Quick Answer
Concussion is a functional injury, so imaging is frequently normal without excluding it. Persistent symptoms are assessed at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147, with post-traumatic headache treated as a headache disorder and dizziness assessed with objective balance testing.
Part ofThis guide sits beneath concussion and traumatic brain injury, which covers the study itself, how it is performed and what the report should contain.
how CNS approaches Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury →Key Takeaways
- A normal CT scan is expected in concussion and does not mean the injury did not happen.
- Most people recover within weeks; a minority have symptoms for months and are frequently under-served.
- Post-traumatic headache behaves as a headache disorder and responds to the same preventive approach.
- Positional vertigo after head impact is common and mechanically treatable, often in one visit.
- Return-to-activity documentation is part of care, because a premature return sets recovery back.
Concussion
Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt that briefly disrupts brain function. Standard CT and MRI are often normal, because the disruption is functional rather than structural.
A normal scan does not mean no concussion
Concussion is a functional injury rather than a structural one, and that single fact explains most of the confusion patients encounter.
Why imaging is frequently normal
A computed tomography scan in the emergency department looks for bleeding and structural injury, which is exactly what it should do and which is why it is performed. Concussion involves disrupted function rather than visible damage, so a normal scan is expected and does not mean the injury did not happen. Patients are regularly told the scan was fine and left with the impression that their persistent symptoms are unexplained, which is an artefact of what the test measures rather than a comment on their symptoms.
What persists, and for how long
Headache, difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, fatigue disproportionate to activity, light and noise sensitivity, dizziness, irritability, and disturbed sleep. Most people recover within weeks. A minority have symptoms persisting for months, and that group is frequently under-served because the acute assessment concluded and nothing was arranged after it.
Post-traumatic headache is a headache disorder and is treatable
This is the most useful point on the page. Headache following a head injury is regularly treated as an inevitable consequence to be endured. It behaves as a headache disorder, frequently with migraine features, and it responds to the same classification and preventive approach used for headache generally, on the headache page. Frequency rather than severity drives that treatment, which is why a month of dates is worth bringing.
What needs urgent assessment
Worsening drowsiness, repeated vomiting, a seizure, worsening headache rather than settling, new weakness or difficulty speaking, or clear fluid from the nose or ear after an injury. Those need an emergency department. Anyone on blood thinners with a head injury needs assessment regardless of how minor it seemed.
| Also considered | How it is distinguished |
|---|---|
| Cervical (neck) injury | Neck-derived headache and dizziness that examination can localise. |
| Post-traumatic migraine | Headache meeting migraine criteria that began after the injury. |
| Vestibular injury | Position-triggered dizziness; VNG or positional testing clarifies it. |
| Structural injury | Worsening headache, vomiting, drowsiness or new deficit call for urgent imaging, not outpatient assessment. |
What the practice does
01
What brings people in
Persisting symptoms after a head injury — headache, dizziness, concentration or sleep change — or a need for documentation after an accident.
02
What the evaluation settles
Which symptom domains are affected, whether a normal scan has been explained properly, and whether vestibular or nerve testing is indicated.
03
What you leave with
A documented symptom profile, an explanation of what a normal scan does and does not mean, and a staged return-to-activity plan.
Assessment after the acute phase
The practice provides no emergency care, so acute head injury goes to an emergency department. What happens here is assessment of persistent symptoms: characterising the headache, examining for vestibular and visual contributions, screening cognition, and identifying which symptoms are treatable rather than attributing all of them to the injury and waiting.
Treating the components separately
Post-traumatic headache as a headache disorder, with the in-office preventive options available where frequency justifies them. Dizziness assessed with objective balance testing at both offices, on the VNG page, since positional vertigo is a common and mechanically treatable consequence of head impact. Sleep disruption, which amplifies every other symptom. And post-traumatic seizures where episodes have occurred, with EEG interpreted in-house.
Return to activity, and documentation
Guidance on graded return to work, study and physical activity, and the documentation employers and educational institutions frequently require. That paperwork is a legitimate part of care rather than an administrative extra, because a return-to-work note that reflects the actual limitations is what prevents a premature return that sets recovery back.
What is not provided
No imaging suite, no emergency or inpatient care, no neuropsychological testing on site, and no rehabilitation therapies delivered here. Adults 18 and older.
The first 30, 60 and 90 days
Step 1
First visit
History and neurological examination, a review of records and prior imaging, and a decision on which studies are actually indicated. You leave with the plan, not just a referral.
Step 2
Within 30 days
Indicated in-office studies are performed and interpreted by the neurologist who ordered them, in our AANEM-accredited laboratories. Results are explained in plain language.
Step 3
60 to 90 days
Follow-up to judge whether the plan is working, adjust it, and coordinate with your referring clinician. Where a diagnosis needs time to confirm, this is where it is revisited.
