Q. I am diagnosed with concussion after my head injury. How can it be treated?

Hello doctor,

I am a 46-year-old female preschool teacher. Recently, I was struck on the head by a first aid kit, a small box fan, and a child car seat, while I was putting another first aid kit on the top shelf in the storage closet at work. I did not lose consciousness but had mild nausea, extreme fatigue, difficulty processing information, and a strange feeling in that part of my head for four days before I went to the ER.  It has now been almost three weeks since my fairly mild incident and I am still experiencing some symptoms from my concussion. I still get nauseous if I am exposed to fluorescent lighting up close like in a room with a low ceiling or close to a TV or monitor as well as bright sunshine. I have not resumed working out because the last time I tried, I became quite nauseous in a moderate and short workout. I also feel bad when I need to process information, as in yesterday, when my team was being trained on how to operate our new copymachine. My husband says I am more flustered and forgetful than usual. I get tickling and a dull headache in that part of my head when I do anything or if I am exposed to things that I have previously mentioned. I was diagnosed with a concussion. I do not have any brain bleed or other acute problems in the CT scan. I am having a hard time finding a neurologist that accepts Workers' Comp and I really do not think I need further treatment. I have taken Tylenol as needed. My symptoms are improving but have not entirely gone and I just want to make sure I know what to do and what not to do.

Thank you doctor,

I have not had any vomiting but my nausea does increase with screen usage, exposure to fluctuating or fluorescent light. I am still having mental clarity issues, like for example, my husband came in and told me he was going to the hardware store and kissed me goodbye and when he returned an hour later I asked him where he went. He reminded me that he had told me he was going to the hardware store and I had no recollection of him ever telling me. I have left my mobile phone at the house several times this week and have misplaced my daily planner nearly every day. Until this week, I was taking at least an hour nap every day and sometimes more than two hours in addition to sleeping seven to nine hours at night and very deep sleep like I was hibernating. This is very unusual for me as I am a very active person and exercise at least five times a week, prior to this concussion. I do not have diabetes. I am not requiring a nap every day now but feel drained and tired about halfway through the day. I typically have fairly low blood pressure and am prone to orthostatic hypotension. So, I am kind of "dim out" when I stand up, especially if I am not well hydrated but I had this much more frequently after the concussion but now it is back to normal.