Hi,
It sounds like your symptoms are a combination of the injured area and possibly mild concussive symptoms. Concussions cannot be diagnosed well right after the
injury, but can develop the next day and after. Main symptoms include headache, balance issues,
fatigue, Irritability, and concentration problems. These symptoms should be worsened by concentration to be consistent with a concussion.
The primary treatment for concussion is "brain rest". Concussion patients need to stop all triggers of their symptoms to let their brain heal. This means they may not be able to watch TV, go to work, use a computer, or even read in severe cases. After a few days, a patient can try an activity again to see if it still triggers symptoms.
It would be difficult to diagnose a concussion without a physical exam. Your headache, light sensitivity, Irritability, and concentration issues are consistent but as you said, you also had them before the injury. If those symptoms are triggered or worsened with concentration, then they may have worsened due to a concussion and brain rest would be appropriate. Not resting the brain can lead to a prolonged symptom course and worsening symptoms.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Timothy Wong, General & Family Physician