Post-Concussion Syndrome After a Car Accident
Concussions are among the most common injuries suffered in a car accident. Unfortunately, most people assume that if they don’t experience unconsciousness or disorientation immediately after the crash, that means they don’t have a head injury.
Head injuries and concussions can be very serious. After a car accident, seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. Post-concussion syndrome symptoms may not appear until well after the initial impact. At Car Wreck Doctor, we understand how even injuries that seem minor can balloon into major ones. Speak to a head injury doctor today to learn more about how we can help.
How Do Concussions Occur?
Concussions are a form of traumatic brain injury that occur whenever there is a major blow to your head. They can also occur when you are jarred violently, as often happens in a car accident.
For instance, those who have suffered whiplash in a car crash often also suffer a concussion, as the movement can cause your brain to strike the inside of your skull. The result is a kind of swelling that results in post-concussion syndrome.
Symptoms of a Concussion
Since symptoms of a concussion may not be obvious until days after the accident, it’s important to get medical help as soon as possible. Concussion symptoms may include:
- Headaches
- Feeling of fogginess
- Loss of consciousness
- Dizziness
- Feeling of pressure in your head
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Nausea / vomiting
- Feeling dazed
- Fatigue
- Changes to speech
- Mood disturbances
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trouble concentrating
- Personality changes
- Sleep disturbances
- Sensitivity to light and sound
More than 80% of concussion injuries heal on their own within a month. However, it is important that a doctor oversee your care during this period. Brain injuries are not to be trifled with. In cases where the symptoms last for longer than six weeks, you have post-concussion syndrome.
If you have a concussion, it is also imperative that you avoid any activity in which it is even remotely possible to get another one. When you get a concussion, it causes your brain to swell putting pressure on your skull. If you get another one in a short period of time, the brain’s internal mechanism for regulating cranial pressure short circuits. This causes even more cranial pressure and can result in death. In the most serious cases, the brain can actually herniate pushing its way through the skull.
Understanding Post-Concussion Syndrome
When the symptoms last for over six weeks, you will be diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. These symptoms can last for months.
Post-concussion symptom can happen to anyone regardless of how traumatic the initial injury was. Studies have shown that it is not related to the severity of the initial impact. In cases where the injury also involved whiplash, it can be very difficult to tell what symptoms are being caused by whiplash and which symptoms are the result of a concussion. In order to make that determination, a doctor will need to determine the extent of the swelling in your brain and the extent of the damage to the muscles and tendons in your neck.
Researchers don’t know the exact cause of post-concussion syndrome. Some believe that it is related to post-traumatic stress related to the event while others believe that there is permanent brain damage in post-concussion cases. Risk factors include the age and sex of the injured party. Older people and women tend to get post-concussion syndrome more often.
If you believe you are experiencing post-concussion syndrome, keep a list of all the symptoms your are experiencing. This will prevent you from forgetting while you’re in to see the doctor. Treatment will involve managing the symptoms that you are experiencing. Generally, headaches, memory loss, concentration problems, sleep disturbances, and mood disturbances are the most common symptoms to watch for.
Consults With an Experienced Car Wreck Doctor
If you get a concussion from a car accident, it’s important to stay on top of your appointments and avoid potentially dangerous activity. To learn more about post-concussion syndrome and what you should do after a head injury, speak to a head injury doctor at Car Wreck Doctor today.