A head injury is any type of alteration in physical or mental functioning related to a blow to the head. According to data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), over 50,000 people die from severe head injuries every year in the U.S, and more than twice this number experience permanent disability.
An injury to the head can be life-altering, especially if it’s a severe traumatic brain injury. If you experience a head injury, it is imperative to find the right head injury treatment in Atlanta. Consider contacting the Hurt 911 Injury Centers for the best solution.
Our team of seasoned doctors and physiotherapists knows the methods and treatment that work for different types of head injuries and will tailor a treatment, specifically meant for you or your loved one.
Call us today at 855-475-2588 for prompt head injury treatment in Atlanta.
What Are Some of the Different Types of Head Injuries?
Our doctors in Atlanta treats several different types of head injuries and causes of head pain.
Headaches
A headache is one of the primary symptoms of a head injury. According to the CDC, 30% of individuals report experiencing headaches, which continue long after the injury. There are many types of headaches, but the common ones include:
- Migraines: These types of headaches occur after a region of the brain becomes hypersensitive. Migraines tend to trigger pain signals that spread out to other sections of the brain like waves.
- Tension Headaches: These types of headaches are related to stress, muscle spasms, or muscle tension.
- Cervicogenic Headaches: These happen when there’s been some form of injury to the soft tissues or muscles in the back of the head and neck. The numerous nerves found in the bones and tissues of the neck have branches that make it all the way to the scalp and skull, and so, injury can lead to head pain.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A sudden blow to the head or similar physical traumas can lead to an injury to the brain, also referred to as traumatic brain injuries. These types of injuries happen more frequently than most people assume and can have both temporary and permanent effects on the brain’s functionality.
Skull Fractures
A skull fracture can be defined as a break in the skull or the cranial bone. These fractures happen when a force that is strong enough to hit the bone hits your skull. Any form of impact to the head can result in a cranial fracture.
This includes head injury during an auto accident, hitting the ground with a substantial force, being hit with an object, or any other form of trauma. Signs or symptoms of a skull fracture include bleeding from the ears or nostrils, facial bruising, and tenderness or swelling around the impact region.
What Is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Also referred to as TBI, a traumatic brain injury is a form of head injury that results from a piercing or hard-impact injury that affects the normal functioning of the brain. A traumatic brain injury can happen if an object hits your head violently, or when something breaks the skull and penetrates the brain tissue.
Brain tissue damage can lead to changes in mental state, consciousness, and even personality. TBIs can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of brain tissue damage. A mild form of TBI can lead to small changes in brain functions and short-term unconsciousness. A severe TBI can result in long-term unconsciousness or a coma.
What Are Some of the Common Causes of TBI?
The primary cause of TBI is damage to the brain tissues. These tissues can sustain damage due to a sudden blow to the head, bump to the head, jolt, and other forms of head injuries. According to stats, most traumatic brain injuries are caused by car accidents, workplace injuries, and slip and falls.
What Are the Symptoms of TBI?
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may not be immediately apparent following an impact on the head, and may start to appear several days or a week after the accident.
Some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury include:
- Lack of cognitive function or confusion
- Headaches
- Semi-comatose or state of coma
- Lack of coordination and issues with balance
- Spinal fluid excretion from the nose or ears
- Changes in hearing ability
- Slower rate of breathing accompanied with increased blood pressure
- Difficulty in speaking
- Difficulty in moving body parts
- Vision issues
- Loss of bladder control.
What Are Some Facts About Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Here are several important facts about traumatic brain injuries you may not know.
Fact #1
Traumatic brain injuries are usually referred to as Silent Epidemic. About 1.7 million people in the U.S suffer from TBIs every year and about 75% of them experience concussions or mild brain injuries.
Fact #2
About 90% of traumatic brain injuries lead to some type of visual problem. According to the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), around 90% of TBI victims experience some form of visual impairment due to a concussion.
