Treating Concussions

A concussion can slow you down and sideline you from sports and other favorite activities. A child with a concussion may also be unable to attend school until they heal. Providence is here for you with timely, compassionate care and the guidance you need to recover from a concussion and prevent long-term damage.

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Why Choose Us for Your Concussion Care?

At Providence, our goal is to help adults and children recover from a concussion and get back to everyday life as soon as possible. Here’s why hundreds of patients trust us every year to treat their concussions.

Doctor speaking with patient

We provide whole-person care for your mind, body and spirit. This includes return-to-work rehabilitation services, counseling to address the emotional effects of an injury and pain management to help you feel better, faster. And if your child has a concussion, we partner with you to help manage their condition and create a personalized treatment plan to get them back to daily life as soon as possible.

We take a team approach to treating concussions. You may initially see an emergency room physician, who will diagnose your concussion. Neurologists then use tests to assess your condition and create an integrated plan to support your recovery and allow your brain to heal. Your doctors may also coordinate care with physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and pain specialists to address your symptoms.

Student-athletes can be at a higher risk for concussion. In some regions, Providence partners with area high schools to monitor athletes for brain injury. We provide neurological assessments for students and coordinate concussion care with athletic trainers, coaches and school staff. To make sure an athlete fully recovers, we follow a “return to play” concussion protocol, which provides guidelines for a gradual return to school and sports.

Providence caregivers are dedicated to providing access to the best care to all members of our diverse community, including concussion patients. We respect and celebrate the racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual and spiritual identities of each of our patients. We offer location-specific services such as translation for non-English-speaking patients and assistance with transportation. In keeping with our Mission, Providence also offers financial assistance programs that provide free and low-cost care to those who are eligible.

As our concussion patient, you benefit from one of the largest networks of neuroscience experts in the country, including dedicated sports medicine physicians. This collaborative system includes award-winning physicians, researchers and caregivers across 51 hospitals in seven states. Our network is one of the reasons more than 200 patients choose us for their concussion care every year.

Our Commitment to Care

“If you have headaches that are persisting, we can talk about medications to help. We often get people involved in physical and occupational therapy to help their memory. We do a variety of neurologic tests, including any imaging that might be necessary, to make sure everything looks OK and you’re on the road to recovery.”

Madelyn Boyle - Physician Assistant, Neurology
Providence Neurology Specialists - Montana

More About Concussions

A concussion is a brain injury that results from an impact to the head, neck or face. A hit to the upper body that is so strong it can jerk your head can also cause a concussion. They can occur in many situations: particularly at work, in a car accident or during contact sports. Although concussions can range from mild to severe, all are serious injuries that require attention.

Concussions can cause many neurological symptoms. These symptoms may be mild and temporary, such as headaches and fatigue, or more severe and longer lasting, such as trouble concentrating or recalling information, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Testing and Diagnostics

Male doctor and patient appointment

Your neurological team will use the most advanced methods to determine the severity of your concussion. These may include one or more of the following:

  • Balance testing
  • Blood test
  • Computerized neurocognitive testing
  • CT imaging
  • Field testing
  • MRI
  • Neurological and cognitive tests
  • Physical examination

Personalized Treatment for Concussions

No two concussions are alike. That’s why your care team works with you to create a treatment plan based on your medical and personal needs. Your plan will help you avoid additional injury to your brain as you recover and may include one or more of the following:

  • Cognitive rehabilitation
  • Dietary supplements
  • Limits on academic work, electronic screen use and physical activity
  • Over-the-counter pain medication
  • Physical therapy
  • Speech therapy

Find Neurological Care Close to You

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At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.

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