When It's More Than a Headache - Signs & Symptoms of a TBI

*Symptoms such as a headache, may present very similarly to those of other head injuries or may be mistaken for a mild concussion.*

The majority of us have all had the odd bump on the head at one time or another and suffered with a bit of a headache following the accident, however sometimes the headache could actually be the symptom of a TBI. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain that’s caused by a forceful blow, bump, or jolt to the head or upper body. Unfortunately, a TBI can be one of the most serious and potentially life-threatening injuries possible. It almost always occurs after a head impact but can’t always treated straight away, even after hospitalisation. This is because the symptoms may present very similarly to those of other head injuries or may be mistaken for a mild concussion. Occasionally, the symptoms of a TBI may not even surface until several days or weeks after the impact.

Below, we’ve outlined some of the most frequently reported signs of a TBI and the key to successful medical intervention to make sure whether it’s yourself or a someone you know who gets a bump to the head, you can gets the best help possible to prevent long term damnage.

About traumatic brain injuries

There are two main types of TBI:

Penetrating TBI, where an object enters the brain tissue after piercing the skull. This usually only damages one part of the brain.
Non-penetrating TBI, where the brain moves within the skull due to a very strong external force.

The most severe type of brain injury is called a diffuse axonal injury. This is when the axon, the long connecting nerve fibres in the brain, are torn, which can happen if the brain shifts and rotates inside the skull from impact.

While a TBI can technically be caused by any sort of impact, common causes include large falls, road traffic accidents, injuries in competitive sports, or being struck by a moving object.

*Symptoms such as blurred or double vision within the first 24 hours of an impact, it could point to a TBI:*

Physical symptoms

Headaches, dizziness and confusion are common after a head injury, especially in sports. But if someone experiences the following symptoms within the first 24 hours of an impact, it could point to a TBI:

Sudden, intense headache
Seizures or convulsions
Blurred or double vision
Clear fluids seeping from the nose or ears
Uneven pupil dilation
Vomiting and nausea
Slurred speech, loss of balance, weak limbs, or any other new neurological problems

If any of these symptoms appear, it’s best to treat the situation as a medical emergency and call 999 as soon as you can. The patient needs rapid treatment even if it turns out to be a concussion, which is still a serious injury.

Cognitive changes

Cognitive signs of a TBI can occur gradually over the course of hours, days or weeks after the initial injury. These could manifest in:

Decreased consciousness and difficulty waking up
Disorientation and confusion
Problems remembering things or deciding
Changes in sleep duration or patterns

Memory, concentration, and basic cognitive function can also quickly deteriorate in someone with a TBI.

*Decreased consciousness and difficulty waking up could be a cognitive symptom of a TBI.*

Emotional and behavioural alterations

Often, individuals might experience apparent personality changes after waking up from a comatose state induced by their TBI.

Irritability and frustration
Mood swings
Decreased motivation
Anxiety and depression

These changes can be tricky to cope with, not only for the TBI patients themselves but for their close friends and partners.

*Recovery for a TBI is possible and specialist rehabilitation care givers can help to get patients back into a position of living a happy and fulfilled life.*

When to seek medical help

If you’ve witnessed someone experiencing a severe head injury, it’s advised to call 999 straight away.

Recovery for TBI patients can be long and frustrating. Families of brain injury patients who have suffered life-changing disabilities often report challenges with receiving care and pursue brain injury claims to support long-term recovery and their readjustment into society. However with the right support, recovery is possible and specialist rehabilitation care givers can help to get patients back into a position of living a happy and fulfilled life. The most important thing is recognising signs and symptoms early on so that you can get the best and most efficient care possible as early as possible. We hope this article helps.

Wellbeing