Coping with concussion: Why a Taranaki retiree is spreading the word on early diagnosis
Tuesday, 23 August 2022
A former nurse and teacher who suffered a brain injury when she was knocked out during a dog attack says it's been one of her 'hardest fights'.
And now she wants to spread the word about the importance of getting an early concussion diagnosis.
At the start of the year, Taranaki woman Laura Nicholas lost consciousness when she was knocked to the ground by the attacking pitbull and smacked her head on the footpath outside her home.
The life-changing injury happened not long after she was alerted to a scream outside her Waitara home.
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The retiree went to investigate and saw a young woman and a pitbull dog outside. The teen told Nicholas the dog had been clipped by a passing car, after it slipped out of its collar.
The dog was agitated as a result and Nicholas went to her house to get a bowl of water, which she thought might calm it down.
As she went to put the bowl down, the dog lunged at her, knocking her over. While prone, the dog also bit her on the elbow and hip.
Battered and bruised, she also suffered from ongoing headaches and double vision for weeks afterwards, but it took about five months for a formal diagnosis of concussion to be made.
The 76-year-old said living with concussion was “horrible” as she got tired, struggled to find words during conversations, or lost her train of thought completely, which she found frustrating.
She’d also lost confidence in social situations.
“This has been one of the hardest fights I’ve had.”
While there had been a delay in getting her concussion diagnosis, Nicholas was full of praise for the support she had since received from ACC regarding her treatment.
ACC figures show between 1200-1500 people suffer a mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, every year in New Zealand.
Symptoms can include forgetfulness, nausea, fatigue and irritability.
Across all ages, Te Whatu Ora Taranaki had sent 117 concussion referrals to ACC providers since June 1 this year.
While sport is linked to between 20%-30% of concussion injuries, other causes include car crashes, assaults and falls.
Nicholas knew her recovery would take time, so she had to be patient, and also upfront with people about having concussion.
“You have to know your limits and know the people you are with.”
While it was a personal health battle, Nicholas wanted to send a wider public message and encourage people to push for assessment, and treatment, early on if they suffered a head knock.
It’s a point registered neuropsychologist Matthew Manderson also supported, as he said delayed diagnosis was a current health issue.
“Covid-19 and flu has meant it's harder to get into GPs, but also, many people do not take head knocks seriously so try to self-manage first.”
He said it was “extremely important” for concussion to be diagnosed as soon as possible following injury, ideally on the same day, or within the first 48 hours.
He said some people who suffer concussion might not be immediately aware they had it until symptoms started to show up hours after they were injured, which can include dizziness, fatigue, pain, or visual changes.
“Early diagnosis also allows clinicians to give patients the right advice about their injury, reassurance around their symptoms, and support during their early recovery period.”
Quick intervention can also aid in preventing re-injury, Manderson said, as people with concussion were at risk of re-injury within the first month because of issues with altered balance, coordination and vision.
Wendy Langlands, Te Whatu Ora Taranaki acting chief operating officer, said early detection of concussion was optimal for recovery.
She said the region was well serviced in terms of assisting with concussion, with seven ACC providers available.