How to Identify a Traumatic Brain Injury Before It Gets Worse

Picture this scenario: you slip on a slick spot while walking the dog one morning. You fall backward, hit your head on the pavement, and blackout for just a moment. When you come to, you are dazed but otherwise feel fine. There’s no blood, no visible injury, and just a sore bump on the back of your head.

You laugh it off, finish the walk, and head to work. Over the next few days, things start to feel … off. You’re having trouble focusing, forgetting what was just said, and feeling more exhausted than usual.

Chances are, you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the fall, and you didn’t even realize it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are around 200,000 TBI-related hospitalizations annually in the United States.

A head injury can change your life in an instant. Victims may struggle with pain, disability, or even changes to their personality. The sooner you or a loved one seeks medical treatment for a head injury, the better. Quick action, even if you only have mild TBI symptoms, can give doctors the best chance of helping you recover.

The Most Common Ways TBIs Occur
A TBI is a form of brain damage that can happen when a person’s head is hit or jolted, or if there is a penetrating injury to the head. The most common ways TBIs occur are from:

• Car accidents
• Falls
• Sports injuries
• Workplace accidents
• Assault or other blow to the head

Is a TBI Considered a Concussion?
Yes. A concussion is often referred to by doctors as a “mild TBI.” Both terms are used interchangeably when a person experiences a head injury and has a change in normal brain function for no longer than a minute following trauma. The effects of a concussion are often short-term and can include headaches and trouble with concentration, memory, balance, mood, and sleep. While they are usually not life-threatening, they can be serious.

Why Mild TBIs Often Go Undiagnosed
Health professionals categorize TBIs as mild, medium, or severe. Depending on the severity, a TBI can have consequences that last a few days to an entire lifetime. A head injury should always be acknowledged and treated as soon as possible, but mild TBI symptoms often go undiagnosed. Here’s why:

• Mild TBI symptoms can take hours or days to appear.
• People minimize the event if they aren’t knocked out for long or at all.
• TBIs are often not considered because there was no impact or just a light impact to the head
• Symptoms like fatigue, mood changes, or memory issues are often blamed on stress or mental health.

Recognize the Red Flags of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Even though TBIs constitute a significant cause of death or disability, they can be challenging to spot. There are often no external signs, such as a cut, bruise, or bump. And the more obvious symptoms could take days or even weeks to appear. For this reason, you should always be alert to these symptoms immediately following a head injury:

• Headaches
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Blurred or double vision
• Clear fluids discharged from the ears or nose
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tinnitus (ringing ears)
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Seizures
• Paralysis

Other symptoms may not become apparent until some time has passed. These include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleeping more or less than usual, or trouble falling asleep
• Mood swings
• Problems with coordination and balance
• Changes in vision, taste, or smell
• Depression or anxiety
• Changes in personality
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Word-finding difficulty

What You Should Do After a Head Injury
The very first thing you should do after a blow to the head, no matter how mild, is see a medical professional. The sooner you talk to a doctor, the sooner you can get on the road to recovery. Putting off a doctor’s visit can worsen your short- and long-term recovery and sometimes exacerbate the head injury itself. For a mild TBI or concussion, doctors usually suggest these tips:

1. Rest for the first few days, when symptoms are more severe.
2. Find relaxing, low-stress activities.
3. Avoid reading, watching TV, or using a cell phone.
4. Know when you can safely return to work, school, or drive.

What to Do if You Suspect a Brain Injury
With rest, targeted therapy, and proper care, recovery is possible — but early awareness is key. See a doctor immediately if you’ve endured a blow to the head and may suspect a TBI. And proceed with caution when it comes to dealing with insurance companies.

Brain injuries can incur lifelong costs, and you deserve the right compensation. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident and you wish to discuss the specifics of your case, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Bache Lynch Goldsmith & Mendoza.