Any knock to the head can alter your health and life in various ways. Even a relatively mild traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, can change how you act, feel, think and function in the short term.
If you find yourself facing a brain injury after an accident, it may help to understand how your daily life may change in the immediate and long-term aftermath.
What are the immediate signs of a brain injury?
Since the brain is a powerful yet sensitive organ, every injury is potentially life-changing. Many of these depend on what part of the brain faced the injury. For instance, light sensitivity may originate from a blow to the back of the head that impacts sensory perception. In the moments after the incident, you may feel nauseous or unsteady, as if the ground is uneven or moving.
Common symptoms you may experience immediately after a head injury include:
- Strengthening headaches
- Temporary memory loss
- Ringing in the ears
- Unsteady gait
If any of these symptoms onset after an accident, seek medical attention.
What are the long-term changes?
The severity and location of the traumatic brain injury dictate the long-term impacts it will have on your daily life. If you experienced a moderate to severe injury, you may no longer have the ability to continue working in your past profession, due to functioning issues or physical limitations caused by motor skill deficiencies. You may have lost the ability to form words, or perhaps you have undergone a personality change. The development of a mental health disorder is also a reality if you have a brain injury.
The prospect of a complete recovery from a moderate to severe brain injury is not always feasible. You may require continued medical and psychological care for many years to come.
