Immediate Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Some of the immediate symptoms of traumatic brain injury include:
Loss of Consciousness
Loss of consciousness (LOC) can include being knocked out for a few minutes or being in a coma for several months. The duration of unconsciousness can indicate the severity of your head trauma. Furthermore, any type of LOC can indicate that you have a severe traumatic brain injury. If you lose consciousness, you should go to the hospital immediately.
As you regain consciousness, you may start to experience other signs of a TBI. Some of these signs may occur immediately. Other signs may be delayed. If you experience delayed symptoms, you should visit your doctor right away.
Seizures or Convulsions
A post-traumatic seizure may occur within the first week or two after the accident. You may also have one or more seizures within the next several months or years. If so, your doctor may diagnose you with epilepsy.
A medical specialist can determine how likely you are to experience one or more seizures or convulsions by the nature and severity of your injury. They can also determine if you need to undergo one or more surgical procedures to correct your condition.
Double Vision or Other Eye Problems
Vision problems are common symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury. After your accident, there may be an interrupted signal between the brain and the eyes. This can cause a wide range of vision problems such as:
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Difficulty reading
- Vision-related headaches
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Double vision
- Difficulty moving your eyes in any direction
Eye problems do not always appear right away. As a result, your doctor may overlook them. As a precaution, you may want to visit your eye doctor for an eye exam.
Fluid Draining from the Ears or Nose
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may leak from your ears or nose after a traumatic brain injury. The fluid may be clear or blood-tinged. This indicates a tear in the membrane around the spinal cord or brain. This type of injury may require a surgical procedure to stop the leaking.
Vomiting or Nausea
Vomiting is common after a TBI due to the impact on both the head and the body. Although vomiting can be a sign that you have incurred a head trauma, it is not always an indicator of a severe brain injury. Vomiting can occur up to two or three hours after the initial accident with no cause for alarm.
However, if you continue to vomit multiple times several hours after your injury, you may need to go to the emergency room. Regardless of how many times you vomit, you may want to seek some type of medical attention right away. This is the only way to determine exactly why you are vomiting.
Neurological Problems: Dizziness, Slurred Speech, Weakness
Since your injury affects the brain, numerous neurological problems can occur after your accident, such as:
- Confusion
- Dizziness or poor balance
- Slurred or hesitant speech
- Inability to solve problems
- Inability to understand abstract concepts
- Poor coordination
- Reading comprehension problems
Neurological problems can occur instantly, or they can gradually get worse. In some cases, the decline in neurological function can happen over the years. After an extended period, you may not make the connection between your accident and your neurological condition. Only a medical specialist can tell you if your condition is related to your accident.
Paralysis
Partial or full paralysis may occur on one or both sides of the body depending on which part of the brain was damaged. When your brain is injured, it may be unable to send or receive a signal to an area of your body. As a result, you may have limited function or sensation in the paralyzed area.
Since paralysis is often unpredictable, you may or may not recover from your condition. Some paralysis may go away, restoring your function. Other types of paralysis may be terminal. You may have to undergo extensive physical therapy if recovery is possible. In other cases, you may need round-the-clock care for the rest of your life.
Memory Problems and Amnesia
A traumatic brain injury can affect your memory in various ways. In most cases, you may suffer short-term memory loss. For instance, you may remember things that happened in your childhood. However, you cannot remember why you went to the grocery store.
In addition, you may not remember things such as:
- Details of a conversation
- Where you put certain items such as keys or a wallet
- Whether you agreed to or declined to attend an event
- Losing track of time
- Names or personal information of people you are close to
In some cases, the injured person will not remember the accident that caused their traumatic brain injury.
Feelings of Depression or Anxiety
You may have feelings of sadness, loss, or despair long after your accident occurred. These feelings of depression and anxiety may seem overwhelming. Depression can be caused by physical changes in your brain or your emotional response to your injury. In some cases, it can be caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The only way to determine if your depression is a physical, emotional, or mental response to your trauma is to visit your doctor for an official diagnosis. Your doctor may refer you to a TBI specialist who can diagnose your depression.
Compensation for Your Traumatic Brain Injury Damages
If you suffered complications from a traumatic brain injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering, or other damages. To find out more, contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today. We offer legal services for victims of traumatic brain injuries. Call us today at 954-633-8270 for a free case assessment. You pay nothing unless you win your case.
We also help the victims of traumatic brain injury in the following cities:
