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Understanding Concussion and the Road to Recovery

This episode launches the “Concussion Conversations" series with a real family story about an older adult who fell, hit her head, and was later found to have a subdural brain bleed. The family describes how the initial hospital focus was on a possible cardiac event, while the head injury and its ongoing effects received less attention. Dr. Bagnell and Ms. May Bagnell discuss the symptoms that emerged in the days after the fall, the challenges of recovery, and the importance of support and patience. They share practical takeaways for families caring for older adults after a head impact.

Key topics

• The story of Abby, who fell in her kitchen and developed a pounding headache the next day
• Why the ER initially evaluated a possible cardiac event, and how a CT scan later revealed a subdural brain bleed
• Symptoms that appeared in the days after the injury, including sleepiness, repeated stories, word-finding difficulties, memory lapses, and headache
• How the speakers describe concussion as an “invisible injury” and discuss a QEEG brain map
• The importance of monitoring for symptoms that may emerge or worsen after the initial injury
• Recovery support discussed in the episode, including photobiomodulation, manual therapy, and reducing stress
• Practical guidance for families: seek an evaluation early, allow time for recovery, and respond compassionately to repeated stories or cognitive changes

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome back and introduction to the series
01:53 – Abby’s fall in the kitchen
02:23 – The headache and call to her primary care provider
03:20 – ER diagnosis of syncope and the delayed head CT
05:06 – The CT reveals a subdural brain bleed
06:33 – Hospital monitoring and stabilization
07:01 – Symptoms that appeared days later
08:22 – Follow-up imaging and the start of recovery support
09:03 – The family’s concerns about head-injury guidance
10:06 – QEEG brain mapping and low brain wave power
11:35 – Changes in memory, word-finding, and energy
13:13 – Abby’s independence before the fall
13:42 – Recovery approaches discussed by the family
14:17 – Head pain and a possible cervicogenic component
15:11 – Reconstructing how the fall may have happened
16:04 – Why symptoms can change after a head impact
17:30 – Anxiety, brain fog, and sleep changes
17:58 – Signs of gradual improvement and ongoing challenges
19:21 – Frustration, patience, and emotional support during recovery
21:17 – Head impacts and falls in older adults
23:02 – Three takeaways for families
24:21 – Responding to repeated stories with compassion
25:17 – Redirection and engaging the brain in a new direction
26:31 – Series wrap-up and a preview of the next episode

#ConcussionRecovery #BrainHealth #Falls #MTBI #BagnellBrainCenter #MemoryLoss #CognitiveHealth

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

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