What Are The Stages Of Traumatic Head Injuries?

On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Brain Injury on Friday, July 10, 2015.

Traumatic brain injuries can happen after being hurt in a sporting event or being involved in a car accident. Medical errors or surgical mistakes can lead to them too. While patients may survive the injury itself, the effort required to recover is high and can take several months or years. In some cases, a brain injury is so bad that it may never fully heal.

During the first few weeks of the brain injury, the person who was hurt will have changes in the brain. The brain chemistry will affect the way it works during this time. The person could be comatose or sleeping, and the brain will be swollen or bleeding in some cases. When the blood flow to the brain improves and swelling decreases, the person will generally have improved brain functions.

Over time, the person may wake up and more regulated sleep-wake cycles return. Following this initial stage, the person may be confused or disoriented. Frustration is not uncommon, as the brain may not be functioning well. If you’ve been injured, you may find that it’s difficult to concentrate or that your behavior seems uncontrollable; this is a symptom of your injury.

The fastest improvements to those with brain injuries take place in the first six months. During this time, your loved one or you will need help repairing the damage that has been done. Continued improvements can be seen for up to two years after the injury, and some may happen later, though they may not seem as obvious.

The rate of improvement each patient has will vary, making traumatic brain injuries difficult to treat on the whole. That’s why it’s essential why, if the injury was the fault of a person or entity, you take legal action to seek the compensation you need.

Source: MSKTC, “Understanding TBI: Part 3 – The Recovery Process,” accessed July 10, 2015