What Is It Like to Live with a TBI?
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are some of the most common injuries to befall victims of car accidents. These occur as a result of the impact between the brain and the skull after the head has either endured an impact or has been jolted very rapidly in one direction or another. These can be manifested in a variety of ways, some being temporary and others permanent. The severity with which the TBI may affect the victim depends on how it was incurred, that individual’s body, and many other subjective elements. No two cases are the same, so it is imperative that you receive medical attention immediately if you suspect you have suffered from a TBI. If the injury has been the result after a car accident, it is imperative to contact a car accident lawyer to help you receive the compensation that you rightfully deserve. The financial and emotional burden of living with a TBI should not be solely on you.
Life With a TBI – The Physical Changes
Although there is a general list of symptoms that can be experienced following a TBI, the effects will differ widely from person to person. About one-third of those who have suffered from such an injury can expect a full recovery within six months – but not all are so lucky. Even with this relatively short recovery period, many victims still suffer from a persisting disfunction. There is currently no official cure to TBIs, so those with the lasting dysfunctions have only the option of getting used to their new physiological and psychological state.
The two primary ways in which a TBI will affect the victim are physically and cognitively. Physical symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Headaches from TBIs are often known as “post-traumatic headaches,” and are reported in more than 30% of those afflicted with this type of injury. These headaches, unfortunately, persist long after the recovery period. (Headaches are most often attributed to residual pain from surgery or small collections of fluid or blood collecting inside the skull.)
There is a wide range of victims who suffer from dizziness and issues balancing following the onset of a TBI, between 30-65%. The severity of dizziness depends on how extensive the TBI was, if it is compounded by other injuries, and if the individual is prescribed medications to manage pain or related medical problems. Those who suffer from a TBI are also likely to lean toward either end of the spectrum regarding sleep – they may sleep very little, or even excessively.
The Psychological and Emotional Effects of Living With a TBI
Of course, not all the effects of a TBI are physical. Life with a TBI can involve turbulent emotions, inflicting the individual with a wide range of depression symptoms. This may cause them to lose interest in their usual hobbies and feel inexplicable sadness or isolation. They might even face extreme learning and memory challenges and may grapple with solving simple tasks they once mastered.
Getting a TBI from a car accident or other incident is a life-changing event, one that has consequences lasting throughout one’s entire lifetime. If you or someone you love is believed to be suffering from a TBI, seek medical attention immediately. The earlier this problem is addressed, the easier the recovery will be.
