Emergency Department and Minor Injury Unit
Following your head injury it is felt that you have post concussion syndrome. Concussion can be difficult to define and is largely regarded as a collection of symptoms following a head injury.
These include:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Sensitivity to light and noises
Poor sleep
Memory difficulties
Difficulty concentrating
Irritable mood
Low mood or tearful or anxiety
Fatigue
Generally, a person with concussion syndrome will develop a combination of these symptoms within a couple of days of sustaining a head injury. It can however be very difficult to predict how long these symptoms will last for and how severe they will be.
Most people make a full, quick recovery within a few days or weeks. However a proportion can experience issues for several months or longer.
This can affect the concussed person’s life in many ways:
- It can be difficult to maintain your prior performance at work/school due to concentration, problem solving or fatigue.
- Relationships can become affected through changes in your mood. Fatigue and memory problems can make it harder to interact.
Do
Have plenty of rest
Sleep if you feel tired
Take analgesia for headaches
Don’t
Don’t drink alcohol
Don’t drive or operate machinery until you have recovered
Don’t return to work or school until you feel able
Don’t take aspirin or sleep tablets without your doctor’s advice
Don’t return to contact sport straight away
Important
It is important following a head injury that you do not sustain a further head injury within the next few weeks, or until you are symptom free if longer than a few weeks.
It is therefore advised that you avoid sports or situations where it is possible you could sustain another head injury. Second Impact Syndrome (although rare) can be very serious.
Treating pain
If needed, painkiller options include the following:
- Paracetamol is usually recommended for painful sprains or strains.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve pain and may also limit inflammation and swelling. You can buy some types (for example, ibuprofen) at pharmacies, without a prescription either topically as a cream, or as tablets.You should check the medication advice leaflet to ensure you are safe to take these as some patients with asthma or stomach ulcers may not be able to.
Further Information
For further advice and information about your condition, please choose from the following:
- ‘NHS Patient Choices’ website: www.nhs.uk
- ‘Making Lives Better’ patient website: www.patient.info
- Telephone NHS 111
- Contact your General Practitioner
Contact details
- The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW
Telephone: 01642 850850 - The Friarage, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL6 1JG
Telephone: 01609 779911 - Redcar Primary Care Hospital, West Dyke Road, Redcar, TS10 4NW
Telephone: 01642 511000
If you have any medical concerns or need advice please contact 111, for further information regarding this leaflet please contact: [email protected] This email will be monitored 9am until 4pm Monday to Friday.
Email: [email protected]
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]