While untold numbers go untreated, Edmonton's Brain Care Centres concussion program struggles to keep up with demand

While most people who suffer a concussion can expect to recover with a few days rest, as much as 15% will suffer debilitating symptoms of their brain injury for months, even years, after the incident occurred.

Theres a lot of stuff we dont know about concussions, but one thing that we know from our work is that there is a small group of people whose lives have completely changed through concussion, said Garnet Cummings, executive director of the Brain Care Centre.

In recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, running throughout June, the Brain Care Centre which offers no-cost services to aid those living with brain injuries is warning the public about growing evidence that reveals the damaging effects of concussions, and the worst affected may not be who you would expect.

This is not a disease of athletes, which I think is a stereotype thats out there, said Cummings. You can get this from just about anything. As a matter of fact, you can get this from a whiplash injury and not even hit your head.

The Brain Care Centre has started offering the Concussion Management Program. the program helps those still struggling with the effects of their concussion long after the accident to relearn how to live their lives with their disability while working to repair what has been damaged. But, due to a lack of funding, it can only take on around two new clients a month.

While the true number of how many people sustain a mild to moderate brain injury are unknown, Cummings estimates that the program would need to take in 12 new clients every month to keep up with demand, with their waiting list stretching well into December.

There needs to be more recognition of the absolute devastation that these injuries have on people, said Trish Conradi, who three years after sustaining her concussion caused by a fall where she didnt even hit her head is part of the Concussion Management Program and is still struggling to overcome symptoms that have left her like a shaken baby.

After her injury, Condradi, a strong, independent woman in charge of her own business and the mother of two, has become completely dependent. Her fall left her without the capacity for executive functioning, deaf in her right ear, unable to read, unable to do math, easily overwhelmed, socially isolated and unemployable.

One day, youre super high functioning, and the next day, youre [not], Conradi said. The abruptness is so shocking.

More shocking still is that her story, among clients of the Brain Care Centres Concussion Management program, is tragically typical.

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While untold numbers go untreated, Edmonton's Brain Care Centres concussion program struggles to keep up with demand