Words of caution
1. Acutely. Remember, concussion symptoms can evolve with time. The patient will need monitoring by a responsible adult. It is okay to sleep through the night but the patient should be checked every few hours by someone to make sure he/she is alright.
2. Recovery time. This is variable. Do your part and try your best to comply with treatment recommendations to expedite recovery and prevent complications. It is normal for the recovery progress to wax and wane; One should appreciate this and be patient with oneself.
3. Rest (physically and mentally). It is imperative that you follow rest recommendations; it will be the fastest way back to your activities and your full potential. Premature return to activities can lead to:
a. Increased susceptibility to repeat and/or more significant concussions,
b. lingering concussion symptoms, and
c. poor performance (in sport, school, work, etc.).
4. Drinking/Drugs. Do not drink alcohol; take illicit drugs or taking medication that can cause drowsiness after the injury. These can make you feel worse and can make it harder to tell how the injury is affecting you.
5. Medications. Only take medications prescribed by a physician.
6. Driving. Do not drive until medically cleared.
7. On the road to recovery. In addition to excellent medical care, lifestyle modifications will be important. We will review some of these in this web page:
a. Sleep strategies
b. Nutrition strategies
c. Executive functioning and rest strategies
d. Maintaining a positive attitude
e. Managing physical/psychological symptoms