Ignoring Symptoms Of A Concussion Can Have Lasting Consequences

A concussion can be a perplexing injury. It cannot be seen on a regular X-ray. Typically, brain scans are not helpful. A CT scan can create an image of the brain and reveal bleeding or fractures of the skull. However, it cannot show if someone has suffered a concussion unless it is severe enough to cause structural changes in the brain. An MRI can create a clear image of brain tissue and is helpful for diagnosing structural damage but often cannot be used to detect persistent symptoms three months or more after a head injury, known as post-concussion syndrome.

Each year about 200,000 Canadians are diagnosed with a concussion, according to Brain Injury Canada (BIC). However, the organization states that it can be difficult to gather accurate statistics since they must rely on hospital and doctor reporting. Many brain injuries are not reported at the time of injury, or at all.