How Can You Know If You Have a Concussion?

Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, are different from other injuries. A broken arm, a bad cut, and even a severe burn are visible. What makes head injuries so scary is that they aren’t visible to the naked eye. Therefore, they are more challenging to diagnose.

If you have signs of concussion, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible. If symptoms worsen, this can lead to a more severe traumatic brain injury, which can be life-altering and deadly

If you suffered a concussion because of the negligence of another person, call the Munley Law personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation. Our traumatic brain injury attorneys will protect your rights and secure compensation for your losses.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a subset of the neurological injuries known as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Although concussions can range from mild to severe, the term “mild traumatic brain injury” is often used to describe these injuries.

Concussions occur because of a direct or indirect injury to the head. They happen when the brain moves rapidly back and forth or when the brain bangs against the side of the skull. The sudden movement can stretch and damage the brain tissue, triggering harmful changes that interfere with normal brain activities. Although the prognosis is usually good, concussions must be taken seriously, and the injured individual must seek medical attention immediately.

According to the University of Pittsburgh School of the Health Sciences, there are six different types of concussions:

• Cognitive fatigue: This type of concussion gives the individual difficulty with complex mental tasks and exhausts them. They feel distracted, have less ability to concentrate, and have trouble learning new information.
• Vestibular: The vestibular system is the brain’s balance center. The concussion will cause the individual to lose their balance, have trouble with basic motions, and may have changes in their vision (double vision or blurry vision). They will struggle with head and eye coordination, interpreting motion, or having steady balance.
• Ocular: Ocular concussions will cause the injured individual to have difficulties with tasks like looking at a computer screen, moving your eyes together to track a motion, or reading long passages.
• Post-traumatic migraine: These concussions affect your senses. Loud places can overwhelm the patient and cause migraines, nausea, and sensitivity to light or noise.
• Cervical: This type of concussion causes stress or pressure on the neck, spine, or spinal cord. If a person suffers this type of concussion, they are likely to have more frequent headaches.
• Anxiety/mood: Sometimes, a concussion can make it impossible to turn off your own thoughts. The concussed individual may have excessive worry, and social interactions may be difficult to handle.

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain injury caused by an outside force. It could be a bump, blow, or hit to the head or body or an object entering the brain. TBIs vary in severity, ranging from mild symptoms to critical symptoms, like an extended altered state of consciousness. Traumatic brain injuries can affect people of all ages.

Concussion Causes

According to the Mayo Clinic, falls are the single most common cause of concussions. Contact sports and other sports-related injuries are another common cause. Other events that could result in a concussion are:

• Motor vehicle accident
• Assault
• Penetrating head injuries
• Explosions/blasts
• Rapid acceleration-deceleration of the head

Concussion Symptoms

<p”>Concussion symptoms are not uniform – they vary depending on the severity of the injury and may not be immediately evident. In fact, you may not experience symptoms of concussion until hours or even days after the concussion. A concussion can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance, and muscle coordination.

To get a better picture of what symptoms you should look for if you think you have a concussion, let’s break down the common symptoms into three categories: physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms you may experience after suffering a concussion:

Physical Symptoms

The most common physical symptoms of concussion include a headache and confusion. Other physical symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Trouble with balance
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Loss of consciousness
• Slurred speech

In emergencies, physical symptoms can include brain swelling and a brain bleed.

Cognitive Symptoms

Cognitive symptoms have to do with how you are able to think, process information, and respond to the environment around you. After a concussion, you may experience memory loss, known as amnesia. The amnesia usually makes the injured person forget the event that caused the concussion.

Other cognitive symptoms that occur after a concussion are:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Mental fogginess
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Changes in taste or smell

Emotional Symptoms

Concussions can cause temporary or even long-term changes in brain structure. These changes can affect areas of the brain responsible for emotional processing and regulation, leading to emotional symptoms. Symptoms include:

• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Difficulty sleeping

When to Seek Emergency Medical Treatment

Although concussions are known as “mild” traumatic brain injuries, seeking medical attention is absolutely necessary. Concussion symptoms cannot be seen, which makes them particularly dangerous.

The concussed person should be monitored for at least twenty-four hours or longer, depending on the severity of the concussion.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should go to the emergency room right away:

• Repeated nausea or vomiting
• Loss of consciousness lasting over 30 seconds
• Worsening headache
• Fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears
• Changes in behavior
• Weakness in arms or legs
• Vision changes
• Dilated pupils
• Confusion and disorientation
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Seizures
• Large bump or bruise
• Loss of balance
• Loss of memory

Diagnosing a Concussion

Although there are several diagnostic tools a concussion specialist will use to diagnose a concussion, there is not a single pathognomonic finding or a minimum number of symptoms. That means diagnosing a concussion is more subjective than diagnosing other medical conditions.

The Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6) is one of the most common ways to assess a concussion. The injured individual is asked to rate the severity of symptoms like headache, dizziness, nausea, and memory problems. Then, the person will be asked to perform a series of balance tasks, such as standing with their feet together and their eyes closed. Finally, the individual is asked questions about their name, the date, and the location they are in.

Another way medical professionals diagnose a concussion is by closely monitoring the patient. They watch for symptoms of neurological deterioration, including loss of consciousness, headaches, and seizures. Doctors will conduct a physical examination, including a close look at the head and neck, to check for any structural damage. They will do a neurological exam, testing the patient’s strength, sensations, eyes, and reflexes. For a better look at the brain, doctors will send the patient for imaging tests such as a CT scan.

Concussion Treatment and Recovery

After the initial diagnosis, the patient should be monitored by someone familiar with the warning signs of a worsening condition. The patients with concerning symptoms should be hospitalized. Concussion treatment includes rest and a gradual return to physical activity. While there is no set duration for rest, the individual should be monitored for a recurrence of symptoms.

Sometimes, targeted therapies like vision training or cognitive-behavioral therapy are necessary. Over-the-counter medication may help with headaches, but patients should speak to their doctor before taking any medication.

Did You Suffer a Concussion Because of Someone Else’s Negligence?

Concussions are serious injuries and can cost the injured individual thousands of dollars in medical bills. Ongoing therapies, medications, and follow-up doctor visits will cost the patient even more. Accidents happen, but when an accident is avoidable, the negligent person should pay for the damage they caused.

At Munley Law, our personal injury lawyers are here to help injured individuals like you. We make sure you don’t foot the bill for someone else’s negligence. Our lawyers will investigate your accident, whether it was a car accident, high-contact, high-risk sports accident, or another kind of mishap, and determine the liable party. If more than one individual is responsible for your injury, we will hold all the parties accountable.

The damages your legal team will secure are:

• Economic damages: tangible losses like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
• Non-economic damages: intangible assets like pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and mental anguish.

When you work with a Munley Law traumatic brain injury lawyer, you will have an entire expert legal team devising a legal strategy that will secure the highest compensation possible. We will make sure you are not financially burdened due to your accident. While you work on making a full recovery from your concussion, we will work on your claim. We offer a free consultation to new clients. Call today to speak to an expert traumatic brain injury lawyer and get the process started.