Brain Health After Concussion: TBI Recovery, Neuroplasticity, and Whole-Body Healing

In this episode of Reawaken Your Health, I interview Mandi Dickey, a board-certified nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience in neurology. Mandi shares how her career and life changed after a car accident caused a traumatic brain injury, shifting her from brain health provider to patient.   Mandi opens up about the often-missed symptoms of concussion and TBI, including persistent headaches, balance and vision issues, exercise intolerance, autonomic instability, and cognitive fatigue. Her story highlights how easily brain injuries can go undiagnosed, even within traditional medical settings.   After standard treatments offered limited relief, Mandi explored innovative therapies such as red light (photobiomodulation) therapy, transcranial laser treatment, and neurofeedback. These approaches supported cellular energy production, brain regulation, and gradual functional improvement. She emphasizes the value of a multi-modal approach that includes advanced therapies, hydration, nutrition, and adequate protein intake.   Beyond injury recovery, Mandi shares foundational principles for lifelong brain wellness. These include stress management, quality sleep, regular exercise, whole-food nutrition, and keeping the brain active mentally, socially, and physically.   She also discusses the strong connection between emotional and physical trauma, noting how mental health and neurology often overlap. Integrated care, she explains, is frequently necessary for lasting recovery and resilience.   Mandi closes by sharing her book, Welcome Back: A TBI Recovery Story from Provider to Patient, along with her ongoing podcast, presentations, and advocacy work. Her message is clear: protect your brain, care for it intentionally, and don’t take its function for granted—because healing is possible, but it takes time.   Please join us to learn more about brain health following concussion!   Please feel free to reach out to Mandi at [email protected] or check out her website: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/   -Dr. Amy Novotny   Subscribe to PABR Institute's email list for free Tips for Relief: www.pabrinstitute.com