Dr. Gott: Post-concussion syndrome needs time
Dear Dr. Gott: My 57-year-old husband was assaulted in May and suffered a concussion. The back of his head hit the pavement hard, and he was punched a number of times in the forehead. He is still experiencing dizziness (like the room is spinning) and blurry vision. The doctor told him that he has post-concussion syndrome and says it may go away in a few months or it make take a year or more. He said there is a small chance that it will never go away.
Dear Reader: Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a complex condition characterized by symptoms that last for several weeks or months following the initial injury.
A concussion is a brain injury, usually caused by hitting the head. Many are associated with loss of consciousness and amnesia. Other symptoms include confusion, headache, dizziness, irritability, loss of concentration, tinnitus, insomnia, fatigue, sensitivity to light and noise, depression, slurred speech and nausea or vomiting. Some people may not experience symptoms for several hours or even days following the injury. PCS is diagnosed when the patient continues to experience some symptoms longer than normal and other causes have been ruled out.
There is no specific treatment. He may benefit from trying an antivertigo/antinausea medication such as buclizine, cyclizine or meclizine. The blurred vision is more difficult. If it is truly part of his PCS, it should resolve over time; however, a visit to an ophthalmologist for evaluation may be in order to rule out other causes that may be corrected easily with glasses or contacts.
As for things that can worsen the condition, the most obvious is further head trauma. Your husband needs to be especially vigilant to avoid hitting his head again, causing another concussion or worsened symptoms. If there are certain triggers that aggravate his dizziness, he should avoid those situations. Certain medications may also carry side effects that could compound the problem.
• Write to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016.
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