Concussion Specialist

Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C.

Sports Medicine & Primary Care Practice located in Lawrenceville, NJ

Nearly 3 million Americans suffer a concussion or other traumatic brain injury every year. Although concussions are mild brain injuries, they can cause lasting damage or permanent disability if you fail to get appropriate care, or if you return to normal activity too quickly. At Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, the caring team of concussion care specialists can diagnose and treat your concussion using the latest advanced technology. Call the office or click on the online booking tool for an appointment.

267-754-2187

Concussion Q & A

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when your brain briefly, which floats in cerebrospinal fluid, hits against the skull. Concussions often develop after a blow to the head, a fall, violent shaking, or in other situations like auto accidents.

A concussion interferes with normal brain function and information processing. Usually, concussion symptoms are temporary, resolving in 7-10 days. But, if you don’t get proper treatment or you try to return to normal activity too fast, you could suffer long-term damage.

One concussion increases your risk for recurrences, so it’s important to put preventive care measures like protective equipment and safe practices in place after your injury.

What are the symptoms of a concussion?

Symptoms can be hard to identify in some cases. If you suffer a concussion, you may have:

Headache
Amnesia surrounding the injury
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Nausea
Vomiting
Daytime drowsiness
Blurred vision
Confusion
Disorientation
Dizzy spells
Balance problems
Disturbed sleep patterns
Slurred speech
Difficulty processing what others are saying

You may temporarily lose consciousness after the impact.

How is a concussion diagnosed?

The Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. team asks you a series of detailed questions about your injury. If you can't remember anything that happened (a common issue with concussions), ask someone who witnessed your injury to contribute information.

The team generally performs a neurological exam to check your reflexes, vision, strength, memory, hearing, balance, and coordination.

Depending on the situation, the team may also request imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans to determine the extent of the damage.

How do you treat concussions?

Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. uses the latest cutting-edge, evidence-based practices in all concussion care.

The first rule of concussion care is rest. You need both mental and physical rest to recover from a concussion. The team gives you specific guidelines, which may include limited screen time and a full rest from physical activity.

After your period of rest, the team typically recommends a gradual approach, slowly increasing your activity until you're back at full function. If you have balance or coordination issues related to the concussion, the Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. team may recommend physical therapy as you recover.

For concussion evaluation and treatment from experts, call Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. or click on the online scheduler.