A concussion can be easy to underestimate. There may be no broken bone, visible wound, or obvious physical injury. A person may even remain conscious throughout the event. Yet headaches, dizziness, concentration problems, memory difficulties, fatigue, vision changes, and other symptoms can affect everyday life long after the initial injury.
When symptoms continue or become difficult to manage, evaluation by a concussion specialist may help determine what is interfering with recovery and which forms of treatment or rehabilitation are appropriate.
Concussions can occur during car accidents, falls, sports injuries, and other events that cause a blow or jolt to the head or rapid movement of the head and body. Loss of consciousness is not required.
At Grennan Injury Rehab, treatment focuses on musculoskeletal injuries and physical rehabilitation. When a patient also experiences signs of concussion or another neurological injury, that portion of the injury requires appropriate medical evaluation.
For patients with multiple injuries, a concussion specialist and chiropractic rehabilitation provider can have separate but complementary roles in the overall recovery process.
What Is a Concussion Specialist?
“Concussion specialist” is a broad term rather than one specific medical specialty.
Depending on the patient’s symptoms, concussion care may involve a neurologist, physiatrist, sports medicine physician, rehabilitation professional, or another provider with experience evaluating traumatic brain injuries. Persistent symptoms can also lead to referrals for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, vision care, or other specialized treatment.
The right provider depends heavily on the symptoms.
A patient primarily experiencing persistent headaches and cognitive changes may require different care than someone whose main problem is dizziness and balance. Likewise, an athlete trying to safely return to competition has different needs than an accident patient recovering from simultaneous neck, back, and head injuries.
This is why concussion treatment should be individualized rather than based on a standard recovery timeline.
What Symptoms Can a Concussion Cause?
Concussions can produce physical, cognitive, and other symptoms.
Common problems include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Memory difficulties
- Poor concentration
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Nausea
- Sleep problems
- Irritability
- Neck pain
Symptoms vary considerably between patients and can change during recovery.
Someone might initially be most concerned about a headache but later notice that concentrating at work has become unusually difficult. Another person may experience dizziness whenever standing or walking quickly.
The pattern matters.
A concussion specialist can evaluate the complete set of symptoms rather than treating each complaint as an unrelated problem.
Concussion Specialists After Car Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions can cause concussions even when a person’s head does not directly strike the steering wheel, dashboard, or window.
A forceful blow to the body can cause rapid movement of the head, which can result in concussion.
This is particularly relevant in rear-end and high-impact collisions.
A person may leave the crash focused primarily on neck or back pain. Later, additional symptoms may emerge:
- Mental fog
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Unusual fatigue
- Vision problems
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- Sleep changes
Someone receiving chiropractic care after a car accident may still require separate medical evaluation for these symptoms.
Chiropractic treatment can address appropriate musculoskeletal injuries from the collision. It should not substitute for evaluation of a suspected brain injury.
Why Concussion and Whiplash Symptoms Can Be Confusing
A collision can produce both concussion and whiplash during the same event.
That creates an unusual problem because some symptoms overlap.
For example, headaches can occur with persistent post-concussive symptoms. They can also resemble tension-type headaches associated with a neck injury sustained during the same event.
Someone may therefore experience:
- Neck stiffness from whiplash
- Headaches related to the neck injury
- Headaches associated with concussion
- Dizziness
- Reduced cervical mobility
- Concentration difficulties
Assuming all of those symptoms originate from the neck can overlook the possibility of a neurological injury.
Likewise, focusing entirely on the concussion could leave a significant neck injury untreated.
A chiropractor for whiplash can address appropriate musculoskeletal injuries while a concussion specialist evaluates neurological concerns.
What Does a Concussion Evaluation Involve?
There is no single test that can confirm every case of concussion or persistent post-concussive symptoms.
Instead, healthcare professionals evaluate several pieces of information.
A neurological examination may assess:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Strength
- Sensation
- Balance
- Coordination
- Reflexes
Cognitive testing can evaluate memory, concentration, and the ability to recall information.
The provider will also want to understand what happened during the injury.
That includes how the head or body moved, when symptoms began, whether they have improved or worsened, and which activities now cause problems.
This history can be particularly important when symptoms are not easily demonstrated through imaging or other tests.
Does a Concussion Show Up on an MRI?
Not necessarily.
MRI and CT imaging can be valuable after certain head injuries, but they have a different purpose than many patients assume.
Imaging can help identify structural brain changes or other conditions. It may be recommended when concerning symptoms such as severe headaches, memory loss, repeated vomiting, seizures, or worsening symptoms are present. However, imaging cannot itself show persistent post-concussive symptoms.
That means a normal scan does not automatically rule out a concussion.
Clinical evaluation remains important.
This also explains why someone can experience significant headaches, concentration problems, dizziness, and fatigue despite being told that an initial scan appeared normal.
When Symptoms Become Persistent
Many people improve following a concussion, but recovery timelines differ.
Persistent post-concussive symptoms, often called post-concussion syndrome, can include headaches, dizziness, concentration difficulties, memory problems, sleep issues, vision changes, light or noise sensitivity, nausea, and neck pain. Mayo Clinic describes persistent post-concussive symptoms as those typically lasting longer than three months, although symptoms can persist for weeks or months before that threshold.
