My injury just
happened.

Concussion looks different in every person, which is part of what makes it easy to miss. The most common symptoms are headache, dizziness, brain fog, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, memory gaps, and a general sense of feeling off. You do not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion — in fact, less than 10% of concussions involve a blackout. Symptoms can show up immediately or develop gradually over the first few hours, which is why careful monitoring after the injury matters just as much as the initial assessment. At Akeso, our concussion assessments cover every symptom domain so nothing gets overlooked.

The first thing to do is stop whatever you are doing. If there is any doubt, sit it out. For the first 24 to 48 hours, step back from physically and mentally demanding activities, keep screen time low, avoid alcohol, and stay away from contact sport entirely. Short gentle walks are absolutely fine and actually support recovery. What is not helpful is strict bed rest in a dark room — that approach is outdated and we now know it can slow things down. The most important thing you can do in this window is get in front of a concussion specialist. The first 48 hours shape the rest of your recovery, and early input at Akeso can genuinely change your outcome.

Most concussions do not require a hospital visit, but some symptoms are serious warning signs that need immediate emergency attention. Go to A&E or call 999 if you or someone with you experiences repeated vomiting, a seizure, one pupil larger than the other, a headache that keeps getting worse, weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, difficulty staying awake, or confusion that is deteriorating. When there is any doubt at all, go straight to emergency care. Once you have been cleared, contact Akeso to begin specialist rehabilitation. A&E discharge is the starting point of your recovery, not the end of it.

In most cases, no. Concussion is a functional brain injury, meaning it disrupts how the brain works at a chemical and cellular level rather than causing physical structural damage. Because of this, it does not show up on a standard CT or MRI scan. Imaging is used to rule out more serious injuries like bleeding or fractures, not to diagnose concussion itself. A normal scan does not mean your symptoms are not real or that you are ready to return to activity. At Akeso we use validated clinical tools including VOMS, BESS, ImPACT, and the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test to properly assess what is happening across your vestibular, visual, cervical, and autonomic systems.

Most concussions resolve within 7 to 14 days with the right management in place. That said, recovery is highly individual and depends on factors like age, previous concussion history, and how quickly specialist care begins. Without early input, some people are still dealing with symptoms weeks or months later. At Akeso we see patients across London who were told to rest and wait, and who are still struggling long after that window has passed. Our multimodal approach targets the actual systems driving your symptoms rather than simply waiting for them to settle on their own.

This is probably the most misunderstood part of concussion recovery. The old advice of complete rest in a dark room has been replaced by the evidence, which is clear that guided activity introduced early leads to faster and more complete recovery. Prolonged inactivity increases the risk of persistent symptoms and deconditioning, which can trap people in a difficult cycle. At Akeso we use the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test to find your individual safe aerobic threshold and build a personalised activity plan around it, so you are progressing confidently from day one rather than guessing at home.

Within 24 to 48 hours. Getting in front of a concussion specialist in the first day or two is one of the most valuable decisions you can make. Early assessment allows us to identify exactly which systems have been affected, rule out any red flags, and start targeted rehabilitation before the brain begins compensating in unhelpful ways. At Akeso we offer priority acute concussion appointments across London, so contact us directly and we will get you seen quickly. Waiting until symptoms feel serious enough is one of the most common reasons recoveries drag on. Earlier input leads to better outcomes, consistently.

Yes, but with the right adjustments in place. A short period of cognitive rest in the first 24 to 48 hours is helpful, but a complete withdrawal from school or work is rarely necessary or beneficial. In practice this usually means reduced hours, lowered screen brightness, fewer back to back demands, and regular breaks throughout the day. The goal is to stay just below the threshold where your symptoms worsen. At Akeso we provide written return to work and return to learn guidance as part of every management plan, so you, your employer, or your school have clear direction from the very start.

Return to sport follows a structured graduated protocol and should never be rushed or self-managed. The earliest anyone should return to competitive play is day 21 post injury, and only after being symptom free at rest and completing each progressive exercise phase without symptoms returning. At Akeso we use the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test to establish your safe exertion threshold and guide every stage of your return, whether you are a recreational player or a professional athlete. We work regularly with elite and semi-elite sport and understand what a genuine, high performance return to play actually requires.

Yes, and these are among the most frequently missed features of concussion. The vestibular system, which controls your balance and spatial orientation, and the oculomotor system, which manages eye movement and gaze control, are both highly vulnerable after a concussive injury. You might notice dizziness, blurred vision when moving your head, difficulty reading, sensitivity to busy or visually complex environments, or a feeling that your eyes cannot keep up. These symptoms do not resolve with rest alone. They need specialist assessment and targeted rehabilitation. Vestibular and oculomotor concussion rehab is one of our core clinical specialities at Akeso, and it is where many patients find the breakthrough they have been looking for after struggling elsewhere.