Car collisions, slip-and-falls, and other accidents can lead to a traumatic brain injury. Some people won’t feel the effects right away, while others could experience the pain and other symptoms seconds after the accident.
Knowing the causes of TBI can help you act quickly and properly. Understanding brain injury symptoms also makes a difference since you’ll know when it’s time to seek medical care so you can have a smoother TBI recovery.
All these important details will be discussed in this article. At Neuro Trauma Centers, our mission is to create a path to better TBI healing. Our job is to help brain injury patients rebuild their lives through reliable TBI treatment options.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
What is traumatic brain injury? TBI is a head injury or condition resulting from a sudden hit, jolt, or force to the head. TBIs vary depending on the case—some could be mild, while others could be severe.
Doctors use different terms based on the severity of the damage. A mild traumatic brain injury is when there’s brief confusion or a short loss of consciousness. This category includes concussion. On the other hand, an acute traumatic brain injury is more serious as it involves a longer period of unconsciousness, severe memory loss, or permanent neurological damage.
There are also TBI types specifically related to how the injury happened. For example, a closed head injury means that the skull stays intact. There’s also a penetrating brain injury, which occurs when an object breaks through the skull and enters the brain.
All these types of brain trauma can lead to long-term complications, such as cognitive impairment. Knowing what they are can help you take the right steps toward care.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
Knowing the common causes of traumatic brain injury can help you prevent it, or identify it and act quickly if it does happen. Here are some of the common causes of brain injury:
- Falls
- Car crashes
- Sports accidents
- Violence
- Workplace injuries
- Explosions or blasts
- Being struck by objects
All these TBI causes can result in mild or severe head injury. Knowing them can help you prevent brain injury, as well as act faster in case they do occur.
Recognizing TBI Signs and Symptoms
Traumatic brain injury signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity. Some appear immediately after an accident. Others take days to appear; this can be more dangerous as it is important to treat brain injuries right away.
Here are some common TBI symptoms you should look out for:
- Persistent headaches
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Memory loss or difficulty thinking
- Light or noise sensitivity
- Fatigue or sleeping problems
- Confusion or slow reactions
- Mood swings
- Blurred vision or impaired speech
- Loss of consciousness
- Pupil enlargement on one eye
- Seizures or convulsions
Do not ignore these signs of traumatic brain injury. When experiencing these symptoms, some people might ask about concussion vs TBI. But, even if it’s a mild concussion, seeking immediate care is the smartest move to make.
Diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injuries
Diagnosing traumatic brain injuries always begins with a full medical check. The doctor will ask you how the injury happened and what symptoms followed. After that, they’ll start with a basic neurological exam. This test will check your movement, memory, vision, reflexes, and alertness to spot early signs of traumatic brain damage.
The next stage could involve medical imaging methods. A CT scan shows brain swelling or bleeding. Meanwhile, an MRI can provide a better look at soft tissue. It can also confirm if there’s deeper damage.
Knowing how to diagnose a TBI can help you prepare for your doctor’s appointment. Remember, every brain injury diagnosis is recorded and tracked. So, make sure that you tell your doctor everything.
TBI Treatment Options
There are different brain injury treatment options available. The ones you need will depend on the type and severity of TBI you’re experiencing. In some very minor cases, you can recover with only rest and medications. However, severe brain injuries might require surgery and long-term care.
Here are some common TBI treatments:
- Resting and monitoring for mild cases
- Over-the-counter medicines for symptoms
- Emergency surgery to remove clots and relieve pressure
- ICU observation
- Anti-seizure or mood medications
- Physical therapy to restore movement and strength
- Occupational therapy for daily task training and function
- Speech therapy
- Counseling or psychological support for mood, behavior, or memory problems
- Long-term brain injury rehabilitation programs
Aside from these, proper trauma care can also include a brain injury guide to help patients avoid the same brain injuries. All these head injury treatment plans are crucial for better TBI recovery.
TBI Recovery and Long-Term Effects
The TBI recovery timeline can vary. Some people heal within a few weeks. Others need to wait months or years just to go back to their usual activities.
When healing from head injuries, you might ask, how does TBI affect the brain? Head trauma can affect the cognitive abilities of your brain, leading to physical and behavioral changes. If left untreated, you can suffer from long-term effects of TBI, such as anxiety, depression, and other complications. TBIs can even trigger dementia development or cause other brain diseases.
Neuro Trauma Centers—Your Path to TBI Recovery
When TBIs happen, the most important thing to do is find the right healthcare provider that specializes in brain injuries. That’s who we are at Neuro Trauma Centers.
Our team of neurologists and other brain experts can diagnose traumatic brain injuries, provide proper treatments, and manage TBI symptoms effectively. Among the services we offer are emergency care, TBI diagnosis, long-term monitoring, and full rehabilitation programs.
Trusting us means walking toward a better TBI recovery path. Call us today to book a consultation.