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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffAn emergency room physician often makes the initial diagnosis of a concussion. Once discharged, you may seek care from your family doctor or general practitioner. However, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in brain and nervous system disorders (neurologist) or a brain rehabilitation specialist (physiatrist).
If you are referred to a specialist, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Ask a family member or friend to go with you, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your appointment. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For post-concussion syndrome, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- Why are these symptoms still occurring?
- How long will they continue?
- Do I need any additional tests? Do these tests require any special preparation?
- Are there any treatments available, and which do you recommend?
- Are there any activity restrictions that I need to follow?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
- When can I return to work?
- When can I drive again?
- Is it safe to drink alcohol?
- Is it OK to take my medications that were prescribed before the injury?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- How did the initial injury occur?
- Have your symptoms been constant or do they come and go?
- What symptoms are you currently experiencing?
- How often do your symptoms occur?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, makes your symptoms worse?
- Are your symptoms getting worse, staying the same or improving?
- Postconcussion syndrome. In: Goetz C. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/151733211-2/866692859/1488/428.html?printi. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Evans RW. Post-concussion syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 27, 2009.
- Kirsch TD, et al. Head injury. In: Tintinalli JE, et al. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2004. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=610258. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Ropper AH. Concussion and other head injuries. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2904523. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Ropper AH, et al. Craniocerebral trauma. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3638543. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Traumatic brain injury: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/detail_tbi.htm. Accessed July 27, 2009.
- Brown AW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 4, 2009.
