Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers | November 26, 2024 | Personal Injury

Delayed Concussion Symptoms

Broken bones, burns, and lacerations have symptoms that are hard to ignore. One glance at the affected body part is often all it takes to know your injury is severe and you need medical care. On the other hand, the symptoms you experience immediately after a blow to the head can be misleading. However, having mild or no symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the clear.

In the hours and days after you suffer a head injury, you must monitor yourself for delayed signs of a concussion. Knowing these common symptoms can help you seek the care you need before your condition worsens. With any type of head injury, early evaluation and treatment are essential to minimizing the risk of long-term complications.

What Is A Concussion?

The term “concussion” describes trauma to the brain due to a blow to the head or a violent, whiplike motion of the neck. Millions of people suffer concussions every year in various ways, including:

These and similar events can cause the head to move back and forth rapidly, which in turn causes the brain to jostle inside the skull. As it does, it can sustain trauma that manifests as various symptoms.

Although most concussions are minor and result in mild, temporary symptoms, more moderate or severe harm is possible in catastrophic accidents. Moreover, mild concussions can progress and become worse if symptoms are ignored and left untreated.

10 Delayed Concussion Symptoms To Watch For

It’s not unusual for concussion symptoms to appear hours, days, or sometimes even longer after an accident. It is also not uncommon for these symptoms to show up and then disappear, only to reappear hours or days later.

It’s important to seek medical treatment for a potential concussion if you experience any of the following symptoms after hitting your head:

1. Headache

Many people who hit their heads will experience a headache after the impact. This alone isn’t cause for alarm. However, if your headache becomes worse over time or goes away but later returns, it could be a sign of brain trauma.

2. Nausea And Vomiting

A concussion resulting from an automobile accident or other injurious event can leave you feeling light-headed or sick to your stomach. Any time you experience nausea or delayed vomiting after concussions, you should seek immediate medical intervention.

3. Dizziness

A little dizziness is to be expected if you hit your head. However, dizziness that persists for hours or days or develops suddenly after an accident should be a cause for concern. Don’t allow persistent disorientation to go unaddressed.

4. Changes In Sleep Patterns

Pay attention to your sleep patterns following your head injury, and see a doctor immediately if you’re sleeping more or less than usual. When this symptom arises in combination with other signs of a delayed concussion, it’s a good indicator that your brain has suffered more trauma than you may have realized.

5. Loss Of Consciousness

Losing consciousness for any length of time after a head injury is a major warning sign. Don’t ignore this symptom because you only have passed out momentarily–get to a hospital for testing. Tell the staff when your head injury occurred and when you began losing consciousness.

6. Seizures

Seizures occur due to abnormal brain activity. Common symptoms associated with seizures include loss of consciousness, uncontrollable movements, and hallucinations. A seizure always indicates that the brain isn’t functioning as intended and should be evaluated right away.

7. Vision Changes

Momentarily experiencing double vision or blurry vision following a car accident or other mishap is normal and generally isn’t anything to be worried about, provided the symptoms are temporary. However, if your vision changes fail to improve or worsen in the hours and days afterward, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.

8. Speech Changes

If you or your loved ones notice changes in your speech patterns after you hit your head, it could be a sign of a delayed concussion. Such changes could include slurred words, difficulty speaking, or an inability to form coherent sentences.

Speech issues can point to several serious conditions. Your doctor will need to conduct additional tests to see what’s causing them.

9. Emotional And Behavioral Changes

It’s perfectly normal to feel sad or anxious after an accident, especially one that ends in injury. However, you should take note if you’re becoming more irritable, withdrawn, or depressed in the days and weeks following the incident. These shifts may suggest that something has changed the way your brain operates, and they deserve to be investigated.

10. Memory Issues

People who suffer mild concussions may be unable to remember the details of their accidents. Beyond this, having trouble remembering things that happened after the accident is a possible symptom of a delayed concussion. Some have described this sensation as “brain fog,” and the sudden onset of such haziness should be reported to your doctor.

How Long Should You Monitor For Delayed Concussion Symptoms?

Can concussion symptoms be delayed? Can concussion symptoms come and go? The answer to both of these common questions is a resounding “yes.” Even so, there’s no need to monitor yourself for delayed symptoms indefinitely after suffering a head injury. Most of the symptoms described above will appear within a few hours or days after your accident.

Of course, if you’re ever concerned about a new or unusual symptom, the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with your doctor. After testing, your doctor can advise you on what might be causing your symptoms and provide treatment options.

All Head Injuries Should Be Taken Seriously

The human brain is remarkably resilient, but it is not indestructible. When trauma is sustained in an accident, it will let you know by manifesting one or more symptoms. It’s critical to your health and well-being that you don’t ignore these symptoms. Instead, seek medical attention as soon as possible. By doing so, you can reduce the likelihood of your head injury causing permanent, irreversible damage.

If you need help after sustaining a head injury, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to schedule a free consultation.

Contact a Sandusky Personal Injury Lawyer at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, contact the Sandusky personal injury law firm of Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.

We have five convenient locations in Ohio: Sandusky, Mansfield, Port Clinton, Vermilion, and Norwalk.

Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers – Sandusky
502 W Washington St,
Sandusky, OH 44870

Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk and Wright Co. LPA – Mansfield
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Mansfield, OH 44902

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132 Madison St,
Port Clinton, OH 43452

Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers – Vermilion
1513 State Rd,
Vermilion, OH 44089

Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers – Norwalk
13 Whittlesey Ave,
Norwalk, OH 44857