An injury to the brain occurs in an instant but the resulting trauma may be experienced for days, weeks and even years. The immediate symptoms are usually those most familiar and easiest to diagnose. Secondary post-concussion symptoms may not manifest until long after it is believed that the individual should be totally healed.
Hormonal changes fall into this category and can cause significant problems. From Conquering Concussion – Healing TBI Symptoms With Neurofeedback and Without Drugs by Mary Lee Esty, Ph.D. and C.M. Shifflett:
“Symptoms of endocrine injury or failure may appear soon after, or long after the initial injury. In the luckiest patients, the problem is immediately recognized and treated. In others, onset is amazingly slow and sneaky; visible symptoms appear months or even years after the injury, long after we think the patient should be better, long after support services have ended, and long after the patience of family and employers has run out.
Damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary can trigger a cascade of problems, sometimes months in the making, impacting all hormone systems. These can involve everything from growth and repair to changes in water balance, thyroid problems, abnormal sweating or low body temperature, fatigue and depression to sleep problems, weight gain, sexual dysfunction and infertility.”
You can learn more about hormonal changes resulting from concussion and TBI in Conquering Concussion – Healing TBI Symptoms With Neurofeedback and Without Drugs.