes backward slides. It is important to get support and therapy for the condition. It is also important to follow the medical advice you are given. Many patients find relief in keeping a journal of symptoms and triggers. Almost everyone benefits from;

• Physiotherapy
• Regular exercise
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• A balanced diet
• Avoiding recreational drug and alcohol use are important as self medication can easily lead to addiction.

If you have been in an accident and been diagnosed with concussion it’s important to seek care immediately when your symptoms worsen or fail to improve. You should consult and experienced personal injury lawyer like Deutschmann Personal and Disability Law.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

The opinions expressed here, while intended to provide useful information, should not be interpreted as legal recommendations or advice.