CONCUSSIONS AND POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME
At Northwest Functional Neurology in Lake Oswego, Oregon, we provide brain-focused rehabilitation for people living with concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-concussion syndrome. We look closely at how your visual, vestibular (inner ear) and balance systems are working and how well they work together, so your care can address the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves.
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can be life-altering. Your NeuroRescue Program is designed to help you take steps toward getting back to the life you want to live. Our care works alongside your physicians and other providers, never in place of them.
WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury, often called mTBI. It disrupts how the brain works and can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life. Mild traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, are the most common type of traumatic brain injury.
Concussions are often caused by a blow to the head, but they can also happen from a hit to the body or a sudden jolt that makes the head move quickly back and forth or twist. These fast, rotating forces can strain and injure brain cells and the connections between them. You don’t have to be knocked out to have a concussion.
CONDITION TYPES
Suffering from Lingering Symptoms?
If your concussion symptoms have lasted longer than a few weeks, resting in a dark room is no longer the answer. Current research suggests that after the first day or two, gradually returning to activity supports recovery better than long periods of rest. You may be dealing with persistent post-concussion symptoms, often called post-concussion syndrome (PCS).
We provide targeted post-concussion syndrome treatment, with the goal of helping reduce lingering brain fog, ongoing headaches and dizziness after a concussion. If your symptoms are getting worse, or you haven’t been checked by a physician since your injury, please see your medical provider as well.
Post Concussive: Dysautonomia | Headache | Brain Fog | Vertigo
OUR BRAIN REHABILITATION THERAPIES
To function in the world around you, your brain needs to know where you are in space and how you relate to your surroundings. It learns this from three main sources: your eyes, your inner ear, and feedback from your muscles and joints. Any or all of these systems can be affected by a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.
Concussions are rarely only about the eyes, the inner ear or the neck. One of the biggest problems after a concussion may be in the brain systems that allow all of these senses to work together.
Our NeuroRescue Program looks at each of these systems and how well they work together. We use computerized testing to help identify which systems are struggling, then create a rehabilitation plan designed for you, with the goal of helping you regain control of your symptoms and get back to living the life you want. Read More
RESEARCH-GUIDED CARE
Our understanding of how concussions and traumatic brain injuries affect the brain keeps growing, and new research is published all the time. Researchers have made important progress in how injured brain pathways are measured, and a number of rehabilitation approaches have been studied for improving quality of life after concussion and traumatic brain injury. We use this research to help guide your testing and to design a therapy program aimed at the best possible outcome for you. Results vary from person to person. You can find some of this research here. Learn More
“It was like someone turned the lights on for me in my brain. It was working again.”
“Dr. Zielinski transformed the quality of my life after I suffered a head trauma, 14 years ago. I suffered from vertigo, headaches, visual distortion and imbalance. MD’s told me I had to live with these symptoms. Today I no longer suffer from these thanks to Dr Z. His approach is cutting edge and the results are miraculous. If one or two symptoms return a visit to Dr. Z. clears them up. He is the most competent, committed and compassionate doctor I have been treated by. His willingness to accommodate my needs when they arise has been unparalleled. There are not words to express my gratitude or respect.”
Our Patient-Based Approach To Concussions And Brain Injuries
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We use computerized testing, including VNG, video head impulse testing and posturography, along with targeted rehabilitation strategies designed for your unique brain and condition
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We offer intensive programs with frequent therapy sessions over 5 to 10 days, designed to give your nervous system consistent, repeated stimulation in a short period of time. Learn More
Hear From Our Patients
Dana came to us after a motor vehicle accident in which she suffered a traumatic brain injury and a rare form of inner ear trauma.