Long-Term Complications of TBI ─ Signs, Effects, And More!

The brain is an essential part of the human body. Any impact on the brain is directly linked to the body’s overall well-being. A traumatic brain injury can influence the entire body for many years. If you are a victim of an accident which resulted in traumatic brain injury, make sure to speak with a lawyer who can guide you about your legal options.

What are the signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

The signs of traumatic brain injury can range from severe to mild depending upon the level of damage suffered. Traumatic brain injuries lead to physical as well as sensory problems. It also has a cognitive impact that affects the speech and personality of an individual. The affected person may have confusion and problems waking up from sleep. In some cases, they may also experience coma.

The physical effects of traumatic brain injuries involve persistent headaches, feelings of nausea, dizziness, fatigue, seizures, and numb limbs or fingers. The sensory signs of traumatic injuries involve dilated pupils, which heightens the sensitivity towards light and noise, blurring vision, unconsciousness, coordination problems, etc.

These are the most obvious symptoms of traumatic brain injury. If you or your loved ones observe the symptoms, they must receive urgent medical help from certified professionals. Even if you get your traumatic brain injury treated, certain complications follow the affected victims throughout their life and make their lifestyles more challenging.

What can cause a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Any heavy blow or injury to the head can lead to a traumatic brain injury. Some of the most common causes of these injuries are:

• Vehicle-related collisions
• Falls
• Violence
• Sports injuries
• Explosive blasts
• Combat injuries

What are the long-term effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

The consequential damage caused by traumatic brain injury has a chronic or long-term effect on the overall well-being of the victims. Many of them tend to get permanently disabled, significantly affecting their lifestyle and ability to enjoy life and earn a living. Some of the long-term impacts of a traumatic brain injury are as follows.

Immobility

The victims of traumatic brain injury move their difficulties moving freely. They may find tasks like walking or driving significantly challenging after the accident. Sometimes, the accident may lead to permanent loss of mobility among the affected individuals. They also face issues like epilepsy which increases the difficulties in daily life tasks.

Potential unemployment

Traumatic brain injury has a direct impact on the employment as well as income generation of the affected individuals. The injured person may lose a lot of wages during their recovery period. The long-term complications of traumatic brain injury may include difficulty continuing work and permanent loss of employability. This leads to financial issues among people, and they may have to reconsider their entire life.

Persistent headaches

Consistent headaches are some of a traumatic brain injury’s most common long-term effects. People with a traumatic brain injury usually experience four types of headaches: tension headaches, cervical headaches, migraines, and neuralgia pain. Headaches are painful and uncomfortable, and if they persist for a long time, they can also interfere with your day-to-day tasks.

Light sensitivity

Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is a common long-term effect of traumatic brain injuries. After a traumatic brain injury, your brain may not be able to adapt to new brightness levels, which causes photophobia. Photophobia or light sensitivity usually goes away with time, but it can affect you for about six months to a year after your injury.

Dizziness

Another extremely common symptom of a traumatic brain injury is dizziness. People suffering from a traumatic brain injury can suffer from various types of dizziness. Some dizziness can result in imbalance, while some can make you feel like the entire room is spinning.

Fatigue and sleep disorders

Insomnia or post-traumatic hypersomnia are some sleep disorders that people with a traumatic brain injury may face. Insomnia refers to the inability to sleep, while hypersomnia means excessive sleep. Many people with traumatic brain injuries also report fatigue as a long-term effect.

Mood swings

Your brain controls everything in your body, and when the area of your brain that regulates emotions is damaged, you may face mood swings. Moreover, your impulse control, reasoning, and problem-solving skills can also be impaired if the brain’s frontal lobe is damaged. The good news is that you may be able to regain control of your emotions as your brain heals, but this will require time and patience.

Cognitive impairments

Damage or injuries to the frontal lobe or the brain’s prefrontal cortex can lead to cognitive impairments. This can include difficulties with attention, learning, short-term memory, and other executive functions such as decision-making. Fortunately, these cognitive skills can also be restored with time and with the help of cognitive rehabilitation exercises.

Depression and anxiety

According to some studies, one in every five Traumatic Brain Injury survivors has developed mental health problems such as depression within six months of their injury. Feelings of depression and anxiety are common effects of a traumatic brain injury. Still, they may be hard to diagnose since many symptoms of depression overlap with those of traumatic brain injuries.

How can you heal from a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Aside from getting medical treatments, there are certain things you should do to heal faster from your traumatic brain injury. Some things that you should do are:

• Give your brain some rest. Avoid any activities that may be mentally taxing.
• Do light exercises regularly.
• Consume healthy brain foods that have antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Drink a sufficient amount of water.

Have you sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is an extremely serious issue that can impact you for the rest of your life. If you or a loved one has suffered from this injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve to receive compensation for your damages. Speak to an experienced Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney today and figure out how to file a claim and cover your losses.