Although concussions are an injury that most people recover quickly from, they still require care and rest. Some people recover fully in a few days and some take much longer — and how quickly they heal depends on a number of factors. The severity of the concussion, their age, their health in general, and how they take care of themselves after being injured. Luckily, even if you can’t control the first three, you can control how well you take care of yourself post-injury.
Rest
Many people who’ve had concussions have a difficult time doing their daily routine in the first days after the injury. Their job, errands, even thinking tasks can be rendered difficult to impossible by the injury. The single most important thing you can do after getting a concussion is to rest. You simply cannot heal if you are continually on the go. Rest helps the brain heal, toughing it out just makes concussion symptoms worse. You should wait until your symptoms are nearly gone and you’ve gotten approval from a health care professional to return to things like work and school. If you symptoms come back when you do so, you need to slow down and take more time to recuperate.
Concussion Tips for Adults
- Sleep full nights
- Rest throughout the day
- Avoid physically demanding activities
- Avoid mentally demanding activities that require concentration
- Avoid sports and high speed activities
- Return to activities gradually
- Make sure you’re OK to drive with a health care professional
- Consider going back to work part-time or at reduced work load
- No drugs or alcohol
- Keep notes to help your memory
- Ask family and friends to help you make important decisions
- No multitasking, humans aren’t good at it to begin with
- Eat well, make sure you’re eating enough despite any nausea
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid computers and video games
Personal Injury Attorneys
If your concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) was caused by negligence on the part of an individual or business, you may have a personal injury case. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free consultations, so contact us today about the facts of your case. 803.252.4800.
