People expect that severe injuries will be obvious after a car crash. Some of them certainly are. You will notice a compound fracture or a complete spinal cord injury immediately because of the visual signs of the injury or the immediate impact it has on your motor function.
Not all crash-related injuries produce noteworthy symptoms at the scene of the crash, though. In fact, there are significant injuries that might go unnoticed for several days after a collision. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may not have any obvious symptoms immediately, meaning that they will get far worse and create more significant symptoms before an individual knows to seek medical attention.
A crash that left you very shook up could also be a crash that caused an injury to your brain. Monitoring yourself for the symptoms below could help you obtain a timely diagnosis for a TBI after a crash.
Persistent or worsening headaches or nausea
There are numerous potential symptoms associated with TBIs, but headaches are among the most common. As the pressure on the brain increases, an individual’s sense of discomfort may increase as well.
Others may notice feelings of intense nausea or maybe even experience vomiting. Persistent headaches or an ongoing sense of nausea after an accident could be a warning sign of bleeding or swelling inside your skull.
Sensory disturbances
Your brain controls your perception of the world around you. When an injury affects how your brain functions, you may notice issues with your senses.
Ringing in your ears, blurry vision or even smelling and tasting things with no clear explanation why are all examples of possible sensory symptoms that you can develop after a brain injury.
Changes to your mood, personality or behavior
It is perfectly normal for someone to have an off-day right after a car crash. It is less common for that bad feeling to spread out over the next few days.
If you notice that your mood seems to have shifted from your daily status quo, that could be a sign of an injury to your brain. If other people comment to you that you seem different than usual or if you find yourself doing things that you would ordinarily never think of, those changes could all be warning signs of a possible brain injury.
Treatment for a brain injury could reduce or eliminate your current symptoms and prevent the issue from worsening. Monitoring yourself for signs of a serious brain injury after a car crash can help you protect your health in the long run.