Understanding Dizziness After a Concussion: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
The image of someone getting knocked on the head and experiencing dizziness for a few seconds is generally regarded as comical, but this can be extremely dangerous.
Concussions, fractures, and similar injuries can occur whenever you experience a blow to the head, and dizziness can be a tell-tale sign that there’s more serious damage. This is the reason why a medical professional may ask you questions about the date and current events, as it can help them determine if you’re experiencing dizziness or a state of confusion.
The truth is that experiencing dizziness due to a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be overwhelming. In this article, we will go over the reasons why you may experience dizziness concussion after a blow to the head. We’ll also share some peripheral symptoms of dizziness, how long they last, and what treatments you have available to address this problem. Click to check the Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms (TBI)
Page Contents
Why is Dizziness a Symptom of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
TBI or dizziness concussion can occur after a severe blow to the head, but why exactly do collisions cause this sensation?
There are a few factors that come into play when you experience a hard blow to the head, including variables like blood pressure and existing conditions like being overweight or having diabetes. Let’s take a closer look.
Brainstem Involvement
The brainstem is responsible for controlling balance and processing sensory input from various organs, including the eyes, ears, and muscles. All of these contribute to better stability, reflexes, and coordination.
However, if a blow to the head results in damage to the brainstem, you may experience mild to severe dizziness and loss of balance. If the damage to the brainstem is severe, it can even lead to blood pressure fluctuations and other severe issues.
Vestibular Dysfunction
Vestibular dysfunction is another reason you may experience dizziness after a head injury. The vestibular system is located in the inner ear, and it contributes to coordinated movements as well as spatial orientation.
With the above in mind, a blow to the head can damage different parts of the vestibular system, causing vertigo, nausea, poor focus, dizziness, motion sensitivity, and difficulties balancing.
Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP)
As the name suggests, increased intracranial pressure (ICP) occurs when swelling or liquid accumulation creates additional pressure in the skull. This can make you feel dizzy after a concussion for a wide range of reasons, including:
- Putting pressure on the vestibular system and other small organs
- Causing severe migraine headaches that cause vertigo
- Producing blurred vision, which can cause dizziness over a prolonged period
- Signaling a more severe brain injury
Neurochemical Imbalance
As with all processes in the body, hormones and other biochemicals play a key role in maintaining our spatial awareness and coordination. If you feel dizzy after a head injury, the blow may have caused a chemical imbalance that’s affecting your stability.
Common chemical imbalances include disrupted serotonin and dopamine levels, excessive glutamate release, and inconsistent vestibular function, among others.
Post-Traumatic Migraines
A blow suffered during an accident can lead to a concussion and dizziness, as well as post-traumatic symptoms like chronic migraines.
Chronic migraines are common among TBI victims, with many suffering from accompanying neck tension and dizziness coming from damage to the cervical vertebrae.
When severe, the migraine themselves can also cause sensitivity to light and sound, which can also cause dizziness at the same time.
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction
The nervous system contains more than 100 million neurons that are in charge of monitoring and communicating with all other parts of the body. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary, yet necessary, processes like heart rate, breathing, digestion, and so on.
Severe blows to the head can disrupt the autonomic nervous system and cause dysautonomia. This symptom can affect key processes in the body and can persist even after the other symptoms have subsided.
What is Concussion Dizziness?
It’s common to experience dizziness after a concussion, but how exactly does this feel? Is it the same type of dizziness you experience after going on a carousel?
The truth is that concussion dizziness is different—it’s more similar to vertigo, unsteadiness, and lightheadedness. This can be caused by a wide range of injuries after suffering a hard blow to the head, so it’s essential to seek medical attention right away.
How Long Does Dizziness After a Concussion Last?
How long does dizziness last after a concussion? The truth is that the recovery time of dizziness from a concussion varies from one person to another.
In most cases, concussion symptoms disappear after 2 to 4 weeks. That said, some individuals may take days to recover, while others can experience symptoms for months.
Other Symptoms Associated with Dizziness from a TBI
The term post-concussion dizziness can be used to describe a few symptoms that feel similar but are different. Here are some examples.
- Migraines and severe headaches
- Vomiting and nausea
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Inability to concentrate, brain fog
- Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
Treatment Options for TBI-Related Dizziness
What concussion dizziness treatment options do you have available?
The treatment options depend heavily on the source of the dizziness. For instance, if there is damage to the vestibular system, then vestibular rehabilitation is likely to produce the best results.
If the issue is from a chemical imbalance, a combination of physical therapy and medication may be the ideal option.
Your best bet is to contact a medical expert, get a full examination, and follow the medical protocol designed for your specific injury.
Get the Compensation You Deserve to Overcome Your Dizziness and Other TBI Problems
Experiencing dizziness after a concussion can be a sign that you have a more severe injury.
Dizziness can be caused by damage to the brainstem, intracranial pressure, neurochemical imbalances, chronic migraines, and other symptoms of a TBI.
If you felt any of these symptoms after a blow to the head, you should contact a medical professional, especially if you’re still experiencing these today. At Brain Injury Law of Seattle, we’ve spent the last two and a half decades helping TBI victims get the compensation they need to treat symptoms like dizziness, concussions, loss of memory, and other cognitive issues. Click to find TBI lawyer near me.
Contact us today to discuss the details of your accident, figure out if you deserve compensation, and start building a winning case.
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M.W., Kent, WA
"M.W. was riding his bicycle in a bike lane in Kent. He was a 24 year old elite cyclist in excellent shape. A driver of a truck in the lane next to him suddenly turned right and nicked M.W., making him fall off his bike. He was wearing his helmet. However, when he fell to the ground, his head struck the pavement along with his left shoulder. "
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