March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a brain injury that many people suffer in a variety of ways and degrees. TBI is typically caused by a sudden, unexpected and forceful blow to the head. This can happen in a slip and fall, a bicycle accident, car accident, motorcycle accident, many kinds of job-related injuries, a fist strike to the head, a weapon striking the head, injuries suffered in wartime and even injuries suffered in early childhood abuse. I have a childhood friend who suffered a very serious TBI while a group of us were ice-skating, just kids having a fun day at the ice rink.
The injury the brain suffers can be minor to quite extensive. In a TBI, the brain crashes against the skull and the brain can bleed, and become torn and bruised. The brain can also begin to swell, and with little room to do so in the skull, that can cause additional damage to the brain. On the minor end of the injury scale, the person may suffer a mild concussion and have no more than a headache. On the other end of the scale, a TBI can result in death. Much of what determines the extent of the injury is not only the cause of the injury, but the degree of the injury and the time in which the person is (or is not) treated as well. A TBI that results in a concussion, even a mild concussion, is one that should still be taken seriously and the patient should seek medical assistance.
Do you think you have suffered a TBI, or a loved one? Here are symptoms, some mild, some quite severe:
Headache, and headaches that continue over time, even becoming more severe
Nausea and vomiting
Confusion
Blurry vision and/or dilation of pupils
Moody, becoming very quiet or "not themselves", or on the other end, becoming quite agitated and angry
Ringing ears and dizziness
Loss of coordination and numbness of extremeties
Seizures
Unconsciousness
Comatose
TBIs can result in a great deal of phsysical and emotional pain and suffering. Survivors of TBI often feel "helpless" or "hopeless" as this injury can dramatically impact their lives, and some symptoms do not simply "go away". The symptoms and issues can last a lifetime, and create hardship for the survivor, as well as much heartache for friends and family.
TBIs on the minor end of the scale can be treated and resolved, however, it is always best to still consult a doctor, even if it just a "bump on the head". The patient may be simply asked to get plenty of rest and given medication for pain or headache relief. More severe TBIs, however, may be treated with hospitalization, physical therapy, medications and even psychiatric treatment to help them deal with the emotional and psychological issues they may be experiencing.
Every TBI is unique, as the same injury can result in different effects in two different people. Again, that is why it is important to stress that medical treatment should be sought immediately. It is also recommended to document every aspect of the injury, to include any objects involved, water or liquids on the floor for a slip and fall, the accident scene, etc. All of this can help to reconstruct the accident for the doctors, as well as create a documentation trail should there be issues of liability and fault.
For this reason, it can also be important to contact an attorney to cover any legal issues involved with a TBI. There may be damages for pain and suffering, medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages, lost job and more. There can be overwhelming medical bills and lifelong treatments to cover, so the sooner an attorney is contacted and involved, the better. An attorney can also make sure that a TBI patient is getting their proper and due treatments, and that their rights are being protected at every step of this process. Contact a California Brain Injury Attorney in your area to ensure that you or your loved one has their legal rights fully protected.
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