Comprehensive Treatment When You’ve Suffered a Concussion

Proven Medical Care in Blue Springs, Missouri

You’ve been in a car accident, or you’ve fallen and hit your head. You may have some of the telltale symptoms of a concussion, or you may seem fine. Don’t assume that you haven’t suffered a serious injury. Even a minor blow or bump to the head can have significant complications. Whenever you experience any type of head or neck trauma, you should immediately seek qualified medical care. Core Medical Center can help.

At Core Medical Center, we’ve provided effective treatment to individuals and families in Blue Springs and the surrounding communities for decades. Founded by Dr. Patrick Goldsworthy, who brings more than 40 years of experience to every patient, we are a family practice with deep roots in our community. Dr. Goldsworthy’s son, Dr. Aston Goldsworthy, now leads our practice, maintaining our strong commitment to always put our patients first.

What Is a Concussion?

When you’ve suffered any type of trauma to your brain, medical professionals will evaluate your condition to determine the severity of your injury. If your TBI is considered mild, it will be referred to as a “concussion.” Even though it’s a mild TBI, a concussion has the potential for serious consequences.

How Do You Determine Whether a TBI is a Concussion?

At Core Medical Center, we’ll use a range of diagnostic tools to assess the level of a TBI. Initially, we’ll conduct thorough physical and cognitive examinations:

• The physical exam— We’ll carefully test your reflexes, balance, coordination, and eye movement, looking for indications that the communication between your brain and your body has been affected.
• The cognitive exam— We’ll evaluate your memory, attention span, concentration levels, problem-solving, and communications skills for the telltale symptoms of a brain injury

We also use the Glasgow Coma Scale when diagnosing a traumatic brain injury. We’ll look at your eye responses, motor responses, and verbal responses, using the scale to approximate your level of injury.

At Core Medical Center, we also offer the BrainView NeuralScan system, a software and hardware-based tool that provides a non-invasive way of observing brain activity. The BrainView system offers a cutting-edge tool to help clarify your diagnosis.

What Are the Common Symptoms of a Concussion?

Though everyone reacts somewhat differently to a TBI, there are symptoms that appear with virtually all concussions. It’s important to understand that you don’t need to lose consciousness to sustain a concussion. Furthermore, you can suffer a concussion without having any impact with your head (whiplash, for example). Here’s what you can typically expect with a concussion:

• Headaches that persist for more than 4-6 hours
• Nausea and/or vomiting that lasts more than a few hours
• Cognitive issues, such as memory loss, the inability to focus or concentrate, difficulty conveying your thoughts to others or understanding what others are saying, challenges with problem-solving
• An increased sensitivity to sound, light, smell, taste, or touch
• Mood swings, increased anxiety or depression
• Changes in your sleep patterns—insomnia or excessive fatigue

Protecting Your Health in the Immediate Aftermath of a Concussion

The steps you take right after a concussion can have a significant impact on your health and your recovery:

• Immediately stop whatever you are doing— In the moments following a concussion, your brain is in a vulnerable state. Don’t do anything that could exacerbate your condition or subject you to another bump or blow to the head.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible— Be willing to travel to the hospital by ambulance. If not, have someone take you to the nearest hospital emergency room or urgent care facility. Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician as soon as possible.
• Stay away from strenuous physical activity— Avoid lifting heavy weights, exercising strenuously, or engaging in contact sports until you’ve been cleared by your doctor.
• Adjust your lifestyle to minimize the risk of a subsequent concussion— Once you’ve suffered one concussion, your chances of having another one are doubled. With each repeat concussion, consequences typically are more severe.

Contact Core Medical Center to Schedule an Appointment

At Core Medical Center, we provide comprehensive diagnostic services to anyone who has suffered a potential concussion. We can conduct a thorough examination and either prescribe a regimen of care or refer you to a specialist, if necessary. To learn more, contact Core Medical Center online or call our offices in Blue Springs, Missouri, at (816)336-9970.