One of the dangers associated with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is delayed symptoms, many of which the injured party will not recognize as a sign of potentially serious health complications. A TBI injury can occur due to an accident where you hit your head on a hard surface. This type of injury can result from a slip and fall, assault, and an auto accident.
If you do not seek medical attention after such accidents, you may begin to display symptoms of a TBI without recognizes them as such. In this case, it is important to understand the delayed signs of a TBI so that you can seek medical treatment immediately.
Delayed TBI Symptoms
Delayed TBI symptoms may develop slowly or rapidly, depending on the location and severity of the injury. You may experience blurred vision, inability to awaken from sleep, and headaches that persist and worsen with time. These are often the most dangerous symptoms as the injured party may not realize the significance of what is happening in the brain. There are also more severe symptoms which are a clear indication that you should seek emergency medical attention right away.
When you have an undiagnosed TBI you may lose consciousness for several minutes or hours. Nausea, vomiting, convulsions/seizures, and clear fluids coming from the ears or nose are the symptoms of your brain telling you that there is a serious injury that is getting progressively worse and time is not on your side. Do not ignore these symptoms as the progression of a TBI is often rapid and, if you leave it too late to seek medical attention, treatment options may be limited due to the delay.
TBI Treatment
A mild TBI may not require treatment at a hospital, other than recommended rest and pain medication for headaches. However, every TBI has the potential to get worse which is why you will require a monitoring until you are out of the danger zone, so to speak. The hospital will use the Glasgow Coma Test, as an assessment tool for TBI severity, to determine how well you follow directions, as well as the ability to move your limbs and eyes. If you achieve a high score during the assessment it is usually an indication of a less serious TBI.
A doctor may also order image tests to evaluate any suspected damage. This typically involves going through a Computerized tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or both. The ER doctor will also seek to determine the cause of the accident and how, specifically, the injury occurred. All these tests and assessments are designed to narrow the margin of error in diagnosing a potential TBI but that doesn’t mean doctors get it right the first time, every time. If you begin to experience symptoms after your hospital visit you should go back right away for a second opinion.
For residents of Georgia who have suffered a TBI in an accident, you may be entitled to claim compensation from an at-fault party or parties. Speak to the experts from the Fry | Goehring as part of a free consultation.
