5 Post-Concussion Recovery Tips

We’re shedding some light on concussions and post-concussion recovery this month at The Wellness Group Aurora and you can find some tips in this post to consider and address with your healthcare providers.

Recovery from a concussion is simple for some and a drawn-out process for others. The downstream sequellae of having a concussion are becoming more known as more research is done in this area. Patients can experience symptoms ranging from headaches and muscle spasms to memory loss and mood swings. A combined healthcare approach works really well in this instance (as it does in most cases). From a naturopathic perspective, there are some things I discuss with my patients when dealing with post-concussion syndrome. Here are some tips for you to consider:

Vitamin B12

This vitamin plays an important role in cognition, oxygenation in our blood, and for energy production. Oral B12 can work, but absorption of ingested B12 could be suboptimal depending on digestive function and your genetics. Sublingual B12 bypasses is a better option. I prefer vitamin B12 injections since they act fast to bring up B12 levels and really help with post-concussion fatigue and focus issues.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

These healthy fats are anti-inflammatory and support healthy cognitive processes amongst other things. Patients especially find that they feel more alert when they take a good quality fish oil (that has therapeutic amounts of EPA and DHA and is tested for purity).

Physical Therapy and Acupuncture

Physical therapy can be with a physiotherapist, registered massage therapist, and/or chiropractor (preferably all of the above since they all work beautifully together). This will help align the spine, release tension in the muscles, improve blood flow, and more. I find that ear acupuncture is very beneficial for post-concussion syndrome along with other constitutional and trigger point type of acupuncture.

Magnesium

Most people can benefit from some magnesium since our soils are so depleted of this mineral that helps support our nervous system, muscles, digestion, hormones, neurotransmitters, and more. I’ll usually recommend a magnesium supplement as well as Epsom and/or magnesium chloride baths for recovery depending on the patient in front of me.

Rest

There is no substitute for getting proper rest. Most people’s post-concussion symptoms arise after using the computer too much, working on a project for too long, being around too many people or stimuli etc. So, take a bath, meditate, listen to an audiobook, get restful sleep, listen to music, go out in nature - give your mind and body a break.