Brain inflammation is a common issue for anyone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Many of the symptoms associated with concussions and post-concussion syndrome (PCS) can be linked to brain inflammation, most notably mental health issues like depression.
At Northoak Chiropractic, part of our approach to treating PCS patients includes addressing the underlying causes of brain inflammation. Based on our experience, most individuals who develop PCS were already predisposed to suffer from inflammatory issues and have a medical history that reflects this. If you are struggling with PCS, we suggest you review the list below to see if any of these conditions seem familiar to you.
Through the course of practice, our team has found that, by removing inflammatory triggers from your daily routine, it is possible to bring down brain inflammation and better address your core PCS symptoms. To learn more about this process, you can continue reading this blog post or contact Dr. Jay and the Northoak Chiropractic team here.
Please feel free to send us a message if you have any questions!
What is Brain Inflammation?
Brain inflammation is the swelling of brain tissue and blood vessels in the brain and upper spinal cord. This condition causes irritation to the affected area and will direct the brains microglial cells to the site of inflammation.
When people hear ‘brain inflammation’, they may think of conditions caused by acute brain inflammation, such as encephalitis, brain swelling (cerebral edema), or even meningitis. While these are serious conditions, they’re not typically present in PCS — we’re talking about a different kind of brain inflammation.
Common Inflammatory Conditions
Chronic brain inflammation can be linked to a range of different conditions, including:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Diabetes
- Eczema
- Fibromyalgia
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Lupus
- Mental health issues (depression, anxiety, etc.)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Osteoarthritis
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
It is common for PCS patients to have a medical history that includes one or more of these issues, particularly autoimmune disorders and digestive issues. Identifying these conditions is a key step in helping our team develop a course of treatment that will resolve your issues in the long-term.
How We Treat Inflammatory Issues
At Northoak Chiropractic, we offer individualized treatments, tailored to each patient’s specific needs and based on thorough neurological, metabolic, and nutritional testing. This approach allows us to develop specific programs of care targeted at the root cause of the condition, whether that is historical inflammatory issue or a problem caused by their concussion.
It is quite common for PCS patients to come to us with digestive issues, often to foods containing gluten, dairy, or soy. In order to minimize the impact of inflammation on our bodies, we recommend eliminating all triggers to inflammation — including ones that may have been present before your concussion.
As a result, our team will often recommend dietary changes and nutritional supplementation, including common over the counter anti-inflammatories such as turmeric and fish oil. These supplements are designed to uplift the regulatory systems, making T-cells (white blood cells) stronger and better able to fight inflammation, as well as supporting the formation of new neural connections in the brain.
We also recommend avoiding other inflammatory triggers, such as allergens, vaccines, or other immune stimulants, during the course of your treatment. This will help reduce the extent of inflammation at this sensitive time in your recovery.
To learn more about how we treat PCS and brain inflammation, contact the team at Northoak Chiropractic or call (905) 338-5951 today.
