28 days after a mild concussion — still having vision issues and lightheadedness. Should I find a different physio?
Tomorrow will be exactly 4 weeks since I was in a car accident on July 22. I didn’t black out and I actually didn’t feel much pain immediately afterward. A few days later, around July 27, I started getting headaches, lightheadedness and vision issues. I got checked out on July 28 and was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
Since then I’ve definitely improved a lot. The headaches and some of the other symptoms have gotten much better, and I feel way better than I did during the first couple of weeks. The main thing worrying me now is that my vision still doesn’t feel completely normal. I also get random spells of lightheadedness/vertigo and fatigue.
Tomorrow is the 4-week mark and I’m starting to worry that this means I now have post-concussion syndrome and that these symptoms could last for months. I know everyone recovers differently, but it’s hard not to think about it when I’m still not back to normal.
I’ve been going to a physio that I was referred to by the hospital for about 3 weeks, but most of my appointments have basically been chiropractic treatment. There hasn’t been much focus on my vision, balance, vestibular system or other concussion-specific rehab. I’m wondering if I should find a physiotherapist or another professional who specifically specializes in concussion/vestibular rehabilitation.
I also haven’t been able to return to work yet. I’m a painter, so I’m on my feet, moving around, climbing ladders and need my vision and balance to feel normal. I really want to get back to work and start doing normal physical activities again, but I don’t feel 100% safe doing that yet.
For anyone who was still experiencing vision problems, dizziness or lightheadedness around the 4-week mark: did you continue improving after that? Did concussion/vestibular therapy make a difference? And at what point did you decide to see a different specialist?
I’m getting pretty worried about this turning into something that lasts for months, so I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through something similarj.