Patients experiencing longer-lasting symptoms may benefit from more specialized evaluation.
A post-concussion syndrome neurologist may evaluate neurological symptoms and determine whether additional testing or symptom-specific treatment is appropriate.
However, neurology is not always the only specialty involved.
Different Symptoms Can Require Different Types of Rehabilitation
One reason concussion recovery can become complicated is that there is no single treatment for persistent post-concussive symptoms. Treatment generally targets the particular problems a patient is experiencing.
For example, dizziness or vertigo may involve specialized balance rehabilitation.
Vision changes may lead to evaluation by an eye specialist or a provider experienced in visual symptoms associated with traumatic brain injuries.
Memory and cognitive difficulties may involve occupational or speech therapy.
Persistent headaches may require another treatment strategy.
The phrase “concussion specialist” can therefore describe the starting point for a much broader rehabilitation process.
Concussion Specialists for Athletes
Sports represent another major source of concussion injuries.
Football receives substantial attention, but concussions can occur during soccer, basketball, baseball, cycling, hockey, martial arts, and many other activities.
An athlete should not judge concussion recovery solely by whether the headache has disappeared.
Balance, reaction time, concentration, vision, and other functions can influence whether returning to competition is safe.
A second head injury before recovery from the first concussion can create additional risk.
Meanwhile, the same athlete may also be recovering from a shoulder, back, neck, knee, or muscle injury.
A chiropractor for sports injuries can address appropriate musculoskeletal injuries. Concussion recovery and return-to-play decisions should remain under appropriate concussion-specific medical guidance.
Returning to Work After a Concussion
Athletes are not the only people who need a safe return plan.
Concussion symptoms can substantially interfere with work.
Consider an employee who spends eight hours each day looking at computer monitors. Light sensitivity and headaches may make that difficult.
Someone working in construction may experience dizziness that creates a safety concern. A professional driver may struggle with concentration or visual symptoms.
Other patients experience mental fatigue after tasks that previously felt routine.
Returning to normal activity may therefore require gradual adjustments based on symptoms and medical recommendations.
A person being physically capable of working does not necessarily mean cognitive recovery is complete.
How Chiropractic Rehabilitation Can Fit Into Recovery
A concussion specialist addresses the neurological side of an injury. Chiropractic rehabilitation can address appropriate physical injuries that happened during the same event.
Car accidents provide a good example.
A collision might produce a concussion while also causing:
- Whiplash
- Back pain
- Shoulder injuries
- Muscle strains
- Joint restrictions
- Reduced mobility
An injury rehabilitation chiropractor can focus on restoring physical movement and function while another provider manages concussion-related concerns.
This division keeps the treatment plan focused on what each provider is qualified to address.
When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Care?
A routine concussion specialist appointment is not appropriate for every situation.
Certain symptoms following a head injury require prompt medical evaluation.
A sudden severe headache, vomiting, memory loss, significant vision changes, loss of sensation, inability to move part of the body, or difficulty speaking or writing are among symptoms that warrant medical attention.
Symptoms that become rapidly worse after an injury should also be taken seriously.
When potentially serious neurological symptoms are present, medical evaluation should come before routine chiropractic treatment or rehabilitation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Concussion Specialists
What type of doctor is a concussion specialist?
There is no single specialty that exclusively handles every concussion. Neurologists and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians can be involved, while other specialists may address specific symptoms such as dizziness, vision problems, or cognitive difficulties.
When should I see a concussion specialist?
Persistent headaches, dizziness, memory difficulties, concentration problems, balance issues, visual changes, or other continuing symptoms can justify additional evaluation. Worsening or severe symptoms may require more urgent medical care.
Can you have a concussion without losing consciousness?
Yes. Loss of consciousness is not required for a concussion.
Can a car accident cause a concussion without hitting your head?
Yes. A concussion can result from rapid movement of the head caused by a blow or jolt to the body.
Does a normal MRI mean I do not have a concussion?
No. CT and MRI scans can help identify certain structural problems, but persistent post-concussive symptoms themselves may not appear on conventional imaging.
Is a neurologist the same as a concussion specialist?
A neurologist can specialize in evaluating neurological problems associated with concussion, but concussion care may involve several medical and rehabilitation specialties.
Can chiropractic care treat a concussion?
Chiropractic care should not be presented as treatment for the brain injury itself. However, chiropractic rehabilitation may address appropriate neck, back, and other musculoskeletal injuries sustained during the same accident.
Building the Right Recovery Team
Concussion recovery demonstrates why an injury should not automatically be treated as a single problem.
One accident can affect several systems throughout the body.
A concussion specialist may evaluate neurological and cognitive symptoms. A neurologist may become involved when persistent neurological problems require specialized assessment. Other providers may address balance, vision, headaches, or cognitive rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, chiropractic injury rehabilitation can address appropriate physical injuries affecting the neck, back, muscles, joints, and normal movement.
Grennan Injury Rehab focuses on the musculoskeletal side of injury recovery while recognizing when a patient’s symptoms indicate that additional medical expertise may be necessary.
If an accident or sports injury has left you with neck pain, back pain, restricted movement, or other musculoskeletal symptoms alongside a suspected or diagnosed concussion, schedule an appointment with Grennan Injury Rehab to begin evaluating the physical injuries and determining an appropriate recovery plan.