Concussions – A Short Term Disability; Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
By Christopher L. Montes, M.A., N.C.P., F.D.C., B.C.C.P | Community Services Division – Commission on Persons with Disabilities at August 5, 2024 | 10:20 am | Print
Recently I was at a family picnic, relaxing with a cool soft drink while seated in a lawn chair. Without warning, my nephew, a.k.a. “Thunder”, kicked a soccer ball my way, drilling me on the left side of my head in the temple area. Instantly I saw stars and was dazed to the point that for a short time I could not answer family members’ questions of “Are you alright?”, etc. Then came the nausea and a feeling of detachment from everything around me, as well as my own ability to think clearly, followed by a dull but painful headache, lethargy and intense drowsiness. I had a concussion.
While I have previously written about hidden disabilities, I have not mentioned concussions specifically. This is not because mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is uncommon. In fact the Centers for Disease Control state that concussions in sports alone occur in up to 3.8 million people per year. Coupled with other accidental and intentional MTBI causes such as falls, automobile related injury, and assaults, the amount of people in the United States who suffer concussions each year easily tops 5 million. Rather, it has not been mentioned because typically concussions are short lived and although fit the broad definition of a disability, they usually resolve without lasting impact or permanence.
Many coaches are trained in prevention and recognition of sports related concussions, as most concussions occur due to sports. However, concussions that are not sports related typically are not witnessed or observed by someone who is trained in their detection. Therefore, a person who receives a concussion needs to be evaluated by a medical professional.
In general, concussions can be mild to severe, depending on the size of the blow to the head as well as the area of the head that injury occurs. The brain itself is not used to such jostling, and in the case of a concussion it reacts to the level of trauma in ways that affect us both physically and emotionally. Our brains virtually float in cerebral-spinal fluid, and when tossed about to the point of concussion the brain hits the side if the skull hard enough to cause disruption to several neurological and bodily functions. Symptoms of concussion often include:
- Nausea (especially immediately after the blow to the head)
- Dizziness and a spacey or foggy feeling
- Inability to concentrate
- Headache
- Intense drowsiness
- Unequal pupil size (in moderate to severe case)
- Light and/or sound sensitivity
- Emotional changes including irritability and depression
- Difficulty forming words, word transposition
- Amnesia particularly of what happened just before the blow to the head
- Forgetfulness
- Spatial dysfunction
- Lack of coordination
Mild concussions are likely to resolve in 7-10 days, with symptoms lessening in duration and intensity. More severe concussions take longer to resolve, even up to six months or perhaps longer in complicated cases. A physician will likely order an MRI to rule out any other brain injury such as subcranial hematoma, or blood vessel rupture between the skull and the brain, which is far more serious. The doctor will also likely prescribe rest, without much physical, mental, or sensory stimulation for at least a week. Further injury due to sports or other activity can be extremely serious, even life threatening. Secondary blows to the head should be guarded against especially during the recovery period.
Short of wearing a helmet everywhere we go, there is little to do to prevent concussion in everyday life. A soccer ball kicked into a picnic by “Thunder” cannot be planned for effectively. However, it is prudent to protect against concussions in sports settings by wearing helmets in baseball while batting, playing football and lacrosse for example. Activities such as bicycling motorcycle riding should also include helmet use. During the fall, wet leaves can cause anyone to lose their balance and fall to the ground. In the winter, ice and snow should also be cleared as soon as possible to lessen the possibility of a slip and fall. Even a slippery wet floor is enough to cause a fall. An ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure. Concussions can happen to anyone at any time, and are disabling even for a short term if not for longer.
If you have any type of disability and need help, please contact Maureen Keyes, Disabilities Services Specialist or myself at 860-826-3366. We are located in the Community Services Division at City Hall on the third floor in room 301. Be safe.