Attending from Las Vegas
The Las Vegas office is at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, in Sunrise Medical Plaza, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is sent across to Henderson. If you are coming from Summerlin, Spring Valley or Enterprise this is almost always the shorter journey. Adults 18 and older.
Not sure what is causing it?
Ask for the study to be graded rather than only named. Severity is what informs the decision.
The Bottom Line
A normal scan does not mean no concussion. And post-traumatic headache is treatable rather than something to endure.
Frequently Asked Questions
My CT scan was normal. Was it still a concussion?
Very possibly. A scan looks for bleeding and structural injury; concussion is a functional injury rather than a structural one, so a normal scan is expected and does not mean the injury did not happen. A scan is done to exclude bleeding, which is a different question from whether a concussion occurred.
How long do symptoms last?
Most people recover within weeks. A minority have symptoms persisting for months, and that group is frequently under-served because the acute assessment concluded and nothing was arranged afterwards. Where symptoms are still present after a few weeks, an assessment that names which domains are affected is what changes the plan.
Is headache after a head injury treatable?
Yes, and this is the most useful thing to know. Post-traumatic headache behaves as a headache disorder, frequently with migraine features, and responds to the same classification and preventive approach used for headache generally. That means the same acute and preventive options apply, which is frequently news to patients who were told only to rest.
Why might I be dizzy after a head injury?
Positional vertigo is a common consequence of head impact and is mechanically treatable, frequently in the visit it is confirmed. Objective balance testing is available at both offices to establish whether that is what is happening. A driver is needed if balance testing is planned, since parts of it deliberately provoke dizziness.
When is a head injury an emergency?
Worsening drowsiness, repeated vomiting, a seizure, worsening rather than settling headache, new weakness or difficulty speaking, or clear fluid from the nose or ear. Anyone on blood thinners needs assessment regardless of how minor it seemed. Symptoms that were settling and then worsen again also warrant reassessment rather than waiting it out.
Can you provide return-to-work documentation?
Yes, and it is a legitimate part of care rather than an administrative extra. A note reflecting the actual limitations is what prevents a premature return that sets recovery back. A graded return, rather than all-or-nothing, is usually what works, and the note can specify hours, screen time and driving.
Where exactly is the Las Vegas office?
7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147, in Sunrise Medical Plaza on the west side of the valley, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is referred across to the Henderson office. Summerlin, Spring Valley and Enterprise are generally closer to it than to Horizon Ridge Parkway.
Should I use the Las Vegas or the Henderson office?
Whichever is the shorter drive, since both are fully equipped and hold the same records. West Flamingo Road generally suits the west and southwest of the valley; West Horizon Ridge Parkway suits Green Valley, Anthem and Boulder City. If you can attend either, say so when booking, because availability differs between the two week to week.
Can balance problems after a head injury be treated?
Frequently yes. Positional vertigo is a common consequence of head impact and is mechanically treatable, often in the visit it is confirmed. Objective balance testing is available at both offices to establish whether that is what is happening. A driver is needed if that testing is planned. Say at booking whether you can arrange one.
How soon after an injury should I be seen?
Immediately at an emergency department for worsening drowsiness, repeated vomiting, a seizure, worsening headache, new weakness or difficulty speaking, and regardless of severity if you take blood thinners. Otherwise, if symptoms persist beyond a couple of weeks or interfere with work or driving, that is when outpatient assessment adds something.
How this page was sourced
Practice facts come from Clinical Neurology Specialists directly: that electrodiagnostic testing is performed and interpreted at both offices in independently accredited laboratories, that two neurologists focus on neuromuscular medicine, and that surgery, imaging, infusion therapy and physical therapy are all coordinated or referred rather than provided on site. Clinical context is sourced to the organisations listed below.
No reference values, severity thresholds or named medications appear, because electrodiagnostic values vary by nerve, age, height and temperature and treatment selection is a clinical decision. No outcome is promised. Scope is adults 18 and older.
Change log
- 2026-07-28 — page published; clinical content reviewed.
- 2026-07-28 — last reviewed against AAN, AANEM and NINDS guidance; internal links and schema verified.
- Review cadence: quarterly, or sooner if guidance changes.
How to cite this page
Clinical Neurology Specialists. “Concussion treatment Las Vegas.” Reviewed 2026-07-28. https://www.cnsnevada.com/conditions/concussion-tbi/concussion-treatment-las-vegas/
References
- American Stroke Association — public guidance on stroke recognition and prevention.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — the reference catalogue of nervous-system disorders.
- American Academy of Neurology — clinical practice guidance.
This page is for general information about a Clinical Neurology Specialists office and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. It does not create a physician-patient relationship. Adults 18 and older. For an active stroke, a first-time or prolonged seizure, sudden severe headache, sudden weakness, sudden vision loss, or a head injury with loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.