Without a doctor present, it’s difficult to tell the difference between a head injury and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Someone can seem fine immediately after a crash or a fall, only to experience severe and dangerous symptoms in the following days. Because brain injuries are deceptive, it’s crucial that anyone who has suffered a recent head injury be able to identify the early warning signs and symptoms of a brain injury.
Early Warning Signs of a Brain Injury
Each brain injury is different and impacts a separate part of your body. Similarly, early warning signs can affect any of your senses and your overall well-being. That said, some of the early warning signs of a brain injury include:
Persistent headache
Nausea or dizziness
Fatigue
Blurred vision or ringing in ears
Loss of smell or taste
Vomiting
Dilation of one or both eyes.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should go to the doctor immediately. Identifying and treating these symptoms early on gives you the best chance of making a strong recovery.
Symptoms of a Brain Injury
The most severe brain injury symptoms may not be evident for several days. The following conditions are unique to brain injuries. If you experience a head injury and have any combination of these symptoms, you should go to the hospital immediately. Severe brain injury symptoms include:
Loss of consciousness
Repeated vomiting
Clear fluid from nose or ears
Slurred speech
Loss of feeling in fingers or toes
Lack of coordination
Unexplained agitation or irritability
Coma
Going to the Doctor
Brain injuries and concussions can be deceptive. What seems like a minor head injury at first may become a traumatic brain injury in the following days. Going to the doctor immediately after the injury gives you the best chance of identifying and treating a brain injury before it causes additional damage.
If you or someone you love suffered catastrophic injuries in a car crash, we are here for you. If you’d like to schedule a free case consultation with an experienced St. Louis auto injury attorney from The Dixon Injury Firm, don’t hesitate to send us an email or call (314) 208-2808.
