Most people expect concussion symptoms to steadily disappear after the initial injury. For many patients, they do. However, headaches, dizziness, memory difficulties, concentration problems, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms can sometimes continue well beyond the early stages of recovery. When that happens, evaluation by a post-concussion syndrome neurologist may become an important part of determining why symptoms continue and what treatment should come next.
Post-concussion syndrome, also called persistent post-concussive symptoms, can occur following a mild traumatic brain injury. Car accidents, falls, sports collisions, and other traumatic events can cause concussions, and a person does not need to lose consciousness to experience one. Persistent symptoms can affect physical comfort, cognitive function, balance, sleep, and the ability to return to work or normal activities.
At Grennan Injury Rehab, patients are treated for musculoskeletal injuries that frequently accompany accidents and other trauma. However, neurological symptoms require appropriate medical evaluation. When an injury involves both musculoskeletal and neurological concerns, coordinated care can allow each provider to address the portion of the injury that falls within their expertise.
Why Would You See a Neurologist for Post-Concussion Syndrome?
A neurologist specializes in disorders involving the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and nervous system.
This makes neurology particularly relevant when concussion symptoms involve cognitive function, sensation, coordination, headaches, or other neurological changes.
During an evaluation for persistent post-concussive symptoms, neurological assessment may examine thinking and memory, senses, strength, coordination, and reflexes. Additional testing may assess concentration, language, memory, planning, and other cognitive abilities.
The purpose is not simply to confirm that someone still has headaches after an injury. The neurologist can consider the complete symptom pattern and determine whether further testing, symptom-specific treatment, rehabilitation, or involvement from another specialist may be appropriate.
Symptoms That May Lead to a Neurology Referral
Post-concussion syndrome does not look exactly the same in every patient.
One person may primarily struggle with headaches and dizziness. Another may feel physically better but continue experiencing problems with concentration and memory. Some patients develop symptoms that affect several areas of their lives at once.
Persistent symptoms can include:
- Recurring headaches
- Dizziness or balance difficulties
- Difficulty concentrating
- Short-term memory problems
- Mental fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Ringing in the ears
- Nausea
- Sleep disturbances
- Neck pain
- Irritability or other changes following the injury
Persistent post-concussive symptoms can last weeks or months, and some cases last considerably longer.
These symptoms do not automatically mean that a neurologist is the only provider a patient needs. The specific symptoms help determine which specialists may be most useful.
Post-Concussion Syndrome After a Car Accident
Car accidents create a particularly complicated injury scenario because the same collision can affect both the brain and musculoskeletal system.
During impact, the head and body may experience rapid acceleration and deceleration. A person can sustain a concussion without necessarily striking their head against the steering wheel, window, or another object. Motor vehicle accidents are a recognized cause of concussion.
At the same time, collision forces can injure the neck, back, shoulders, muscles, joints, and other structures.
A patient receiving chiropractic care after a car accident may therefore have several different injuries requiring attention.
For example, neck stiffness and restricted movement may be musculoskeletal. Persistent dizziness, cognitive changes, or memory problems may require neurological evaluation.
Trying to treat every symptom as though it comes from the same injury can delay appropriate care.
The Connection Between Whiplash and Concussion Symptoms
Whiplash and concussion can create an especially confusing combination of symptoms.
Whiplash commonly affects structures throughout the neck after rapid acceleration and deceleration. Patients may experience neck pain, muscle tightness, reduced range of motion, and headaches.
Concussions can also cause headaches.
Mayo Clinic notes that headaches associated with persistent post-concussive symptoms may resemble migraines or tension-type headaches, with the latter sometimes related to a neck injury that occurred alongside the head injury.
A patient may therefore require treatment for two related but distinct conditions.
A whiplash treatment chiropractor can focus on appropriate musculoskeletal injuries involving the neck. A neurologist or another medical specialist can evaluate neurological symptoms associated with the concussion.
This division of care helps ensure that persistent neurological symptoms are not simply attributed to neck pain.
What Happens During a Neurological Evaluation?
A neurological evaluation can involve several components depending on the patient’s symptoms and medical history.
The provider will typically want to understand how the injury occurred, whether consciousness was lost, which symptoms appeared first, how those symptoms have changed, and how they affect normal activities.
A neurological examination can evaluate:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Strength
- Sensation
- Balance
- Coordination
- Reflexes
Cognitive testing may separately assess memory, concentration, and the ability to recall information.
This broader evaluation can help identify areas requiring further investigation or rehabilitation.
Will an MRI Show Post-Concussion Syndrome?
This is one of the most common misconceptions surrounding concussion evaluation.
MRI and CT scans can provide valuable information, but they do not function as simple “post-concussion syndrome tests.”
Mayo Clinic explains that brain imaging may be recommended when concerning symptoms such as a very severe headache, memory loss, or vomiting are present. Imaging can help identify structural brain changes or another condition affecting the brain, but the scans themselves cannot show persistent post-concussive symptoms.
That means someone can experience genuine and significant post-concussion symptoms even when conventional imaging does not reveal an obvious structural abnormality.
Whether imaging is appropriate depends on the individual case.
For acute concussion, worsening symptoms, seizures, repeated vomiting, or severe headaches are among the situations in which imaging may be considered to evaluate complications such as bleeding or swelling.
