A traumatic brain injury is a type of injury that affects the healthy functioning of your brain. A bump or blow to the head is the most common way to experience a traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury can also be caused by an injury that penetrates the head and skull. The most common type of traumatic brain injury is a concussion, which is common in sports injuries, car accidents, and slip and fall accidents. If you suffer a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or damage to your brain tissue, then you may be at risk for a concussion or other type of traumatic brain injury. You want to find a team of neurologists in Tucker who can help you with traumatic brain injury recovery as soon as possible.
When to Seek Medical Care for a Traumatic Brain Injury
Any time you suffer a violent blow or jolt to the head, you should take every precaution and get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. Certain sports and activities have protocols for suspected concussions and traumatic brain injuries for a reason. These injuries can be very serious and even life-threatening, so you want to get them taken care of as soon as possible. If you were in a car accident and bumped your head on the steering wheel, window, or other part of the car, then you should accept any help from paramedics in the field and also seek out follow-up care with a neurologist to determine the extent of your injuries.
When Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury Occur
Traumatic brain injuries can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which can appear immediately after the trauma and others that may show up in the days or even weeks after the injury. A mild traumatic brain injury like a concussion can cause symptoms like headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound. You may also experience fatigue, drowsiness, and even loss of consciousness for seconds to minutes after the initial trauma. A traumatic brain injury can cause cognitive and mental symptoms that may develop over time, like memory and concentration problems, mood swings, and feeling confused or disoriented. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries may also cause serious symptoms such as seizures, repeated vomiting, dilated pupils, slurred speech, and loss of consciousness for longer periods of time.
When Treatment Begins for a Traumatic Brain Injury
If you start to experience pain or discomfort after a blow to the head, then you want to seek treatment right away so you can get started on the traumatic brain injury recovery process. If your doctor suspects a traumatic brain injury, then they may want to run diagnostic imaging scans to get a clearer picture of the brain and rule out other issues like bleeding on the brain. CT scans and MRI scans both provide your doctor with highly detailed images of your brain in real-time. With a mild traumatic brain injury like a concussion, treatment may involve rest, close monitoring for any changes in symptoms and behaviors, and pain management efforts. In some cases, your doctor may recommend you avoid certain physical activities and other daily routines like going to work or school due to the strain on your body. Treatment for a traumatic brain injury will begin as soon as your doctor has determined the severity of your injury.
When Symptoms Start to Ease After a Traumatic Brain Injury
With proper treatment and care, your symptoms can start to ease after a traumatic brain injury anywhere from a week to months after the initial traumatic event. Mild traumatic brain injuries may take only days before your symptoms start to ease as the swelling goes down and you start to return to healthy functioning. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can take longer to recover from because of the severity of the symptoms and how they can impact your quality of life. Your neurologist can help assess progress made in your traumatic brain injury recovery process and determine when you can start participating in your regular activities again.
Find a neurologist near you by visiting AICA Orthopedics in Tucker. We have a team of neurologists in Tucker who provide comprehensive care for traumatic brain injuries.