The Surprising Impact of a Mild TBI Prognosis and Recovery

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a head injury caused by blunt trauma or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the brain’s normal functioning. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there were about 2.8 million TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. in 2013 (the most recent year where all data was available). Falls are the leading cause of TBI, being struck by or against and object is the second leading cause, and motor vehicle crashes are the third leading cause of TBI in the United States.

Traumatic brain injury is classified by the level of severity of the injury. If you hit your head after slipping on a on wet a tile floor, your head injury would be different from one that you would get if you received a blow to the head from falling boards on a construction site, or if you were injured in a car crash.

The measure of the severity of a brain injury is classified using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which is “a 3 to 15 point scale used to assess a patient’s level of consciousness and neurologic functioning…  duration of loss of consciousness,” and the patient’s level of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA), as explained by Medscape. If the loss of consciousness was 30 minutes or less, and the brain imaging scans come back normal, the injury is classified as mild.

However, don’t let the description “mild” fool you into thinking that the injury is of minimal consequence. Even a “mild” traumatic brain injury can have serious consequences.

What are the symptoms of mild TBI?

Mild TBI (mTBI), also called concussion, can have varied symptoms. One of the challenges with diagnosing TBI is that many symptoms that might show up later do not appear right away. Some of the early symptoms include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Symptoms that might show up later after the injury include:

• Fatigue
• Visual disturbances
• Inability to concentrate
• Depression
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Confusion mood swings

A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience concluded that a year after mTBI, working memory and information processing speed was significantly impaired in mTBI study participants who have persistent post-concussive symptoms (PCS). While most mild traumatic brain injuries will eventually heal and resolve over time, this study reveals that even a year later, study participants were still dealing with cognitive failures depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality and sleepiness.

An injury to the brain has repercussions in the form of disruptions to the normal functioning of the body. As the Brain Injury Association reminds us:

• Recovery is not quick and is often uneven.
• Create the best environment for recovery by avoiding alcohol.
• Give yourself more time to complete tasks.
• Get professional help if you need it.
• Find a brain injury support group

At Plattner Verderame, P.C., we have helped many clients who are facing the challenges that come from living with a traumatic brain injury as the result of an accident caused by negligence. We encourage you to call us 602-266-2002, or complete our contact form today to discover how our compassionate Phoenix traumatic brain injury attorneys can help you and your family recover the compensation you need to get on with your life.