Many auto collisions result in serious injuries. Among those injuries, it’s common to see head trauma and traumatic brain injuries.
It’s particularly common to see concussions following crashes. Whiplash, which is a condition caused by whipping the head forward and back or side to side quickly, may lead to an impact, or several impacts, to the brain. This could cause a concussion, which is a milder form of a traumatic brain injury.
Handling a concussion after a crash
Even though a concussion is a fairly common issue after hitting your head or suffering whiplash in a crash, that doesn’t mean that it’s something to ignore. While many people think of concussions as minor or mild injuries, they can be serious. Symptoms such as blurry vision or confusion could influence you for a few days or many weeks or months.
Damage from hematomas and contusions
Concussions are not the only kinds of head trauma that people suffer, though. Hematomas and contusions are also possible. Hematomas happen when a blood vessel ruptures because of an impact. A hematoma may go away over time on its own, but large hematomas may need to be removed surgically.
Contusions, which are bruises along the brain tissues, may cause pressure and swelling that lead to a series of complications. Any time the brain swells, it is possible that surgery may be necessary to release pressure.
Dealing with the symptoms of a traumatic injury
Regardless of the kind of injury you have suffered, your brain needs time to heal. During recovery, you may have many symptoms and side effects from your injury.
You may struggle with memory, have problems communicating, lose focus or have changes in vision. Chronic headaches and pain are not uncommon, nor are changes in emotional control.
It is important for anyone who has suffered a blow to the head or whiplash in a car crash to have themselves examined. That way, treatments may be used to minimize swelling and to correct problems like bleeding on the brain. Early treatment may help you get on the path to recovery sooner by minimizing the complications you have to deal with.