If you are involved in an accident of some kind and have a brain injury as a result, you may be concerned about how the injury could impact you in the future. A brain injury does have the potential to cause lifelong issue, but many are not that severe. Early diagnosis and treatment both reduce the likelihood of long-term consequences, but in acute cases, symptoms may persist.
When you suffer a brain injury, it will be categorized as mild, moderate or acute. During the first few days following the injury, you may receive intensive treatment to minimize swelling on the brain and to prevent complications from worsening in the injury. Treatments for moderate or acute brain injuries could include:
- Brain surgery
- Medications to minimize swelling or bleeding
- Life support to help a person’s body rest while the brain begins to heal
In some cases, injuries are so severe at this point that the person may not recover.
For those who get through the initial few days, the second critical period for the brain injury happens over the course of the next two weeks or so. During that time, anyone with a brain injury should be monitored closely for signs of complications, like swelling on the brain, brain bleeds and other issues.
How soon will you know the severity of your injury?
It’s important to note that most brain injuries start off looking severe and then may improve as the symptoms are controlled and the brain begins to heal. However, complications may make the injury worse in the coming days, so there is no way to predict the outcome of a brain injury in the initial days following the injury.
Instead, most medical providers will take a wait-and-see approach in terms of discussing the possible long-term complications and symptoms a patient will have. Most patients can expect to see improvements as swelling decreases and complications are controlled.
A brain injury has the potential to be life-changing. Depending on how well a patient recovers, they may have lasting and permanent complications from the injury. After a serious collision in which you’ve suffered a brain injury, you have a right to look into seeking compensation. This can help you support yourself and get the medical care needed to help you recover.
