With the great sport of football (real American football) upon us, I am reminded of the controversy surrounding helmet to helmet contact. Concussions, otherwise known as Traumatic Brain Injuries, can range from mild with symptoms of little duration, to severe with permanent effects.
The 2015 blockbuster starring the Fresh Prince of Bellaire (aka Will Smith) was largely based on concussions and the permanent damage suffered by our gridiron warriors. However, as technology develops, as people grow bigger, and as society moves at a faster pace, concussions can happen in a large variety of situations.
Repeated concussions are going to cause long-lasting effects, but what many people don’t realize is that any significant blow to the body that shakes the head is capable of causing a concussion.
The brain floats within the skull, it is not attached to one particular side. In a motor vehicle collision when the body absorbs the impact, the head follows suit. Often causing the common whiplash injury. What can be really dangerous is the whipping motion of the neck. When the body moves forward and the head remains behind, the neck will extend until it realizes it has to catch up. As the head jolts forward, the brain sloshes to the back of the cranium. As the head comes to a forward stop, the brain is then rocketed forward where it impacts the front of the cranium.
The brain is a very sensitive organ and this impact will cause bruising and other damage. Like a stone thrown into a pond, the residual waves will cause the brain to continue to thrash about until it comes to a rest. The severity of the damage done will largely be based on the severity of the impact as felt by the brain.
If you’ve been in a car wreck or had any sort of jarring impact – whether it was from a fall, or while playing a game, here are some things to look out for.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Pressure in the head
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Delayed response
- Feeling Dazed
- Feeling Tired
- Concentration or memory problems
- Irritability
- Light and noise sensitivity
- Sleep problems
- Depression
If you think you have suffered a concussion, go and get checked out by your family doctor. If you’ve suffered a concussion because of someone else, give us a call at THE PINKERTON LAW FIRM, 713-360-6722, and let us help you recover.
