If you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), your life could radically change in ways you never thought were possible. Much, of course, depends on the extent and severity of the TBI. But even minor concussions can have quite an adverse impact on your life.
This is why it’s important that, after you are hurt, you don’t attempt to shrug off what at first might seem like only a small annoyance and not a true injury. Read on for other information about traumatic brain injuries.
Seek immediate treatment of head injuries
There is a so-called “golden hour” after head trauma when treatment is most efficacious. While it is not an actual 60-minute window, medical experts agree that brain injury patients who receive immediate medical stabilization after the trauma that injured them tend to do better overall than their counterparts who receive delayed treatment.
Be aware of any cognitive changes
In the case of patients with mild TBIs, the injury damage may not immediately be apparent. We’ve all seen football and other contact sports players “get their bells rung” out on the field, shake it off and continue to play. It’s only later that the TBI symptoms appear, but by then, additional and irreparable damage may be done.
Below are some signs and symptoms of a TBI:
- Coordination problems
- Seizures
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Altered sensory perceptions
- Verbal difficulties
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Sudden sexual dysfunction
- Personality changes
- Motor impairment
- Confusion
- Depression
- Loss of executive functioning skills
- Memory problems
Don’t delay treatment for head injuries
Whether you were injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver or hit your head on a piece of equipment at work, it’s important to seek immediate treatment for the injury you suffered. There are other good reasons for this outside of the typical medical concerns.
Medically documenting your injury is the first step in any subsequent claims for damages which may arise from the incident and injury. It establishes that the injury is linked to the accident or mishap you allege. Should you later choose to file a personal injury claim in the Spokane civil court system, there should be no doubt that the injuries you suffered were caused by the incident.