There are over 2.5 million reported cases of concussion every year in the U.S. While most head injuries are mild and people recover fully, not all cases are the same. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen very suddenly due to a fall or accident, and can be devastating for the victim and the family. Symptoms resulting from a mild concussion or traumatic brain injury are not always immediately evident and recovery is different for everyone. Lingering symptoms of a TBI can devastate a person’s life and symptoms can persist for months or even years. It can impact the person’s ability to work and challenge formerly healthy relationships.
Causes and Symptoms of TBI
A concussion is defined as a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This kind of sudden jolt can cause the brain to violently bounce or gyrate in the skull, potentially damaging brain cells and causing chemical changes in the brain.
Brain injuries can be catastrophic, causing immediate cognitive disabilities. In other situations, the repercussions of brain trauma may not appear immediately in the victim. Symptoms of the trauma can be very subtle, taking days, weeks, or even months to manifest following the event. Some head injuries lead to debilitating side effects that set in gradually, such as:
- Migraine headache
- Difficulty concentrating
- Tremors, dizziness
- Memory loss
- Trouble speaking
- Unusual aggressive behavior
- Other cognitive disabilities
When a serious brain injury results from an accident such as a vehicle collision, slip and fall, or due to lack of oxygen to the brain, the victim can lapse into a coma. It is not uncommon for patients in a coma-like state to be misdiagnosed by medical professionals as to their actual state of conscious awareness. These injuries may lead to the need for round-the-clock medical care, multiple surgeries, intensive therapies, and equipment needs – the costs of which can be prohibitive and financially devastating.
You Need an Expert on Your Side
Twice, Dr. Sawyer has served as Faculty at “Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery” the Nation’s foremost Trauma Conference, speaking on multi-casualty incidents and rural trauma, as well as other pertinent topics. For more than 12 years, Dr. Sawyer has served as a Trauma Medical Director, and currently acts as the Director of Acute Care Surgery at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital. His Board Certification (and re-certification twice) along with his experience in Quality Assurance, make him keenly aware of the highest standards of care that must be a priority for every physician, hospital, and other health care provider.
The Law Offices of Dr. Russell W. Sawyer are positioned to help you if a family member has suffered a TBI. Contact us for a free consultation and review at (707) 888-1118
Article source: Center for Disease Control & Prevention Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion
