Is the severity of brain damage in an athlete assessed based on the pain they experience after a concussion?

The assessment of brain damage following a concussion is not determined by the level of pain an athlete experiences. Pain can be a subjective experience that varies considerably among individuals and does not reliably correlate with the extent of brain injury. Instead, the severity of a concussion is typically evaluated based on a combination of clinical signs and symptoms, cognitive functioning, and neuropsychological assessments. Medical evaluations often focus on factors such as loss of consciousness, memory disturbances, balance issues, and other neurological symptoms, which provide a more objective measure of the injury's seriousness. This approach allows for a more accurate understanding of the athlete's condition and guides appropriate recovery protocols and return-to-play decisions.