No matter how it might occur, a blow to the head is a much more dangerous thing that many people realize. One only needs to look to the recent controversy over the prevalence of head injuries in sports like football, boxing and hockey to understand that the threats are very real.
However, you don’t have to play football or box to receive a blow to the head that could leave you with a brain injury. Many people receive brain injuries from blows to the head during car accidents — and in many cases, don’t even remember that it happened!
Just about any significant blow to the head can produce a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and although the word “mild” is right there in its name, mild TBIs pose very real threats. In fact, in some cases, a mild TBI can result from “very forceful movement” of the head, even if it does not actually strike something else.
If you recently received a blow to the head, it is wise to obtain professional medical care to determine whether or not you have a mild TBI. These injuries are not always easy to identify, but they can leave you with many, many frustrating symptoms that can compound to make life nearly unlivable.
The symptoms of TBIs are widespread
One of the most frustrating things about a mild TBI is that it has the potential to affect so many different areas of your experience. In the same way that you literally see the world differently when you wear sunglasses, a mild TBI may affect how your brain processes information, literally changing how you perceive many parts of life.
For instance, it is very common for those who suffer a mild TBI to experience changes in their personalities, or to suddenly smell or taste things differently than they did before.
More difficult to handle is often a sudden lack of ability to focus on any task that requires concentration. In many cases, this lack of ability to concentrate comes hand-in-hand with much greater frustration with yourself and everyone else. Combined, this can mean that you cannot perform tasks that you normally perform with ease, and then you get angry about it.
Another common symptom you may suffer from a mild TBI is a change in how you interpret language. Whether you read some instructions that do not make sense, or you misunderstand the things your colleagues say, you may find that you suddenly have a much more difficult time communicating with your family, community and colleagues.
Of course, some symptoms are very physical. You may experience nausea or headaches that last much longer than you expect, or even begin to experience seizures. You may also find that your balance, eye-hand coordination, or depth perception are not what they used to be.
While each of these things may seem like an annoyance rather than a serious injury, consider that these symptoms rarely occur in isolation. Instead, many people who suffer from mild TBIs continue to experience the symptoms for up to a year after the injury first occurs.
If you believe that you may have a mild TBI, do not wait to seek out proper medical attention that can help you create a plan for getting back to your old self. If the symptoms affect your life in any serious way, you can consider consulting with a lawyer to help you explore your options for fair compensation for your injuries.