Concussion Signs and Symptoms: The Overlooked Neck Injury Driving Post-Concussion Syndrome

Concussions are often described as “mild traumatic brain injuries,” but there is nothing mild about the long-term consequences many patients face. While most people associate concussions strictly with brain trauma, new research and clinical evidence show that the neck—specifically the upper cervical spine—is almost always involved, yet rarely evaluated.

This oversight leads to a growing problem: individuals whose initial concussion symptoms fade temporarily, only to develop chronic issues months or even years later. Many are told they have post-concussion syndrome with no clear explanation of why their symptoms won’t resolve.

The missing link is often the unaddressed neck injury.

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Common Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

A concussion typically occurs from a blow to the head, a fall, sports impact, or whiplash-type motion. While symptoms can vary from person to person, the most common include:

Physical Signs:

• Headaches or pressure in the head
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Nausea or vomiting

Cognitive Symptoms:

• Difficulty concentrating
• “Foggy” feeling
• Trouble remembering recent events
• Slowed processing or delayed response time

Emotional or Mood Changes:

• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Sadness or depression
• Sudden emotional swings

Sleep Disturbances:

• Sleeping more than usual
• Trouble falling asleep
• Insomnia

These symptoms typically improve within weeks—but for many patients, they don’t. That’s where the neck becomes critically important.

Why the Neck Is Almost Always Injured During a Concussion

A concussion does not require a direct hit to the skull. Any rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head causes the brain to shift inside the skull. But that same motion also creates:

• Whiplash forces
• Ligament sprains
• Loss of cervical curvature
• Misalignment of the upper neck joints
• Muscle guarding and spasm

Research shows that up to 90% of concussions involve a cervical spine injury, yet the neck is almost never imaged or analyzed during standard medical evaluations.

When neck alignment is compromised, it disrupts normal mechanics between the skull, upper cervical joints, nerves, and blood vessels. These structural changes can fuel long-term symptoms that look like post-concussion syndrome—but are actually cervical in origin.

How an Overlooked Neck Injury Leads to Post-Concussion Syndrome

Post-concussion syndrome often includes symptoms such as:

• Persistent headaches
• Neck pain
• Eye strain or visual disturbances
• Dizziness
• Concentration problems
• Fatigue
• Pressure behind the eyes
• Chronic tension

These symptoms overlap with those caused by upper cervical dysfunction.

When the cervical spine misaligns or loses its normal curve, several things happen:

1. Mechanical Stress on the Brainstem
The upper neck houses brainstem structures that control balance, eye movement, and pain processing. Misalignment can irritate these pathways.

2. Forward Head Posture Worsens Symptoms
Once neck stability is lost, the head shifts forward. This increases the weight load on upper cervical joints, intensifying headaches and fatigue.

3. Nerve Compression and Inflammation
Misaligned joints and tight muscles compress the nerves that supply the face, scalp, and head—driving chronic headaches.

4. Blood Flow Disruption to the Brain
The vertebral arteries travel through the neck to supply blood to the brain. Poor alignment can reduce vascular flow, worsening dizziness, fogginess, and headaches.

Many patients who believe they have “ongoing brain injury” are actually living with a mechanical neck injury that has gone untreated for years.

The Untreated Neck Injury Can Lead to Degeneration Over Time

When a concussion-related neck injury goes uncorrected, the consequences compound:

Long-term effects may include:

• Accelerated disc degeneration
• Arthritic changes in the cervical spine
• Chronic muscle imbalance
• Loss of the natural neck curvature
• Increased risk of chronic migraines
• Persistent postural distortion
• Worsening nerve irritation

What started as a concussion becomes a progressive spinal issue—one that affects daily life, work performance, sports, and overall quality of life.

Why Green Chiropractic Focuses on the Neck in Concussion Recovery

At Green Chiropractic and the Omaha Headache Clinic, we frequently evaluate patients who had a concussion months or years ago and never fully recovered. Their symptoms were managed—but the structural cause was never identified.

Our approach includes:

• Detailed posture and cervical spine analysis
• Upper cervical joint assessment
• Digital X-rays when indicated
• Structural alignment mapping
• Targeted corrective chiropractic care
• Personalized postural rehabilitation

By treating the underlying mechanical problem—not just the symptoms—patients often experience dramatic improvement in headaches, dizziness, neck pain, and cognitive clarity.

If Your Symptoms Haven’t Resolved, Your Neck May Be the Reason

If you suffered a concussion and continue to experience pain months later, you may not be dealing with “just lingering brain trauma.” The true cause is often the untreated cervical injury that occurred at the same moment as the concussion.

You don’t have to keep living with post-concussion symptoms.

Green Chiropractic specializes in identifying and correcting the overlooked neck injury driving chronic headaches and head pain—giving patients a path to long-term recovery.

Call Green Chiropractic at 402-933-5392 to schedule your appointment now!