Concussion - adults - discharge

What to Expect at Home:

Healing or recovering from a concussion takes time. It may take days to weeks, or even months. You may be irritable, have trouble concentrating, be unable to remember things, have headaches, dizziness, and blurry vision. These problems will probably recover slowly. You may want to get help from family or friends for making important decisions.

When You First Go Home:

You may use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a headache. Do NOT use aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), naproxen, or other similar drugs.

Eat a light diet. Light activity around the home is okay. You do not need to stay in bed. However, avoid exercise, lifting weights, or other heavy activity.

Have an adult stay with you for the first 12 to 24 hours after you are home from an emergency room.

• Going to sleep is okay. For at least the first 12 hours, someone should wake you up every 2 or 3 hours. They can ask a simple question, such as your name, and then look for any other changes in the way you look or act.
• Ask your doctor how long you need to do this.

Do not drink alcohol until you have recovered all the way. Alcohol may slow down how quickly you recover, increase your risk for another injury, and make it harder than it already is to make decisions.

Activity:

When to Call the Doctor:

If symptoms do not go away or are not improving a lot after 2 or 3 weeks, talk to your doctor.

Call the doctor if you have:

• A stiff neck
• Fluid and blood leaking from your nose or ears
• A hard time waking up or have become more sleepy
• A headache that is getting worse, lasts a long time, or is not relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers
• Fever
• Vomiting more than 3 times
• Problems walking or talking
• Changes in speech (slurred, difficult to understand, does not make sense)
• Problems thinking straight
• Seizures (jerking your arms or legs without control)
• Changes in behavior or unusual behavior
• Double vision