HealthInfo Canterbury
Brain injury & concussion in adults
Whara roro me mātengatenga ki ngā pakeke
Most people recover quickly from minor head injuries, but a more serious head injury can cause a traumatic brain injury. When this happens, your brain is bruised, swollen or has damage to its small nerves and blood vessels.
If you have a traumatic brain injury, it can take a long time to recover. You may need to make some changes to your lifestyle during this recovery, and you might not be able to drive for a while. You may need ongoing rehabilitation for this type of injury.
Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury and can have several different symptoms. You don't have to have been knocked out to have concussion – it can happen even if you remain conscious. It's usually caused by a sudden blow to your head or violent shaking of your head. It can also happen if the oxygen supply to your brain is cut off. For example, through strangulation or suffocation.
The links below give advice about how to look after yourself after a mild brain injury. They also tell you what to expect after a more serious brain injury or concussion.
If you still have symptoms of concussion a few weeks after the incident that caused your injury, you should see your general practice team.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- Doctor Mike Evans – Concussion
An entertaining and informative video about what concussion is and how it's treated.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- ACC SportSmart – Concussion: recognise the signs
This page outlines the signs of concussion and what to do if someone is concussed on a sports field.
- Brain Injury New Zealand – Resources & links
Downloadable resources and helpful links for those living with brain injury.
- Canterbury DHB – Recovering from a concussion
This 16-page booklet has a lot of information about concussion, including what happens in a concussion, what symptoms you can expect and what you can do to help yourself recover.
- Healthify He Puna Wairoa – Brain injury
Information about brain injuries, including how they affect people who have them.
On the next page: Head injuries in children
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2022.
Sources
Review key: HIBRI-52920
