Common Signs of a Concussion

When most people hear the words traumatic brain injury, they think of a debilitating medical condition that leaves the victim severely disabled. However, did you know that a head injury that results in a concussion is also a form of traumatic brain injury? Concussions can fall into the category of mild traumatic brain injury.

Concussions can come with long-term side effects and they can be disabling, especially when the accident victim has had multiple concussions or head injuries in the past. Concussions are also one of the most common car accident injuries, and are one of the common injuries health care professionals treat in the emergency department. If you’ve been diagnosed with a concussion by your doctor, you might want to keep reading so you can understand more about the nature of this condition.

Facts And Information For Concussion Victims

A concussion requires swift medical treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Perhaps all the victim requires is rest, and, in many cases, this is the only thing that doctors can do. Taking this rest time is vital, however, if the victim wants to get better and recover from this mild form of brain injury.

Often, healthcare professionals look for signs of a concussion through triage in the emergency room. However, a CT scan or other testing methods can be employed to determine if there is possible permanent brain damage, a serious brain injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other related concussion results.

A concussion could incur specific financial costs to the victim due to lost income while taking time off work to recover, lost the professional opportunity and various medical bills. Here are several more health information facts you might want to know about this medical condition:

• Diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan, may or may not offer definitive proof that a concussion injury has happened.
• A skull fracture, a bleeding brain and swelling could be happening in a concussion but they might not be externally detectable.
• A concussion could result in a blood clot, so victims should be monitored following such an injury.
• A concussion can take months, and even years, to fully heal.
• Concussions are usually the result of whiplash, violently shaking the head, gunshot wounds and direct blows to the head causing a skull fracture that gets through the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain, and can cause brain swelling.
• Whiplash can occur even when wearing seatbelts in an auto accident.
• Concussions can be open, where the head is bleeding or closed where external clues are not so visible.
• As a result of a concussion, the blood vessels of the brain will stretch and the nerves of the cranium can get damaged.
• If someone has a previous concussion, and has not yet fully healed from that, they can experience second impact syndrome from their second concussion, which is a serious brain injury.

There are many common causes of concussions, regardless of the cause of the concussion, from contact sports, automobile accidents, to slips and falls, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you seek medical attention immediately and receive medical advice from a qualified medical professional. Doctors with specialties in neurology or sports medicine can offer medical advice on how to proceed if you have seen any of these signs of a concussion.

Symptoms of a Concussion

When we talk about the wellness of someone after a car accident or other serious injury scenario where immediate medical attention was required, it is important to note what the symptoms of a concussion can look like.

Some of the symptoms of a concussion are:

• Balance problems
• Drowsiness
• Personality changes
• Blurry vision
• Forgetfulness or other memory problems
• Reduced brain function
• Brain swelling
• Skull fracture
• Loss of consciousness may or may not occur
• People usually feel dazed after a concussion, resulting in reduced physical activity

Damage to your brain cells, causing these underlying conditions, will not always be obvious as they can happen on a microscopic level.

Young children and older adults are at the highest risk for injuries from concussions and can often require immediate medical attention after a concussion or whiplash.

Learn More About Your Concussion Injuries And Your Legal Rights

Victims of concussion injuries don’t always know that they’re suffering from the condition. Doctors might also fail to diagnose a concussion until after serious symptoms begin to present themselves. Therefore, it’s important to tell your doctor all of your symptoms after an accident as thoroughly and early as possible. The sooner you can diagnose your concussion, the better chances you’ll have of getting the right medical care, and the better chances you’ll have of successfully pursuing a claim for compensation in court regarding your personal injury if it was caused by another person’s negligence.

The law office of Peddicord & Townsend can offer a free case evaluation and provide legal advice on what kind of case you may have, and what the options may be moving forward.