Some of these problems include:
- Light sensitivity or photophobia
- Headaches as a result of eye strain
- Blurred vision
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Difficulty reading
Fact #3
A concussion doesn’t automatically result in unconsciousness. A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury, but only about 10 percent of concussion cases lead to unconsciousness.
Fact #4
Both early and late effects of TBI are usually disabling. Traumatic brain injury is one of the most common causes of death in accident survivors and young adults. Unfortunately, these incidences are going up at an alarming rate in both low and middle-income nations.
What Is the Diagnosis Process for a Traumatic Head Injury?
A head injury treatment depends both on the type as well as your condition. To evaluate the severity of the injury, a doctor will conduct both physical and neurological exams, including imaging tests.
First, the physician will check for signs of trauma, including swelling and bruising.
You are also likely to get a neurological exam where they will check the nerve function by assessing muscle strength and control, sensation, eye movement, etc.
Next, they will run one or more imaging tests, which include:
X-ray
An x-ray is a form of imaging that involves exposing the injured section of the body to a small dose of radiation (x-rays) to produce images of the bones. Doctors use X-rays of the head to detect and evaluate cranium fractures. However, this kind of imaging is rarely done today, as it isn’t able to assess the brain tissues.
Also, CT scans tend to show fractures of the skull more clearly compared to an x-ray.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI is the use of radiofrequency pulses, a strong magnetic field, and a computer to take detailed photos of bones, soft tissues, organs, and other internal body structures. Doctors utilize MRI, including special magnetic resonance scanning techniques known as MR spectroscopy, diffusion-weighted imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging, to help assess brain injuries that are not that apparent using a conventional MRI scan.
CT Scan
Computed tomography or CT is a form of scanning that combines specialized X-ray equipment with computers to create pictures or images of the head and brain. Doctors utilize CT scans to detect brain injury, cranial fractures, swelling as well as bleeding.
It’s clearly understood by doctors that it’s more important to determine whether there’s an underlying injury to the brain in order to determine the best treatment. As such, MRI and CT scans are used more often than X-rays.
What Are Some of the Different Forms of Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries?
As earlier mentioned, the treatment of a head injury depends on the type and extremity of the injury. Usually, there are no symptoms with minor head injuries other than the pain in the affected region. In such a situation, you may be asked to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) to address the pain.
Even if the head injury appears minor, it is advisable to keep an eye on your condition to ensure it does not get worse. It’s not true that you should not sleep after sustaining a head injury, but you should wake up after every 2 hours to check for any new symptoms.
If you develop any new or worsening symptoms, you should go back to your physician.
If the injury is severe, you may have to be hospitalized. The treatment you get will depend on the head injury diagnosis, but the most common ones are:
Medication
You are at risk for seizures following a severe head injury, and so, you may have to take anti-seizure medication. If the injury causes pressure buildup in the brain, you may have to take diuretics. This kind of medication results in more fluid excretion, which can help alleviate some of the pressure.
If the injury is extremely severe, you may be given medication to put you in a state of induced coma. This may be an ideal treatment if the blood vessels have sustained damage. When in a state of coma, the brain does not need as many nutrients and oxygen as it normally requires.
Surgery
It may also be necessary to undergo emergency surgery to prevent further brain damage. The doctor may need to conduct surgery in order to repair the skull, remove a hematoma or release some of the pressure in the cranium.
Rehabilitation
Following a severe injury to the head, you will most likely require rehabilitation. The form of rehabilitation you receive will depend on the type of functionality you have lost due to the injury. People who have sustained severe head injuries will usually require help regaining speech and mobility.
That is why it is so very important that you find the best doctors and specialists to provide you with the correct type of head injury treatment in Atlanta.
If You Head Injury Treatment in Atlanta Call Our Offices Today!
Head injuries, be they minor or severe can be life-changing with long-lasting effects. If you have sustained a head injury, do not wait around. Contact Hurt 911 Injury Centers by calling 855-475-2588 to schedule an appointment today.
Our team of seasoned doctors and physiotherapists knows the methods and treatments that work for different types of head injuries and will tailor the right treatment.
