Neck & Head
Concussion & Post-Traumatic Headache
Also called: Mild traumatic brain injury
A functional brain injury from impact or rapid acceleration — a crash, fall, or sports collision — disrupting how brain cells signal and use energy. Loss of consciousness is NOT required. The neck is almost always injured alongside, and persistent post-concussion symptoms frequently have a large treatable cervical component.
Common signs
- Headache, pressure, fogginess, and fatigue after impact
- Dizziness, balance problems, visual strain
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Irritability, anxiety, sleep disruption
- Trouble concentrating; symptoms worsen with mental effort
Seek help now if
- Worsening headache, repeated vomiting, or increasing confusion — emergency
- One pupil larger than the other; seizure; can't be awakened
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness
- Any concerning decline in the first 24–48 hours
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- Get evaluated within days — a baseline of ocular, vestibular, cervical, and cognitive findings guides recovery
- Relative rest for 24–48 hours only, then gradual return to light activity — prolonged dark-room rest delays recovery
- No screens marathon, no alcohol, protect sleep
- Do not return to sport or risky activity until cleared
If it's become chronic
- Symptoms beyond 3–4 weeks deserve a systematic workup across five domains: cervical, vestibular, ocular, autonomic, and mood/sleep — each has specific treatment
- The neck is the most commonly missed driver of persistent headache and dizziness after concussion
- Sub-symptom-threshold aerobic exercise is one of the best-evidenced treatments for prolonged recovery
Natural healing options we use
- Cervical examination and treatment (joints, deep flexors)
- Vestibular and gaze-stabilization rehabilitation
- Graded aerobic exercise programming
- Omega-3, magnesium, and creatine support; strict sleep hygiene
- Breathwork for autonomic regulation
About imaging
CT/MRI are usually normal in concussion and are used to exclude bleeding when red flags exist — normal imaging does not mean 'nothing is wrong.'
Daily self-care
- Gradual, stepwise return to work/school/sport
- Daily light aerobic activity below symptom threshold
- Consistent sleep and hydration; minimize alcohol entirely during recovery
More in Neck & Head
WhiplashCervical Sprain/StrainCervical Disc HerniationCervical RadiculopathyCervical Facet SyndromeCervical Degenerative Disc Disease & SpondylosisCervical Spinal StenosisCervicogenic Headache
Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.