Concussion Treatment and Recovery Care
A concussion is a head injury that temporarily affects the way your brain works, sometimes showing up as trouble with attention, memory, judgment, reflexes, balance, coordination, or sleep. It's common after a fall, a car accident, or a hit during sports, and knowing what to do next makes a real difference in how smoothly you or your child recovers.
If you suspect a concussion, the safest first step is getting evaluated. Our team is here to walk you through what to expect, from diagnosis through a safe return to school, work, or play.
What Are The Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion?
Concussion symptoms vary depending on how severe the injury is, and they don’t always show up right away. Some appear within minutes, while others take days or even weeks to surface. You can also have a concussion without ever losing consciousness. Knowing which signs need emergency care, and which call for a follow-up appointment, helps you take the right next step.
Serious Concussion Symptoms
Some head injuries need emergency care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if you notice:
- Visible trauma to the head, such as bleeding or bruising
- Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
- Repeated vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Loss of consciousness, extreme drowsiness, or being unable to wake up
- One pupil larger than the other
- Seizures
- Not recognizing people or places
- Increasing confusion, agitation, or unusual behavior
- In infants and young children: crying that won’t stop, or refusing to nurse or eat
Mild Concussion Symptoms
Mild concussion symptoms can be easy to miss, but they still deserve attention. If you notice any of these after a head injury, make an appointment with your primary care provider or one of our Concussion Clinics.
- Physical: headache, blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light or sound, balance problems, fatigue
- Cognitive: trouble thinking, concentrating, or remembering new information
- Emotional: irritability, sadness, anxiety, mood swings Sleep: trouble falling asleep, or sleeping more or less than usual
Neurology
Penn Highlands Neurology - DuBois
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Sports Medicine
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Rostraver Township
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Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Charleroi
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - California
Neurology
Penn Highlands Neurology - DuBois
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Hospital Medicine
Penn Highlands Neurology - DuBois
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Neurology
Penn Highlands Neurology - DuBois
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Sports Medicine
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Clarion
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Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
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Penn Highlands Concussion Clinics
The Penn Highlands Concussion Clinic brings together orthopedic and sports medicine physicians and neuropsychologists, working alongside physical therapists, to evaluate, test, and manage concussion care for patients of every age.
Approach to Treatment
Diagnosis starts with understanding how the injury happened and a neurological exam checking your vision, hearing, reflexes, balance, strength, memory, and concentration. If symptoms are more severe, we may order imaging to get a clearer picture.
For athletes, we also use ImPACT testing, a pre-season baseline measuring memory, processing speed, and reaction time. If a concussion happens, we can retest and compare results to guide diagnosis and track recovery.
Physical rest is essential to recovery, which usually means stepping back from sports and other high-risk activities. Depending on your symptoms, we may also recommend mental rest, which can mean a lighter school or work schedule, or cutting back on reading, screens, and TV for a while. If you're dealing with ongoing balance problems, migraines, or neck pain, physical therapy can be part of your recovery plan too.
Return-to-Play Guidance
Returning to sports or strenuous activity too soon after a concussion carries real risk, including second-impact syndrome – a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition. That's why we take return-to-play decisions seriously, using follow-up ImPACT testing to compare your recovery against your baseline before clearing you to return.
Our sports medicine team, which also serves as team physicians for school and college athletic programs, helps coordinate a safe return alongside coaches and athletic trainers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Treatment starts with physical and often mental rest, avoiding sports and other high-risk activities while your brain recovers. Depending on your symptoms, physical therapy or other supportive care may also be part of your recovery plan.
Symptoms can include headache, blurry vision, nausea or dizziness, trouble concentrating or remembering, irritability or mood changes, and sleep disturbances. More severe signs, like vomiting, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, or seizures, need immediate emergency care.
Seek emergency care for visible head trauma with bleeding, weakness or numbness, vomiting, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, unequal pupils, seizures, confusion, or unusual behavior. When in doubt, it's always safer to get it checked.
Recovery time varies from person to person and depends on the severity of the injury and how closely you follow your treatment plan. Your care team will monitor your progress and let you know what to expect for your specific situation.
Whether you need one comes down to your insurance plan and, sometimes, your location. If you're not sure, reach out to our team and we'll help you figure out the right next step.
