- Head Injury
When people are injured in motor vehicle accidents, they often suffer some type of injury. Most people are lucky and walk away with a few bumps and bruises. The biggest bruise is usually to their ego. Unfortunately, some people are not so lucky. One of the most dangerous injuries an accident victim can suffer is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The name itself spells out how dangerous it can be. Auto accident doctors in Atlanta treat patients with these injuries more often than they’d like.
A traumatic brain injury is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an injury to the brain that is caused by some sort of trauma. Often, this type of injury is caused by a motor vehicle accident. For example, people who get into a motorcycle crash often risk serious brain injuries. The same is true for people who are hit by a tractor-trailer.
The problem is that many accident victims don’t realize they have a traumatic brain injury until it’s too late. If left untreated, this type of injury can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. Rather than risk your life, it’s important that you seek auto accident injury treatment near you.
Here, we’ll briefly explain what a traumatic brain injury is. We’ll also discuss what kind of treatment is available for this type of injury. If you still have questions after reading this article, you should reach out to one of our auto accident doctors in Atlanta.
What Exactly is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
As stated above, a traumatic brain injury is exactly what you would think it is. It is an injury to the brain that is caused by some sort of trauma. For example, if you get hit in the head with a rock, it could cause a TBI. You can also experience a TBI as a result of a serious car crash. Anytime you suffer a severe blow to the head, it’s a possibility. The goal is to ensure that your TBI is diagnosed and treated immediately. This way, you can avoid further injury and hopefully prevent any further damage to your brain.
Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
One of the reasons a traumatic brain injury is so dangerous is that it’s not always noticeable. You could have a brain injury for days before you realize something is wrong. This is why our auto accident doctors in Atlanta recommend that accident victims go to the emergency room immediately after their crash. This is the only way to make sure you aren’t walking around with a potentially fatal injury.
If you start to feel like something is off, it’s a good idea to go online and search for, “auto accident injury treatment near me.” Once you’ve located our office, schedule an appointment to come in immediately. Let one of our doctors examine you. They’ll look for the signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. These include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vertigo
- Problems with short-term memory
- Loss of coordination
- Inability to sleep
- Fatigue
- Ringing in the ears
If you feel any or all of these symptoms, you could be suffering from a TBI. Your doctor will run the necessary tests to see if you have any neurological damage. For example, they’ll want to do a CT scan right away. This can help rule out a TBI. It can also confirm your practitioner’s suspicions.
How Do Auto Accident Doctors in Atlanta Treat a TBI?
A traumatic brain injury is like whiplash in a way. Sometimes, there’s nothing your doctor can do to treat it. All they can do is recommend over-the-counter pain relievers. They’ll also recommend that you take some time off from work and rest. Until your symptoms resolve themselves, you shouldn’t drive or operate any kind of machinery. You also don’t want to do a lot of reading. You should cut your screen time down as well. These things can exacerbate the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.
If your TBI is more severe, the doctor will have no choice but to recommend surgery. Once you recover from the surgery, you’ll probably have to attend physical therapy for quite a while. You may even need to spend a few weeks in a rehabilitation center. In addition to these methods of treatment, your practitioner will prescribe you various medications to help relieve some of your pain.
The most important thing is to be seen by a doctor right away. You need to get diagnosed as soon as possible so your doctor can decide on the best treatment plan.
Can a TBI Have a Long-Term Impact on Your Life?
Unlike other, less serious injuries, a traumatic brain injury can cause long-term medical issues. It can also change the way you live your life. One major way it can impact your life has to do with your career. Depending on what kind of work you do, there is a chance you won’t be able to do it after your accident.
For example, if you’re a truck driver or construction worker, there’s a good chance your doctor will tell you not to return to work. These jobs would put you at too great a risk of reinjuring yourself. These jobs also require you to concentrate in what is often a very dangerous environment. If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may not be able to concentrate the way you used to.
Another way a TBI can impact your life in the long term has to do with sports and other recreational activities. You won’t be able to engage in any sort of contact sport that could involve you sustaining a blow to the head. Once you are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, you have to avoid situations where you could receive any sort of impact on your head.
Find a Trusted Auto Accident Doctor in Atlanta
After your motor vehicle accident, you need to go to the emergency room. The E.R. doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms in detail. If they suspect you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, they’ll do a CT scan and a neurological assessment. If they believe you’ve suffered a brain injury, they’ll plot out a course of treatment. Once you return home, you’ll need to search for an “auto accident injury treatment center near me.”
Call our office and make an appointment to see one of our practitioners. They can request a copy of your medical records from the hospital and your primary physician if necessary. They’ll also recommend a treatment plan that will reduce your pain and reduce the chances of reinjuring yourself in the future.