Concussion education / Jacksonville & Northeast Florida

What to Tell Your Doctor After a Head Injury in Jacksonville

Seeing a provider after a crash or fall in Jacksonville, Orange Park or St. Augustine? What to tell them about head injury symptoms so nothing gets missed.

Doctor visits after an accident are often short, and it is easy to forget something important. If you are seeing a provider in Jacksonville or Northeast Florida after a crash or fall, a little preparation helps make sure a head injury is not missed.

Getting around Northeast Florida

Jacksonville is spread out, and many people drive long distances on I-95, I-10, I-295, J. Turner Butler Boulevard, Blanding Boulevard and US-17 every day. After a crash on one of these roads, or a fall at home or work, a visit to the doctor often focuses on the most obvious pain. Head symptoms can be missed unless you bring them up clearly.

What to tell your provider

Describe how the injury happened, whether you hit your head or were jolted, whether you blacked out or felt dazed, and every symptom since, including headaches, dizziness, vision changes, trouble focusing, mood changes and sleep problems. Bring a written list and, if possible, a family member who has noticed changes.

Bring your list to every visit, and update it as symptoms change. You know your body best.

Common concussion symptoms

• Physical: headache, nausea, dizziness, balance problems, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise.
• Thinking: feeling foggy or slowed down, trouble concentrating or remembering.
• Emotional: irritability, sadness, anxiety.
• Sleep: sleeping more or less than usual.

When to go to the emergency room

Call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away for danger signs such as a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, seizures, unusual confusion, one pupil larger than the other, or loss of consciousness. In the area, hospitals with emergency departments include UF Health Jacksonville and Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; in an emergency, go to whichever ER is closest.

Getting checked in Jacksonville & Northeast Florida

If symptoms are not severe but are not going away, start with your treating provider, such as your primary care doctor, chiropractor, orthopedist, pain management physician or physical therapist. Keep a short symptom diary to share with them. If they decide objective testing makes sense, they can refer you to Braintree. We are a mobile service: our team brings concussion and TBI testing to your provider's office across Jacksonville & Northeast Florida, so you are tested somewhere familiar. Your provider receives a physician-reviewed diagnostic report and decides on your care.

Not sure where to start? Call our help line at 813-709-3771. We can walk you through how testing works and help you think about next steps for getting checked and finding care. You can also read our guide for patients and families.

For local providers

If you treat accident or injury patients in Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine and Fernandina Beach, Braintree brings mobile concussion and TBI testing to your office and returns a physician-reviewed diagnostic report. You stay in charge of care. We diagnose. You treat. See how it works for providers or send a referral.

For legal teams

Personal injury firms serving Jacksonville & Northeast Florida can learn how testing at the client's treating provider's office produces objective, physician-reviewed diagnostic reports. Testing is ordered by the treating provider. See information for attorneys.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Concussion testing in Jacksonville & Northeast Florida | Concussion testing in Florida | For patients and families | Call 813-709-3771

Sources

• CDC: About mild TBI and concussion
• CDC HEADS UP: Concussion signs and symptoms
• NIH NINDS: Traumatic Brain Injury

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