Skip to main content
Football Player

Find your care

Prevea's concussion care team is here to support you with concussion care and symptom management.

Concussion and head injury care

Head injury symptoms and concussion treatment options
Why choose Prevea Concussion Clinic for coordinated head injury treatment?

A fall or hit to the head can take an athlete out of the game or an employee out of work, but it may also lead to a concussion or other traumatic brain injury.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, jolt or blow to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause brain swelling and damage brain cells. An individual may not remember what happened when the injury occurred, may have lost consciousness after the injury or may have other signs and symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of a concussion

Symptoms are the same for adults and children
  • Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness/vertigo
  • Headache
  • Loss of balance
  • Mood swings, irritability or depression
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Poor coordination
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Sleepiness or trouble falling asleep
  • Slowed reaction times
  • Slurred speech
  • Trouble remembering
  • Weakness

If you or a loved one suspects a concussion, it is extremely important to have someone monitor the symptoms closely. Any red flag symptoms such as slurred speech, vomiting (two or more times), changes in level of consciousness or uncontrolled headache should be evaluated immediately by calling 911 or going to the nearest hospital emergency room.

When recovering from a traumatic brain injury, it is important to take it slow and follow the guidance of medical providers and concussion experts. Returning to play, learn or work too quickly after a traumatic brain injury can lead to further brain damage and can be life threatening. When working with a specialized concussion care team, the providers will evaluate and guide the patient through the appropriate steps to safely return to their active lifestyle.

For concussion care and symptom management, schedule an appointment with a primary care sports medicine physician. These physicians evaluate and coordinate a personalized treatment plan using their medical knowledge and expertise coupled with the use of ImPACT™, the industry-standard assessment technology, to help assess condition and recovery. They are board-certified ImPact™ concussion consultants and leaders in their field.

Concussion care and symptom management

Schedule an appointment with a primary care sports medicine physician. These physicians evaluate and coordinate a personalized treatment plan using their medical knowledge and expertise coupled with the use of ImPACT™, the industry-standard assessment technology, to help assess condition and recovery.

Key services

Pre-concussion computerized baseline testing

If you participate in a sport with a higher chance for head injury such as football, hockey, wrestling, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball or volleyball, you should have a baseline test. Baseline testing through ImPACT™ is available for ages 5 to 59.

Concussion diagnosis and care management

For concussion care and symptom management, primary care sports medicine physicians can help. The physicians evaluate, diagnose and coordinate a personalized treatment plan and provide home care instructions for a safe recovery.

Return-to-play, learn and work guidelines

Returning to everyday life after a concussion or head injury has its own timeline and path. Our primary care sports medicine physicians help guide when and how people can return-to-play, learn or work. Education is also provided to teachers and employers.

Symptom management plans and team approach

If further specialty concussion care is needed based on the patient’s symptoms, various specialties within Prevea offer coordinated care through a multidisciplinary team approach, such as primary care, therapy, behavioral care, audiology and many more.

Oftentimes, individuals will suffer from ongoing symptoms from a concussion or head injury such as ringing in the ears, headaches/migraines, reading limitations and balance. Prevea’s specialty care providers can help!

Audiology

Individuals may see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation if there are concerns of tinnitus (noises in the ears), changes in hearing, sensitivity to sounds and/or difficulty with processing speech in noise following a concussion. Audiologists may also perform videonystamography (VNG) to evaluate if the inner ear is contributing to post-concussive symptoms of dizziness or imbalance.

Behavioral care

Concussions take a toll on a patient, not just physically, but also mentally. Prevea’s behavioral care team is here to assist with some of the potential psychological impacts of concussions. This includes management of chronic pain/headaches, frustration due to changes in functioning, fear of not getting better and symptoms of anxiety and depression due to the changes and challenges associated with a concussion. We offer a full range of services for both the individual who suffered the concussion and family members and loved ones who want to be supportive. Services include individual, couple and/or family therapy for management of depression, anxiety and adjustment issues due to life changes post-concussion.

Neurology in eastern Wisconsin

Neurology can help a concussed individual if they are experiencing post-concussion symptoms such as headaches and migraines. Neurologists can prescribe medications to help calm the brain including Botox® and occipital nerve blocks.

Neuromusculoskeletal and pain management in northeast Wisconsin

If pain or headaches persist in a concussed individual, a neuromusculoskeletal and pain physician can evaluate for musculoskeletal, nervous or lymphatic system impairment or altered functions. Often, concussion symptoms are caused by lingering inflammation and tissue congestion within the head, and gentle osteopathic manipulative treatment can help “drain” this congestion from the head and neck. Often this will help with many of the symptoms. However, sometimes symptoms such as headaches and neck pain persist, and simple trigger point injections or nerve blocks can be helpful to normalize the muscle and nerve function that might be contributing to the pain.

Neuropsychology in Green Bay

Individuals who have a hard time with their cognitive skills, such as thinking, reading, learning, remembering, reasoning and paying attention after a concussion or traumatic brain injury may benefit from a neuropsychological assessment. The assessment is both observational and digital and is used to help detect subtle cognitive deficits such as neurocognitive and neurobehavioral functioning, particularly with processing cognitive speed, attention, memory and emotional functioning.

Neuropsychological assessment can be useful to help determine duration of recovery from concussion and help clinicians make more accurate diagnostic and return-to-play, learn or work decisions. These assessments are a cornerstone of concussion management and endorsed by the Concussion in Sport (CIS) group at the International Symposia on Concussion in Sport and the National Athletic Trainers Association.

Occupational therapy – low vision in Green Bay

Sensitivity to light (photophobia/photosensitivity) is a common symptom with concussions that can impact participation in sports, work, school and home life. The occupational therapist and Certified Low Vision Therapist can help patients with functional ease of use on their phone or computer and to manage their symptoms with functional indoor and outdoor light and glare assessments in order to determine the appropriate filter lens and frame.

Education on proper wear schedule of specific sunglasses is provided in order to mitigate symptoms and improve occupational performance and visual comfort in patients.

Physical therapy – vestibular therapy

An individual may see a vestibular therapist to assess their dizziness, blurriness and imbalance due to a concussion. The therapist may suggest specific exercises to improve posture and to reduce neck pain and headaches. Manual techniques and functional dry needling may also be used to help manage pain.

Speech therapy

Cognitive-communication therapy targets memory, attention/concentration, problem solving/reasoning, word finding, auditory comprehension and mental processing. Both verbal and written expression as well as auditory and visual comprehension are often targeted. Treatment is individualized to assist the patient in becoming more independent in daily life and resuming daily tasks related to employment and family life. Although the goal of treatment is often to improve skills, a Speech-Language Pathologist can also help maintain skills to slow functional decline dependent on the individual’s diagnosis.

The latest from Prevea Health

Breakthroughs & breaking news from the medical experts at Prevea Health

Health and wellness

Find a concussion expert

If you suspect a concussion or are dealing with post-concussion symptoms, contact us today for a complete diagnosis and treatment plan to help you get back to your everyday lifestyle.