Traumatic brain injury (TBI) neurologist in the Bay Area

What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?

Headache, dizziness, confusion and tiredness tend to start right after the injury and improve over time. Other symptoms can include:

• Trouble concentrating, slowed thinking and memory problems
• Sensitivity to light or noise, balance problems and vision changes
• Irritability, frustration, anxiety or low mood, which often appear during recovery
• Sleeping more or less than usual

A concussion is a mild TBI; more severe injuries can cause longer-lasting problems with thinking, movement and communication. Repeated head injuries over the years have been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

When should you see a doctor?

Get emergency care right away for a headache that gets worse, repeated vomiting, a seizure, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, unusual behavior or loss of consciousness after a head injury. See a neurologist if symptoms last more than a few weeks or affect work, school or driving. Our page on concussion and post-concussion syndrome covers milder injuries in more detail.

How is TBI evaluated at INPM?

Your clinician reviews how the injury happened, your emergency or hospital records and imaging, and your current symptoms, and does a neurological exam. In-office tests can measure thinking skills and balance:

• Cognitive testing (Creyos)Memory and thinkingLearn more about Cognitive testing (Creyos)
• VNG and balance testingDizziness and vertigoLearn more about VNG and balance testing
• Carotid / transcranial DopplerBlood flow to the brainLearn more about Carotid / transcranial Doppler
• Autonomic testingFainting and dizzinessLearn more about Autonomic testing
• EEG: Argarrett, CC BY-SA 4.0 (recolored)EEGSeizures and epilepsyLearn more about EEG

What treatment options are available?

Care focuses on the symptoms that persist: headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, mood changes and difficulties with thinking. A gradual return to activity is usually part of the plan. GeneSight® genetic testing may provide additional information to help guide medication selection and dosing when applicable. For persistent headache and neck pain, options at INPM include:

• Nerve blocksAnesthetic injections near a nerve to relieve headache and painLearn more about Nerve blocks

Dr. Anand also provides independent medical opinions for TBI cases.

Who treats traumatic brain injury at INPM?

• 

  Dr. Amar Anand

  Neurologist · Headache, stroke and neuroimaging

• 

  Jessica Beck, PA-C

  Physician Assistant · Traumatic brain injury, migraine, seizures and memory loss

• 

  Alice Feng, PA-C

  Physician Assistant · Traumatic brain injury, migraine, seizures and memory loss

Where can you be seen?