from concussion to more serious injuries

[arithen]

Dear Doctor,

Less than a month ago, I hit my head hard twice in the same day and suffered a concussion. Yesterday I hit my head again, not as hard as the first two but in the same spot, more or less. Later that day I had headaches similar to what I experienced then. They were very fleeting aches, gone in a heartbeat. I'm worried that I might not have recovered yet from the concussion when I hit my head yesterday and that that could lead to more serious brain injuries. How likely to happen are my worries? How long does it take for a concussion to heal?

[Dr. Joshua]

Concussion basically means that there is no physical damage to the brain tissue, although scientifically this may be debatable. Recovery may still take a week or two, with headaches, neck stiffness and dizziness being the main complaints after suffering a concussion. Suffering a concussion twice or three times is unlikely to cause permanent problems, however, it is recommended that you see the doctor if you believe you've suffered a concussion, because a diagnosis cannot be made based on your description alone. Also, you should ask yourself why you are hitting your head so often. If you keep suffering concussions, the cumulative effect may eventually lead to neurological problems, and there is always the risk of a more serious brain injury when hitting the head hard.