Learn What You Can do after a Concussion

A concussion (mild traumatic brain injury) can be caused by a car collision or a fall. Concussions can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.

https://www.brainline.org/article/facts-about-concussion-and-brain-injury

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/basics.html

What are the symptoms of Concussion (Traumatic Brain Injury)?

Effects on Thinking

• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Feeling slowed down
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering new information

Physical Symptoms
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting (early on)
• Balance problems
• Dizziness
• Fuzzy or blurry vision
• Feeling tired, having no energy
• Sensitivity to noise or light

Emotional Effects
• Irritability
• Sadness
• More emotional
• Nervousness or anxiety

Sleep Disturbance
• Sleeping more than usual
• Sleeping less than usual
• Trouble falling asleep

https://www.brainline.org/article/facts-about-concussion-and-brain-injury

According to the CDC, symptoms following a mTBI typically include one of more of the following: difficulty in, focusing, organizing thoughts, remembering, or processing new information; problems with dizziness or balance; sensitivity to light or noise; sleep disturbance (including sleeping more or less than normal, or difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep); irritability or temper outbursts; and becoming emotional, tearful, or anxious.

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/symptoms.html

Fatigue is one of the most frequently reported symptoms after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

As many as 70% of survivors of TBI complain of mental fatigue.

https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/fatigue-and-traumatic-brain-injury 

People with mild traumatic brain injury are at increased risk for suicide.

A study published in 2016 assessed the long-term risk of suicide after a concussion. The increased risk applied regardless of patients’ demographic characteristics, was independent of past psychiatric conditions, became accentuated with time, and exceeded the risk among military personnel. Half of these patients had visited a physician in the last week of life. The researchers concluded that adults with a diagnosis of concussion had an increased long-term risk of suicide.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26858348

What to do after a Concussion (mild traumatic brain injury)

1. Visit an emergency room immediately to rule out the possibility of an injury that requires emergent care;

2. Make an appointment with your primary care physician or a concussion specialist if symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, confusion, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, anxiety, depression, and irritability do not resolve within a few days;

3. If problems persist, visit a neurologist or neuropsychologist for testing and treatment options, including medication and therapy. Specialists can provide therapy to help with memory, speech, balance and depression. 

Each year over a million American suffer concussions (traumatic brain injury)

Traumatic brain injury is a serious problem, and has increased substantially over the past decade.

Family Members are an Important Resource for Doctors Evaluating mTBI

If you suspect that a family member or loved one has suffered a mTBI, it can be very helpful for you to accompany the patient on his or her doctors visits, Traumatic brain injury patients often need assistance in identifying all of their symptoms to their doctor. A complete list of all symptoms is very important in obtaining a proper diagnosis.

Also, keep in mind that experiencing the symptoms of s traumatic brain injury can be very upsetting and frightening for the patient; they often describe themselves as feeling “lonely, and scared to death,” and “afraid I was going crazy.” As a result, a person suffering from symptoms of mTBI often will be in denial about how bad their symptoms are. A family member is often a better, more objective source of information for the doctor.

Each year over a million American suffer concussions (traumatic brain injury)
Traumatic brain injury is a serious problem, and has increased substantially over the past decade.

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/data/rates.html

Each year in the U.S., 1,000,000 people suffer concussions; 300,000 of these result in serious, long term injuries, according to the Center for Disease Control.

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/mtbireport-a.pdf

Traumatic brain injury is a serious problem, and has increased substantially over the past decade.

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/data/rates.html

The attorneys at Wham & Rogers have extensive experience handling mild traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome cases.

The information in this blog is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should contact an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been created.