Though concussions are fairly common, to assume that every concussion is a mild injury is incorrect. A concussion can be very serious. If you suspect you may have a concussion, it is important to have an assessment performed by a medical professional as soon as possible. Severe head trauma from a car accident, fall, or workplace accident can prove to have lasting effects, affecting your ability to concentrate, earn income and with far more damaging consequences.
What Is A Concussion?
A concussion is the consequence of a bump, blow, jolt, or hit to the body, causing the brain to move rapidly back and forth. The spectrum of what constitutes a concussion is fairly broad, ranging from mild symptoms to momentary lapses of consciousness and a loss of situational awareness.
Any concussion is classified medically as a ‘Traumatic Brain Injury’, or TBI. A mild concussion is a symptom that lasts no longer than 15 minutes and with no loss of consciousness. Even if you haven’t experienced a loss of consciousness, if there was trauma to the head or neck, don’t neglect to have a checkup done to verify whether or not you have a concussion.
The more severe concussions start when there is a loss of consciousness, even if it’s only a few seconds.
What Causes A Concussion?
A concussion can occur from several scenarios, including drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, puncture wounds, a blow to the head, car accidents, a fall, explosions, and even medication errors.
Motor vehicle collisions and negligence in the workplace are where concussion lawyers can offer some assistance. However, even if your brain isn’t necessarily involved in a motor vehicle accident or a workplace incident, it’s the jolt and impact inside the cranium that results in a concussion.
Another issue with concussions is that once you have one, you become more susceptible to experiencing more. Therefore, if you know you’ve had a concussion in the past and are seeing symptoms again, what you should do is to have an examination by a medical professional.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Concussion?
Concussion symptoms can last for years. This isn’t rare, either. Symptoms lasting more than two days require an evaluation from a doctor.
It is also possible for concussion symptoms to not appear immediately. Some people see the majority of their symptoms develop years after the initial trauma. For this reason, any suspected concussion should be referred to a medical professional for a radiology examination.
Someone with a concussion might experience exhaustion and fatigue, chronic headaches, difficulty sleeping, balance problems, issues with hearing and vision, changes in taste, a loss of motor skills, seizures, an inability to focus or concentrate, signs of memory loss or memory lapses, speech impairment, loss of judgment, sudden symptoms of anxiety or depression, temper and mood trouble, and irritability.
How Can You Treat A Concussion?
A concussion can only be healed with time, unfortunately. It is the equivalent of a bruise on the brain. Many doctors will recommend taking brain images to verify there aren’t signs of damage to the brain tissue, stroke, or seizure. From there, someone may be given medications helping them manage the symptoms. A person may also be referred to a rehabilitation clinic, occupational therapist, or physical therapist to aid with retraining the body on how to deal with its limitations or work through any physical, emotional, or psychological changes.
If symptoms persist and worsen, always seek medical care. You not only want it treated but also formally diagnosed, especially if you end up seeking out insurance payments or want a concussion lawyer.
What Are The Long-Term Side Effects Of Concussions?
The brain is an organ. It’s very sensitive. How one person reacts long-term to having had a concussion isn’t necessarily how you will react. Beyond the fact that one brain injury is likely to lead to further injuries down the road, there are lots of potential difficulties a person might experience in the months and years ahead.
- Post-Concussion Syndrome. This is where a lot of people will experience long-term concussion problems. Post-concussion syndrome is when symptoms last beyond three months. In some cases, this can last 6 months to a year. In others, people struggle with symptoms for multiple years. It is difficult to predict and makes it all the more important that if the injury stems from the fault of another party, a consultation with a concussion lawyer might help you identify a means of acquiring compensation for this injury which hopefully can help offset some of the damage long-term and costs associated.
- Vertigo. The sense of spinning and dizziness can stay with someone who has had a concussion for months after their initial injury. There are certain medications one can be put on to help with these symptoms, and there are certain rehabilitation therapies that can help as well.
- Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, And More. Many people with concussions face a real risk and worry related to developing dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s Disease. When you have had multiple concussions and brain injuries, you are at an increased risk of developing these age-related conditions.
- Second Impact Syndrome. This is a very serious danger – when there is a second concussion before, the first concussion has a chance to heal fully. This can cause rapid swelling in the brain at such a rate that a fatality is likely. This is why anyone with a concussion should 100% be home to rest and recuperate in a low-risk environment. Complicating things a little bit, it’s hard to predict when a concussion will fully heal. Approximately 80% of concussions resolve within 7-14 days, however, not all do. The symptoms can also persist for a lot longer, so the initial game plan around a concussion has to be very much about resting and recuperating.
When To Contact A Concussion Lawyer
Post-concussion syndrome can be debilitating and, of course, you have the cost of treatments to somehow manage. If there is someone else responsible for your injury, you may have a right to compensation. Sitting down with a concussion lawyer, you have a chance to go over your circumstances with them and they can provide accurate insight into whether there is a possibility of proceeding to trial.
