Post-Concussion Symptoms That Won’t Go Away

Most concussions improve within weeks.

Headaches settle. Dizziness improves. Cognitive fog clears.

But not everyone follows that timeline.

Some patients continue to experience symptoms for months — even after imaging is normal and they have been cleared medically.

When this happens, it can feel confusing and isolating.

Persistent post-concussion symptoms do not automatically mean permanent brain damage. More often, they reflect ongoing nervous system dysregulation.

Why Symptoms Can Persist After a Concussion

A concussion disrupts brain function temporarily. Even after structural healing occurs, regulatory systems may remain unsettled.

Persistent symptoms often involve:

• Autonomic nervous system imbalance

• Heightened sensory sensitivity

• Central sensitization

• Cervical–trigeminal dysfunction

• Impaired vestibular integration

These mechanisms affect signaling and coordination — not anatomy.

Because of this, imaging frequently appears normal even when symptoms remain disruptive.

Common Persistent Symptoms

Patients with prolonged post-concussion patterns often report:

• Chronic headaches

• Light and sound sensitivity

• Dizziness or imbalance

• Brain fog

• Neck tension

• Fatigue that worsens with cognitive effort

• Symptoms that flare under stress

When these patterns persist beyond the expected recovery window, simply “waiting longer” may not shift the trajectory.

The Structure vs Regulation Distinction

It is critical to be clear:

Persistent symptoms after concussion do not necessarily indicate progressive brain injury.

More often, the nervous system remains in a heightened or dysregulated state.

When this happens, the goal is not to “fix the brain,” but to restore regulation across systems that control pain, balance, and sensory processing.

How Neuromodulatory Acupuncture Is Used in Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms

When dysregulation is contributing to symptoms, treatment focuses on:

• Modulating central pain pathways

• Supporting autonomic stabilization

• Reducing sensory amplification

• Improving cervical–cranial neuromuscular coordination

• Supporting circulation to affected regions

The objective is measurable:

• Reduce headache frequency

• Improve tolerance to light and sound

• Increase cognitive endurance

• Decrease dizziness episodes

• Improve overall functional capacity

Neuromodulatory acupuncture does not replace neurological evaluation or concussion management. It addresses the regulatory layer of recovery that may remain incomplete after structural healing.

For some patients, targeting this mechanism supports continued progress when recovery has plateaued.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Re-Evaluation

Urgent evaluation is required if there is:

• Worsening neurological deficits

• Progressive weakness

• Seizure activity

• Severe new headache

• Significant cognitive decline

Stable but persistent symptoms, however, often reflect dysregulation rather than structural emergency.

If Your Recovery Has Stalled

If post-concussion symptoms have persisted beyond the expected window and imaging is normal, it may be time to assess whether nervous system regulation remains impaired.

A focused evaluation can determine whether neuromodulatory acupuncture is appropriate for your recovery stage.

Schedule an evaluation to assess whether persistent dysregulation may be contributing to your post-concussion symptoms.