Different Symptoms May Require Different Specialists
A post-concussion syndrome neurologist may be important, but neurology is not necessarily the entire treatment plan.
Persistent concussion symptoms can involve several different systems.
For example, a patient struggling primarily with dizziness or vertigo may benefit from a provider trained in balance rehabilitation. Someone experiencing persistent vision changes may need an ophthalmologist or a specialist experienced with visual problems following traumatic brain injury.
Memory and cognitive difficulties can sometimes involve occupational or speech therapy. Mayo Clinic notes that treatment for persistent post-concussive symptoms is generally directed toward the patient’s particular symptoms rather than a single treatment for the entire condition.
This makes multidisciplinary care particularly valuable for complicated cases.
Physical Injuries Still Need Attention
A neurological referral does not make other injuries disappear.
Consider someone injured in a substantial rear-end collision. The accident may cause a concussion while simultaneously injuring the cervical spine, shoulders, and lower back.
The neurologist can evaluate neurological concerns, but the patient may still have reduced neck mobility, muscle tightness, back pain, and other physical limitations.
An injury rehabilitation chiropractor can focus on appropriate musculoskeletal rehabilitation while neurological care proceeds separately.
The goal of coordinated care is not to have multiple providers treating the same problem. It is to make sure each injury receives the appropriate type of treatment.
Concussions Following Sports Injuries
Athletes represent another group in which concussion symptoms require careful management.
Football, soccer, hockey, basketball, cycling, and many other activities can involve falls or impacts capable of causing a concussion.
Returning to competition too quickly creates additional risk. An athlete who sustains another head injury before fully recovering from the first concussion can face serious complications. Mayo Clinic advises removing an athlete with a suspected concussion from play and obtaining medical evaluation before return.
Athletes may simultaneously require rehabilitation for orthopedic or musculoskeletal injuries sustained during the same event.
A sports injury chiropractor can address appropriate physical injuries, but return-to-play decisions following concussion should follow concussion-specific medical guidance.
Feeling physically strong enough to compete does not necessarily mean the brain has fully recovered.
Persistent Symptoms Can Affect Work and Daily Life
Post-concussion symptoms are not limited to athletics.
An office worker may discover that looking at a computer screen triggers headaches. A driver may experience dizziness or difficulty concentrating. Someone who previously multitasked easily may struggle to maintain focus.
Mental fatigue can also make a normal workday considerably more difficult.
These problems can be frustrating because they may not be externally visible. Someone can appear physically recovered while still struggling with cognitive symptoms.
Neurological evaluation can help document and assess those problems while determining whether additional rehabilitation or specialist care is appropriate.
When Symptoms Need Urgent Evaluation
A routine neurology referral is different from emergency medical care.
Certain symptoms following a head injury require prompt evaluation rather than waiting to schedule an ordinary specialist appointment.
Medical attention is particularly important after a head injury involving confusion, memory loss, vision changes, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden severe headache. Loss of sensation, inability to move part of the body, or difficulty speaking or writing also warrant medical attention.
Symptoms that rapidly worsen after an injury should not simply be treated as ordinary post-concussion discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Concussion Syndrome Neurologists
Should I see a neurologist for post-concussion syndrome?
A neurologist may be appropriate when persistent symptoms involve headaches, cognitive problems, sensation, balance, coordination, or other neurological concerns. The best specialist depends on the individual symptom pattern.
How long do concussion symptoms have to last before they are considered post-concussion syndrome?
Terminology varies, but Mayo Clinic describes persistent post-concussive symptoms as symptoms that typically last longer than three months. Symptoms themselves can persist for weeks to months following a concussion.
What tests does a neurologist perform after a concussion?
Evaluation may include a neurological examination and cognitive testing. Depending on symptoms, additional testing or imaging may be considered.
Can a concussion happen without hitting your head?
Yes. Concussions can result from violent shaking or movement of the head or body, and loss of consciousness is not required.
Can a neurologist treat concussion headaches?
A neurologist may evaluate and treat persistent headaches associated with concussion. Treatment depends on the characteristics of the headache and the patient’s other symptoms.
Does a normal MRI rule out post-concussion syndrome?
No. Conventional imaging may help identify structural abnormalities or other concerns, but persistent post-concussive symptoms themselves are not visible on an MRI or CT scan.
Can chiropractic treatment help after a concussion?
Chiropractic care should not be presented as treatment for the brain injury itself. However, patients can sustain neck, back, and other musculoskeletal injuries during the same accident. Those separate injuries may be appropriate for chiropractic treatment and physical rehabilitation after proper evaluation.
Coordinating Neurological and Injury Rehabilitation Care
Post-concussion syndrome demonstrates why accident recovery cannot always be handled by a single type of provider.
A neurologist may evaluate headaches, memory difficulties, concentration problems, sensory changes, and other neurological symptoms. Other specialists may address balance, vision, or cognitive rehabilitation. Meanwhile, chiropractic injury rehabilitation can focus on appropriate musculoskeletal injuries affecting the neck, back, joints, and surrounding tissues.
Grennan Injury Rehab helps patients address the physical side of accident and injury recovery while recognizing when symptoms indicate that additional medical expertise may be needed.
If you are experiencing physical pain or mobility problems following an accident that also resulted in concussion symptoms, schedule an appointment with Grennan Injury Rehab to have your musculoskeletal injuries evaluated and determine an appropriate path forward.