CONCUSSION AND TBI
When people think about symptoms of concussions they may think about dizziness or even headaches, but most people do not think about gut problems, heart rate changes, diarrhea, or possibly even depression. There are MANY changes to consider in addition to the head, spine, and the muscles controlling them when concussions are involved. Our testing and physical examination help to determine which parts of the brain are involved so that we may determine the best course of treatment. Our team at The Body Chiropractic specializes in concussion and TBI care for the entire Sandy community.
After a concussion (mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI) occurs, neural tissues are injured at the areas of contact, and can lead to challenges and alterations in different areas of the brain due to a cascade of chemicals (“neurometabolic cascade”). Often times, the areas affected include the brain stem, cerebral cortex, and/or cerebellum.
The brain stem houses long tracts that connect different parts of the brain. The following list are the symptoms that can occur when the brain stem is injured in a concussion:
- Poor gut function
- Leaky gut
- constipation/diarrhea
- Dry eyes/mouth
- Balance issues
- Coordination issues
- Fatigue
- Sound Sensitivity
- Light Sensitivity
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Double vision
- Heart rate variability
- Vision problems
- Light headed
With cortical or cerebral cortex area (frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, basal ganglia) injuries, the following symptoms may occur:
- Trouble focusing
- Attention issues
- Motivation Problems
- Depression and Anxiety
- Behavioral Problems
- Fatigue when reading
- Unprovoked anger
- Apathy or not caring
- Increased or decreased skin sensitivity issues
- Dyslexia
- Speech issues
- Memory issues
- Spatial awareness issues
- Poor Balance
