Conditions
Post-concussion syndrome, which Mayo Clinic also calls persistent post-concussive symptoms, means symptoms from a concussion that last longer than expected, typically more than three months (Mayo Clinic, October 2024). Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light and noise. At Strong Tower we evaluate how the nervous system is working and build a plan around what we find.
Symptoms vary from person to person. Mayo Clinic lists:
Headaches, which often resemble migraines or tension-type headaches
Dizziness, fatigue, and neck pain
Irritability, anxiety, and depression
Sleep problems, either trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much
Poor concentration and memory
Ringing in the ears and blurry vision
Sensitivity to noise and light
Nausea or vomiting
Symptoms usually show up in the first 7 to 10 days after the injury. They often last weeks to months, can last longer than three months, and sometimes last a year or more, according to Mayo Clinic. If your symptoms have gone on for a long time, it is worth a medical evaluation so other possible causes can be considered. No one can predict how long your symptoms will last.
Researchers do not yet fully understand why symptoms last longer after some concussions and in some people than others. Mayo Clinic says symptoms may come directly from the impact, may trigger other conditions such as migraines, or may relate to sleep, dizziness, stress, or mental health. A history of anxiety or headaches and a prior brain injury are listed as risk factors.
Common problems after a concussion
Headache is one of the symptoms Mayo Clinic lists after a concussion. When headaches persist for weeks or months, several things may be involved, including how the brain handles pain, balance, vision, and autonomic regulation. The headaches are also frequently mixed in origin: the same impact that injures the brain often injures the neck, which can add head pain from the neck. For migraine and other headache types, see our Migraine & Headache page.
Post-concussive vision problems are visual difficulties that persist after a head injury: blurred or double vision, eye strain, difficulty reading, and discomfort in busy visual environments. The eyes may be healthy, and the problem may lie in how the brain controls eye movement and combines vision with balance. A concussion can disrupt the networks that coordinate the two eyes, control smooth tracking and focusing, and fuse vision with balance input. Because vision is tightly linked to balance and attention, vision problems often travel with dizziness, headaches, and brain fog. We look at how your eyes work together and may use targeted eye-movement and visual-integration exercises.
Sleep problems are among the symptoms people report after a concussion. The cycle can reinforce itself: poor sleep worsens fog, fatigue, and headaches, which raise stress, which worsens sleep.
Dizziness and unsteadiness after a head injury are covered in the vestibular concussion section of our Concussion & Brain Injury page. Anxiety and stress after a concussion are covered in Anxiety & Stress.
Mayo Clinic says treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve function and quality of life. At Strong Tower, we start with an evaluation, and if our approach may help, we build a personalized plan of targeted exercises and therapies. We see our care as complementary to the rest of your healthcare.
See a doctor after a head injury that causes confusion, memory loss, vision changes, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden, severe headache, even without loss of consciousness. Seek care too for loss of feeling, inability to move a body part, or trouble speaking or writing (Mayo Clinic). For emergency warning signs, see the list on our Concussion & Brain Injury page.
A concussion is the injury. Post-concussion syndrome describes symptoms that last longer than expected afterward, typically more than three months.
Mayo Clinic says symptoms often last weeks to months and sometimes a year or more. No one can promise how long yours will last.
Mayo Clinic says symptoms sometimes last a year or more. If yours have gone on that long, a medical evaluation is a good step.
These are different kinds of care. Dr. Wright is a Doctor of Chiropractic with advanced training in functional neurology. If you have not had a medical evaluation after your head injury, start there. Our care is meant to be complementary.
Our approach looks at balance, eye movements, and autonomic regulation, plus the neck. We may encourage you to see your doctor if your history or findings call for it.
Next steps
Your symptoms are part of the story, and we'd love to help you understand the rest. Schedule your consult or call 770-767-3830. If your symptoms are sudden, severe, or feel like an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.