Concussion education / Port St. Lucie & the Treasure Coast

Head Injury at Work on the Treasure Coast: Concussion Signs and Next Steps

Hurt your head at work in Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Fort Pierce or Vero Beach? Concussion signs to watch, what to report, and how testing is arranged.

A head injury on the job adds worry about your paycheck and your future on top of the injury itself. If you were hurt at work in St. Lucie, Martin or Indian River County, this guide covers what to watch for and how to get checked.

Work on a growing coast

The Treasure Coast is growing fast. Construction along Port St. Lucie Boulevard, Gatlin Boulevard and the new neighborhoods west of I-95, plus warehouse, trucking and agricultural work toward Okeechobee on SR 70, means work injuries are part of life here. Falls from ladders, being struck by equipment and crashes in work vehicles can all cause a concussion.

What to do after a head injury at work

Report the injury to your employer right away, get checked, and tell the provider exactly how your head was hit or jolted. Mention any symptoms, even mild ones, so they are part of your record from the start.

Your health comes first. Getting checked early protects you and gives your provider a clear picture from day one.

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 HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce and Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital in Stuart; in an emergency, go to whichever ER is closest.

Getting checked in Port St. Lucie & the Treasure Coast

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 Port St. Lucie & the Treasure Coast, 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 Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Vero Beach and Okeechobee, 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 Port St. Lucie & the Treasure Coast 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 Port St. Lucie & the Treasure Coast | 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.