If you recently experienced a sudden abrasion to the head, such as a car accident or a sports injury, there is a chance you have whiplash. Though, there is also a chance you suffered a concussion, and that is not something you should ignore.
So, what is a concussion? It is a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) that alters how your brain functions. They usually occur because of a blow to the head, but they may also result when a person’s head and neck are violently shaken.
Did you experience a concussion lately? Do you think you may have experienced one? If you have, depending on the force of the impact, the jolt may have caused your brain to rattle around in your head. Here are some things you should know about concussions.
- Damaged blood vessels
- Injuries to the nerves
- Impaired brain function
- Vision impairment
- Loss of equilibrium
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Behavioral or Personality change
- Poor concentration
- Memory loss
Concussions and Upper Cervical Care
Not every blow to the head will result in a concussion, and not every concussion leads to long-term effects. If you experience this MTBI, whether you momentarily lost consciousness or not, you may return to normal activity after 15 minutes. If you lost consciousness and your symptoms last longer than 15 minutes, it is important to seek the care of an upper cervical specialist.
Upon examination of your upper cervical spine (upper neck), which are the top two vertebrae in your spine, they will determine if you sustained an Atlas Subluxation. These occur when the Atlas, or the vertebra the neck rests upon, is moved out of normal position, and hinders the brain’s ability to properly communicate with the body. If this type of misalignment has occurred in your upper neck, concussion symptoms will frequently linger for days, weeks, months or even years.
Dr. Tymothy Flory, Dr. James Weiss and Dr. Jameson Wong of Atlas Spinal Care in Upland, California are Upper Cervical Specialists trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). Their upper cervical clinic also serves Claremont, La Verne, San Dimas, Glendora and surrounding areas. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems.