Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can not only result in devastating short-term issues, but they can also have a lasting effect on all aspects of your life. In addition to suffering physical symptoms, a serious brain injury can also affect your emotions, cognition, and even your social life.
Once the brain suffers a serious head injury, the brain will immediately start repairing tissue and other internal injuries. Although many people who have suffered moderate or severe TBI ultimately return to close-to-normal functioning due to these restorative processes – in combination with treatment and rehabilitation – there are some parts of the brain that cannot be repaired or progressively decline over time, which leads to long-term or permanent damage.
In Part 1 of a three-part series about TBI, let’s take an in-depth look at the long-term effects of a serious brain injury.
Long-Term Physical Symptoms
The truth is individuals with moderate or severe TBI suffer from lasting physical issues. While many of these physical symptoms are also short term, they may persist for several months or even years after recovery from injury.
The following are some of the ongoing physical symptoms that patients experience:
Headaches and migraines – TBI patients can also suffer from recurring headaches for months following the accident. Even after individuals make a full recovery, they may still experience residual headaches.
Dizziness – Some patients may experience dizziness, lightheadedness, or even vertigo.
Visual difficulties – TBI can result in “convergency insufficiency,” which means the eyes are unable to properly focus during near vision. Additionally, such injury can also lead to other eye-related issues, such as blurred or double vision, that can last for years.
Sensitivity to light/noise – Sensitivity to light is known as photophobia, while sensitivity to noise is called phonophobia.
Fatigue – Lasting physical and mental can develop into emotional symptoms, such as insomnia.
Seizures – A significant number of patients who have suffered from very severe TBI experience late-stage seizure disorders, including post-traumatic epilepsy, which can be a permanent issue for adults and children.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, which will highlight the ongoing cognitive and emotional symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident in Hartford, CT, contact Carlson & Dumeer, LLC at (877) 795-5594 for a free consultation. A legal team with over two decades of combined experience!