Concussion Clinic
Concussions are unfortunately the most common type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). They occur when enough pressure and/or impact is placed on the brain. The term concussion is used interchangeably by health professionals with the term mild TBI, which emphasizes concussions as the mildest form of TBI. Consistent with their mild nature, concussions typically do not result in any structural changes to the brain. While they are the mildest form of TBI, concussions still need to be taken seriously. If neglected and/or treated improperly, individuals with concussion are at significantly increased risk for prolonged recovery and/or significantly decreased quality of life.
At the RIW Concussion Clinic, we evaluate potential concussions resultant from sports participation, falls, MVAs, on the job incidents, assaults, and all potential mechanisms for injury. Dr. Ted Albrecht, clinical neuropsychologist, directs a multidisciplinary clinic that evaluates concussion utilizing current state of the art methods, including a comprehensive physical evaluation, neurocognitive testing, and a focused clinical interview, which will review the patient’s medical history and current signs/symptoms. Due to the diversity of patients’ medical backgrounds and genetic makeups, in conjunction with the heterogeneous nature of the injury itself, patients can present with a wide variety of signs and symptoms following concussion. While diverse in presentation, all concussions are treatable if attended to appropriately in clinic.
Why is RIW different from other concussion clinics in Seattle?
The best part about RIW’s concussion clinic is that all of our providers operate underneath the same roof and communicate directly regarding your care. This provides ideal continuity of care and makes it convenient for you as a patient to have RIW as a one-stop shop for your concussion treatment. Additionally, Dr. Albrecht completed his postdoctoral fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh’s Sports Medicine Concussion Program, a world-renowned clinic, and the only training program in the country focused solely on concussion. There, he provided concussion treatment to over 4,000 patients during his two years of formal training.
What to expect from my visit
When you come into clinic, Dr. Albrecht will evaluate your injury, develop a treatment plan, and provide appropriate treatment and, if needed, refer you to physical therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive/speech therapy, and/or other members of our medical team who have extensive backgrounds in traumatic injuries and rehabilitation medicine. Dr. Albrecht will manage your care throughout the entirety of your treatment. There is no reason for you to feel alone in your recovery.
What to do if you suspect you had a concussion
If you demonstrate any of the following signs or symptoms following a head injury, present immediately to the ED (these may be signs of more serious injury):
- Loss of consciousness/altered consciousness.
- Confusion/disorientation
- Loss of memory for the event and/or loss of memory for any events just before or just after the event
- Repeated vomiting
- Severe headache that will not go away
- Weakness/Numbness in the extremities
- Changes in vision that do not go away
- Slurred speech or difficulties with speech
- Seizure activity
If you are experiencing unfamiliar signs or symptoms following a head injury, it is likely that you sustained a concussion. Here are some of the most common symptoms following concussion:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Balance problems
- Fatigue/Drowsiness
- Mental Fogginess/Difficulties with memory and concentration
- Blurred/double vision
- Light/sound sensitivity
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or any symptoms which are unfamiliar to you, here is a recommended step by step plan to start your recovery:
- Schedule an appointment with the RIW concussion clinic immediately. Research suggests those who get into concussion specialist sooner can recover more quickly and are at significantly decreased risk for prolonged recovery.
- If you sustained your head injury within the last 24 hours, it is okay to take it a little more easily than usual.
- It is okay to use electronics, to move around, and to complete your normal daily activities so long as you feel safe doing so. You will likely feel symptoms when completing some activities, though you are not doing any harm to yourself or your brain. It is also highly encouraged to begin engaging in some non-risk physical exercise (i.e., exercise which does not place you at a risk to hit your head again).
- If you work in a profession requiring operation of heavy machinery and/or participation in high-risk situations (e.g., truck drivers, medical professionals providing surgery, emergency responders, etc.), it is not recommended that you continue with these activities until formally evaluated in clinic.
For Athletes
- If you are an athlete, discontinue contact activity immediately when a concussion is suspected.
- Schedule an appointment to come in for an evaluation. You should be able to get in for an evaluation with Dr. Albrecht within 24-48 hours. There should be no need to wait longer than this regardless of where you are being evaluated. Our emphasis is to get you back to play as quickly and as safely as possible.
- Between the injury and your scheduled evaluation, it is okay to lightly progress back into your normal exercise regimen, but do not participate in any contact sport activity until formally cleared to do so by a medical professional.
- For student athletes participating within the WIAA, you will also be conjunctively evaluated by one of our physicians for ultimate clearance to return to play.
More information about concussions
When a biomechanical force impacts the head, the brain shakes rapidly in the skull, neurons within the brain bend, forcing the brain into an acute state of energy crisis. This energy crisis results in the brain having to work harder than normal to function and complete normal activities. It also results in symptoms, particularly when engaging in these normal day to day activities that would typically not otherwise result in symptoms.
Concussion Profiles
The field of concussion has discovered different types of presentations following concussion. Some of the most common profiles are:
- Vestibular
- Post-traumatic migraine
- Ocular
- Anxiety/Mood
Your evaluation will determine which type(s) of concussion you have incurred, and what specific treatment is most appropriate to speed your recovery.
Scheduling an Appointment
For questions and appointment scheduling please contact our program coordinator:
Vanessa Quintero
E-mail: vquintero@rehabwashington.com
Phone: 206-245-1608