Dizziness After a Crash: Concussion Clues for Big Bend Providers
How chiropractors and physicians in Tallahassee and the Big Bend can sort concussion-related dizziness from neck and inner-ear causes after a crash.
Many Big Bend patients spend a lot of time behind the wheel. State workers drive into Tallahassee from Crawfordville on US-319, from Quincy on US-90 and from Monticello on US-19, and plenty of people drive I-10 or US-27 to Perry and Madison for work. After a crash on one of those roads, "I just feel dizzy" is one of the most common complaints a chiropractor or primary care physician hears.
Dizziness after a crash has more than one possible cause. This article is for Tallahassee-area providers who want a practical way to think about it and to recognize when concussion belongs on the list.
Key takeaways
- The CDC lists dizziness or balance problems among the main symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.
- A patient does not need to have hit their head or lost consciousness to have a concussion.
- Neck, inner-ear and medicine causes can overlap with concussion in the same patient.
- Recording history details at the first visit makes changes over time easier to see.
Dizziness is a core concussion symptom
The CDC lists dizziness or balance problems, blurry vision and sensitivity to light or noise among the main symptoms of mild TBI and concussion, and it notes that some symptoms do not appear for hours or days. NINDS explains that a concussion can result from a forceful jolt to the head or body, so a patient does not need to have hit their head or lost consciousness.
After a car crash, though, dizziness can also come from the neck, from inner-ear problems or from medicines. More than one cause can be present at the same time, and that overlap is what makes these patients hard to sort out.
What the research shows
Concussion often affects how the eyes and the balance system work together. Mucha and colleagues (American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014) studied a brief vestibular and ocular motor screen in adolescents after sport-related concussion. In that study, 61% of concussed patients reported their symptoms were provoked by at least one item, and the two items most predictive of concussion were the vestibulo-ocular reflex and visual motion sensitivity. The study was small, involved young athletes rather than crash patients, and the authors described the tool as one part of a broader assessment. It is still a useful reminder that visual and balance complaints deserve a focused look.
History clues worth writing down
No single question settles the cause, but these details help separate the possibilities:
- Brief spinning that starts with rolling over in bed or looking up, versus a constant foggy or off-balance feeling.
- Dizziness that tracks with neck movement and neck pain, versus dizziness set off by busy visual scenes such as store aisles, scrolling screens or traffic.
- Trouble reading, losing their place on a page, or eyes that tire quickly.
- Headaches that build with concentration, along with light or noise sensitivity.
- Any confusion, memory gap or dazed feeling at the scene of the crash.
- New medicines, prior concussions and when each symptom first appeared.
Recording these answers at the first visit, in the patient's own words, gives everyone a clear starting point and makes changes over time easier to see.
Testing does not replace your exam. It adds a standardized measure of how the brain is functioning.
When testing adds value
Consider concussion testing when dizziness or visual symptoms persist after neck findings improve, when complaints are out of proportion to the musculoskeletal exam, or when recovery stalls. Testing does not replace your exam. It adds a standardized measure of how the brain is functioning, which can support your clinical impression or point toward another explanation.
Braintree's mobile team brings concussion and TBI testing to your office, whether you practice in Tallahassee or in Quincy, Crawfordville, Monticello, Madison, Perry or Apalachicola. That matters in the Big Bend, where a dizzy patient may not be able to drive themselves to an appointment across town or across two counties. Scheduling is coordinated around your clinic. You receive a physician-reviewed diagnostic report, and the patient stays in your care. We diagnose. You treat.
See how concussion and TBI testing works, view our Tallahassee and Big Bend service area or send a referral. Patients can read our For Patients page, and recent local crash reports appear on the Tallahassee & Big Bend Crash Map.
Red flags that need emergency care
Send the patient to the emergency department or call 911 for the CDC danger signs: a headache that gets worse and does not go away, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination, seizures, slurred speech, one pupil larger than the other, increasing confusion or drowsiness, or loss of consciousness. Tallahassee Memorial's Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center is the region's only Level II trauma center. HCA Florida Capital Hospital in Tallahassee also runs a 24/7 emergency department, and Doctors' Memorial Hospital in Perry, Madison County Memorial Hospital and Weems Memorial Hospital in Apalachicola provide around-the-clock emergency care in the rural counties.
Frequently asked questions
Is dizziness after a car accident a sign of concussion?
It can be. The CDC lists dizziness and balance problems as concussion symptoms, but dizziness after a crash can also come from the neck, the inner ear or medicines, and more than one cause can be present.
Can a patient have a concussion without hitting their head?
Yes. NINDS notes that a forceful jolt to the head or body can cause a TBI, so a head strike and loss of consciousness are not required.
Which dizziness patterns suggest concussion?
Dizziness set off by busy visual scenes, trouble with reading or eye tracking, and headaches that build with concentration all raise concern. A brief spin when rolling over in bed points more toward an inner-ear cause. Both can occur together.
Can chiropractors in the Big Bend refer for concussion testing?
Yes. Braintree accepts referrals from treating providers, including chiropractors, and returns a physician-reviewed diagnostic report to the referring office.
Does Braintree treat dizziness?
No. Braintree performs mobile testing and reporting. The referring provider keeps the patient and decides on care.
Sources
- CDC: Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion (including danger signs)
- NIH NINDS: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Mucha A et al. A brief Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) assessment to evaluate concussions: preliminary findings. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(10):2479-2486
- Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare: Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center
- HCA Florida Capital Hospital
- Doctors' Memorial Hospital (Perry): Emergency services
- Madison County Memorial Hospital: Emergency department
- George E. Weems Memorial Hospital (Apalachicola)
This article is educational and is not medical or legal advice. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.
