Concussion education / Tampa Bay

Concussion Symptoms That Linger in Tampa Bay: When to Get Tested

Headaches, fog or poor sleep weeks after a head injury? How concussion testing works in Tampa, Brandon, Wesley Chapel and across Tampa Bay.

Most people who have a concussion feel better within a few days to a few weeks. Some do not. If you live in Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey or elsewhere in Tampa Bay and you still have headaches, brain fog or poor sleep weeks after a fall, crash or sports hit, this guide explains what those lingering symptoms can mean and how concussion testing is arranged.

What a concussion is

The CDC describes a concussion as a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that makes the head and brain move quickly back and forth. That sudden movement can stretch and damage brain cells and cause chemical changes in the brain. A person does not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion, and many people never do.

Symptoms that can last for weeks

According to the CDC and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at NIH, common concussion symptoms fall into four groups:

• Physical: headache, dizziness, nausea, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise, low energy.
• Thinking and memory: trouble concentrating, feeling slowed down or foggy, problems remembering new information.
• Emotional: irritability, sadness, anxiety, feeling more emotional than usual.
• Sleep: sleeping more or less than usual, or trouble falling asleep.

When symptoms last beyond the expected recovery window, clinicians often call them persistent post-concussion symptoms. The 2023 international consensus statement on concussion in sport (Patricios et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine) notes that most athletes recover within about four weeks and treats symptoms that last longer as persisting symptoms that deserve further evaluation. Research from the TRACK-TBI study (Nelson et al., JAMA Neurology, 2019) found that many adults treated for mild TBI at US trauma centers still reported symptoms or limits in daily function months after their injury.

Lingering symptoms do not mean something is permanently wrong, and they do not mean someone is exaggerating. They are a signal that the injury deserves a closer, objective look.

Why people in Tampa Bay often wait

Tampa Bay has some of the busiest roads in the state, including I-275, I-4, the Selmon Expressway, US-19 and the Howard Frankland and Gandy bridges. After a crash, people understandably focus on neck pain, back pain and the car. Head symptoms are easy to blame on stress, a bad night of sleep or a busy week, so they get pushed aside until they start affecting work, driving or family life.

Falls at home, work injuries and youth or adult sports collisions follow the same pattern. Someone feels "a little off," expects it to pass, and is still struggling a month later.

How concussion testing works in Tampa Bay

Start with your treating provider, such as your primary care doctor, chiropractor, orthopedist, pain management physician or physical therapist. Tell them exactly which symptoms you have, when they began and what makes them better or worse. A symptom diary kept over a week or two is very helpful.

If your provider decides objective testing makes sense, they can refer you to Braintree. Braintree is a mobile service: our team brings concussion and TBI testing to your provider's office in Tampa Bay, so you are tested somewhere you already know. Testing looks at how the brain is functioning in areas such as eye movement, brainwave activity, balance and thinking speed.

The results become a physician-reviewed diagnostic report that goes back to your provider. Your provider uses the report to make decisions about your care. Braintree tests; it does not treat. We diagnose. You treat.

What you can do in the meantime

• Follow your provider's guidance on rest and a gradual return to normal activity. The CDC notes that light activity that does not worsen symptoms is usually fine after the first couple of days.
• Limit alcohol and avoid activities with a risk of another head injury until a provider clears you.
• Write down symptoms, sleep and any days you missed work or school.
• Do not drive if you feel dizzy, foggy or have vision changes.

When to go to the emergency room

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away for danger signs the CDC lists, including a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, seizures, unusual confusion or agitation, one pupil larger than the other, or loss of consciousness.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Concussion testing in Tampa Bay | Concussion testing in Florida | Send a referral

Sources

• CDC: About mild TBI and concussion
• CDC HEADS UP: Concussion signs and symptoms
• NIH NINDS: Traumatic Brain Injury
• Patricios JS et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport (Amsterdam 2022). Br J Sports Med. 2023;57:695-711
• Nelson LD et al. Recovery after mild TBI in patients presenting to US Level I trauma centers: a TRACK-TBI study. JAMA Neurol. 2019;76(9):1049-1059

This article is educational and is not medical or legal advice. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.