Back in the day, if you hit your head during a sports match, the coach would say, “How many fingers am I holding up?...Good, you’re back in.”
We know better now. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can derail people’s lives. Left untreated, their effects can become long-term or permanent. Myths about TBIs persist to this day and can put you and loved ones at risk.
Myth #1: It doesn’t matter long-term
False. TBIs can cause long-term changes in memory, balance, mood, emotional regulation, energy, reading abilities, and hormonal regulation. Parents often notice a change in their child’s behavior but don’t connect it to a known or unknown head injury.
Myth #2: You’re out for a month
High school and college athletes often try to hide TBIs because they don’t want to get pulled off the field for a whole month. But the recovery time for a TBI depends on its severity. More severe TBIs can take at least a month or more of recovery time (and you wouldn’t feel capable of playing your sport anyway). With prompt, effective treatment, mild TBIs (aka, concussions) might take 1-2 weeks of recovery time.
Myth #3: Just let it be. There’s nothing to be done.
For a small percentage of TBIs, this is true. With time, the neurons start firing properly again. For most people, this is not the case. Without treatment, most people will suffer long-term impairment and can be at greater risk of future head injuries.
Bottom line: Don’t overestimate or underestimate the seriousness of a TBI. Get evaluated. Get treated. Take care of yourself (or your loved one) before you charge hard again.
Use the button below to book your appointment.
Dr. Jake Shores
Chiropractic Neurologist
Park City, Utah
