Concussions are incredibly complex, and because they can disrupt up several systems in your body at once, recovery never looks the same for any two people. If you have ever felt like your (or your loved one’s) symptoms are completely overlapping, today we are going to help you understand why - and what to do about it.
In this episode, host Cristabelle Braden is joined by neuro-rehabilitation specialist and clinician Dr. Melissa Biscardi to break down "concussion phenotypes,” which are the distinct categories of symptoms that can present in concussion. From visual and vestibular disruptions to autonomic and cervical triggers, Melissa offers a path forward in reading the body's post-injury baseline and creating an order of operations for physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery.
We also feature an expert clinical spotlight with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe from The Functional Neurology Center. Dr. Schmoe helps us understand concussion rehabilitation, including explaining why pairing multi-system tasks (such as combining cognitive tracking with physical movement) drives neuroplasticity and can safely accelerate healing.
🧠 In this episode:
- A breakdown of the core concussion phenotypes and how they constantly interact.
- Why your nervous system must feel foundationally stable and safe before you can successfully rehabilitate through targeted cognitive therapy.
- How subtle formatting issues or structural injury in the neck directly spark secondary symptoms like nausea, blurry vision, and tracking headaches.
- Honoring the intense identity shifts, irritability, and anxiety that naturally occur when an unexpected injury flips your daily life upside down.
- How physical movement, even a simple sequence of marching in your bedroom for 10 seconds, drives essential oxygen and blood flow straight to a healing brain.
- Why changing or rotating clinicians as your baseline improves is a sign of therapeutic progress, not failure; different phases of recovery demand different clinical specialties.
Melissa's previous episodes with us:
57- Female Hormones after TBI/Concussion: https://hopesurvives.org/podcast/57
54- Pillars of Concussion Care + Holistic Approach: https://hopesurvives.org/podcast/54
CONNECT
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Reach out to us anytime: [email protected]
Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com
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Sponsor
Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC offers personalized neuro-recovery programs for anyone going through brain injury and a wide range of neurological conditions. Learn more: https://www.thefnc.com
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0:00 Intro
1:55 Welcome with Cristabelle
3:10 How to Treat Concussion with Dr. Schmoe - Spotlight
8:00 Introducing Dr. Melissa Biscardi
12:12 Breaking Down Concussion Phenotypes
20:50 How Symptoms Show Up in Everyday Life
27:18 Intentional Movement
29:24 Metabolic Factors
33:25 Words of Hope
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Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your physician for individualized care. More: hopesurvives.org/podcast
