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Still not feeling right after your concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head. You don't need to hit your head (whiplash can do it), and most concussions happen without losing consciousness.
Many concussions settle within weeks. When symptoms last beyond 2–4 weeks, it is called post-concussion syndrome (PCS); when they continue for months, persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). Headaches, dizziness, brain fog, light and noise sensitivity, poor sleep, irritability and fatigue are common, often with normal scans. That doesn't mean the symptoms aren't real.
Assessment and care at Venn Med, Midtown Toronto. Patients come from across the GTA and Ontario, and some travel from further afield for an intensive program.
What it is
Your brain is a prediction machine. Every second it answers three questions: where am I in relation to gravity, where is my body in space, and where is the world around me? After a concussion those answers can be slightly off, and the brain's recalibration can get stuck.
Think of a deer grazing in a field. Once it senses a threat, its ears go up, its pupils widen, and it reacts to every twig that snaps. Many people with lingering symptoms describe that state: sensitive to light and noise, jumpy, unable to switch off.
The brain protects the basics (balance, posture, knowing where you are) before thinking and multitasking. When the basics take extra work, attention is borrowed from higher functions. That is why brain fog and poor focus are so common.
Every concussion is different
We map symptoms with our Neck and spine, Oculomotor and vision, Affect and emotions, Headaches, Sleep, Autonomic regulation, Vestibular and balance, Executive function, and Digestion. Most people have a combination. Which systems are involved decides what to treat first.
Why standard tests miss it
Standard exams ask whether you can do a task, not whether you do it efficiently, quickly, accurately and for long enough. Small errors can each look normal on their own. Together they can overwhelm the brain's ability to compensate.
What we measure
Eye movements (VOG/vHIT)
Balance and sway patterns (CAPS)
Postural reflexes
Muscle tone, palpated and observed in movement
Physical limits on recovery, such as blood flow to the brain
Metabolic and lab testing, when appropriate.
We put the findings together, because your brain doesn't process these signals in isolation.
A collaborative team
Concussion can affect far more than the brain alone, and it can trigger or unmask other issues. At Venn Med, care is coordinated through our F4 Comprehensive Care™ model, Form, Feeling, Function and Fuel, with functional neurology, neuro-optometry, functional medicine, manual therapy and psychology working from one plan. Recovery isn't about doing more. It's about doing the right things in the right order.
Common questions
How long does post-concussion syndrome last?
It varies. Many concussions settle within weeks. When symptoms last beyond 2–4 weeks it is called post-concussion syndrome, and for some people symptoms continue for months or years. Many still improve once the systems driving their symptoms are correctly assessed and treated.
Can you get a concussion without hitting your head?
Yes. A sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head, such as whiplash, can cause a concussion. Most concussions also happen without losing consciousness.
My scans are normal. Why do I still have symptoms?
CT and MRI look for structural damage. Lingering symptoms usually come from how brain systems are working, which standard scans don’t show. That doesn’t make them less real or less treatable.
Do I need a referral?
No. Anyone can enquire. Please send previous medical reports and test results ahead of your assessment.
When to get assessed
Consider an assessment if you have:
Symptoms lasting more than a few weeks after a head or whiplash injury
Fatigue, fogginess or overwhelm in busy places or with screens
Been told "everything looks normal" but still don't feel like yourself
Tried therapy before and stalled.
If your symptoms aren't improving, start your enquiry.
This page is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice.