If you’ve had a concussion and your symptoms haven’t gone away after weeks—or even months—you’re not alone. Roughly 1 in 10 people with a concussion develop what’s known as Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS).
What Is Post-Concussion Syndrome?
PCS is a condition where symptoms from a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) persist beyond the normal recovery window, which is typically about 10–14 days. Symptoms can include:
- Persistent headaches
- Brain fog and poor concentration
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Fatigue and irritability
- Sensitivity to light or noise
Why Do Symptoms Linger?
Researchers believe there are several possible reasons:
- Axonal shearing – Microscopic damage to nerve fibers that disrupt brain signaling.
- Neurometabolic disruption – Imbalances in brain chemistry and blood flow.
- Neuroinflammation – Chronic inflammation that can prolong symptoms.
Persistent symptoms can also include non-brain symptom generators that include:
- Cervical spine involvement – Misalignment in the upper neck (craniocervical junction) may contribute to symptoms that mimic PCS.
- Vestibular dysfunction -Injury affecting the sensors in the inner ear can lead to chronic feelings of imbalance of visual disturbances
- Oculomotor dysfunction – eye movement dysfunction can make patients feel disoriented and also add to eye strain that can be a burden on cognitive function
If your symptoms aren’t improving, consider that the issue may not just be in your brain—it might involve your neck and nervous system as well.
Dr. Jonathan Chung is a Diplomate in the American Chiropractic Neurology Board and a Fellow in the American Board of Brain Injury and Rehabilitation. He is also one of 300 doctors practicing the NUCCA technique for cranial cervical correction.
