Brain Injury OR Concussion

Brain injury

For the scientific journal on brain injuries, see Brain Injury (journal).
Not to be confused with Nerve injury.
A CT of the head years after a traumatic brain injury showing an empty space where the damage occurred marked by the arrow.
A brain injury is any injury occurring in the brain of a living organism. Brain injuries can be classified along several dimensions. Primary and secondary brain injury are ways to classify the injury processes that occur in brain injury, while focal and diffuse brain injury are ways to classify the extent or location of injury in the brain. Specific forms of brain injury include:
Brain damage, the destruction or degeneration of brain cells.
Traumatic brain injury, damage that occurs when an outside force traumatically injures the brain.
Stroke, a vascular event causing damage in the brain.
Acquired brain injury, damage to the brain that occurs after birth, regardless of whether it is traumatic or non traumatic, or whether due to an outside or internal cause.

concussion
A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Concussions can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth.
Doctors may describe these injuries as “mild” because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, their effects can be serious. Understanding the signs and symptoms of a concussion can help you get better more quickly.
Leading causes of concussion (seen in emergency departments):
•falls
•motor vehicle-related injury
•unintentionally being struck by or against an obstacle
•assaults
•playing sports
etc.

read more..

Most people with a concussion recover quickly and fully. But for some people, symptoms can last for days, weeks, or longer.In general, recovery maybe slower among older adults, young children, and teens. Those who have had a concussion in the past are also at risk of having another one and may find that it takes longer to recover if they have another concussion.

DANGER SIGNS ADULTS
In rare cases, a dangerous blood clot may form on the brain in a person with a concussion and crowd the brain against the skull.Contact your doctor or emergency department right away if you have any of the following danger signs after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body:
•Headache that gets worse and does not go away
•Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
•Repeated vomiting or nausea
•Slurred speech The people checking on you should take you to an emergency department right away if you:
•Look very drowsy or cannot be awakened
•Have one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other
•Have convulsions or seizures
•Cannot recognize people or places
•Are getting more and more confused, restless, or agitated•Have unusual behavior
•Lose consciousness (a brief loss of consciousness should betaken seriously and the person should be carefully monitored).

DANGER SIGNS CHILDREN
Take your child to the emergency department right away if they received a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and:
•Have any of the danger signs for adults listed above
•Will not stop crying and cannot be consoled
•Will not nurse or eat
Young children can have the same symptoms of a concussion as older children, but it is harder for them to let others know how they are feeling. In addition to the symptoms mentioned on page 5, call your child’s doctor right away if your child seems to be getting worse or if you notice any of the following:
•Crying more than usual
•Headache that will not go away
•Change in the way they play, perform or act at school
•Change in nursing, eating, or sleeping patterns•Becoming easily upset or increased temper tantrums
•Sad mood
•Lack of interest in usual activities or favorite toys
•Loss of new skills, such as toilet training
•Loss of balance, unsteady walking
•Poor attention

Because concussions are often missed or misdiagnosed among older adults, be especially alert if you know that an older adult has fallen or has a fall-related injury, such as Chip fracture. Older adults may have a higher risk of serious complications from a concussion, such as bleeding on the brain. Headaches that get worse or increased confusion resigns of this complication. If they occur, see a doctor right away. Older adults often take blood thinners; if they do, they should be seen immediately by a health care provider if they have a bump or blow to the head or body even if they do not have any of the symptoms


Some people who have had a concussion find that at first it is hard to do their daily activities, their job, to get along with everyone at home, or to relax. Ignoring your symptoms and trying to “tough it out” often makes symptoms worse.
Although most people recover fully after a concussion, how quickly they improve depends on many factors. These factors include how severe their concussion was, their age, how healthy they were before the concussion, and how they take care of themselves after the injury.
Rest is very important after a concussion because it helps the brain to heal.You’ll need to be patient because healing takes time. Only when the symptoms have reduced significantly, in consultation with your doctor, should you slowly and gradually return to your daily activities, such as work or school. If your symptoms come back or you get new symptoms as you become more active, this is a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard. Stop these activities and take more time to rest and recover. As the days go by, you can expect to gradually feel better.

If you already had a medical condition at the time of your concussion (such as chronic headaches), it may take longer for you to recover from the concussion. Anxiety and depression may also make it harder to adjust to the symptoms of a concussion. While you are healing, you should be very careful to avoid doing anything that could cause a bump,blow, or jolt to the head or body. On rare occasions, receiving another concussion before the brain has healed can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage, and even death,particularly among children and teens.

After you have recovered from your concussion, you should protect yourself from having another one. People who have had repeated concussions may have serious long-term problems, including chronic difficulty with concentration,memory, headache, and occasionally, physical skills, such as keeping one’s balance.
Facts.

TIPS FOR HEALING:
ADULTS
Tips to help you get better:
•Get plenty of sleep at night, and rest during the day.
•Avoid activities that are physically demanding (e.g.,heavy housecleaning, weightlifting/working-out) or require a lot of concentration (e.g., balancing your checkbook). They can make your symptoms worse and slow your recovery.
•Avoid activities, such as contact or recreational sports,that could lead to a second concussion. (It is best to avoid roller coasters or other high speed rides that can make your symptoms worse or even cause a concussion.)
•When your doctor says you are well enough, return to your normal activities gradually, not all at once.
•Because your ability to react may be slower after a concussion, ask your doctor when you can safely drive a car, ride a bike, or operate heavy equipment.
•Talk with your doctor about when you can return to work. Ask about how you can help your employer understand what has happened to you.
•Consider talking with your employer about returning to work gradually and about changing your work activities or schedule until you recover (e.g., work half-days).
•Take only those drugs that your doctor has approved.
•Do not drink alcoholic beverages until your doctor says you are well enough. Alcohol and other drugs may slow your recovery and put you at risk of further injury.
•Write down the things that may be harder than usual for you to remember.
•If you’re easily distracted, try to do one thing at a time.For example, don’t try to watch TV while fixing dinner.
•Consult with family members or close friends when making important decisions.
•Do not neglect your basic needs, such as eating well and getting enough rest.
•Avoid sustained computer use, including computer/video games early in the recovery process.
•Some people report that flying in airplanes makes their symptoms worse shortly after a concussion.

CHILDREN
Parents and caregivers of children who have had a concussion can help them recover by taking an active role in their recovery:
•Having the child get plenty of rest. Keep a regular sleep schedule, including no late nights and no sleepovers.
•Making sure the child avoids high-risk/ high-speed activities such as riding a bicycle, playing sports, or climbing playground equipment, roller coasters or rides that could result in a second bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body. Children should not return to these types of activities until the doctor says they are well enough.
•Giving the child only those drugs that are approved by the pediatrician or family physician.
•Talking with the doctor about when the child should return to school and other activities and how the parent or caregiver can help the child deal with the challenges that the child may face. For example, your child may need to spend fewer hours at school, rest often, or require more time to take tests.
•Sharing information about concussion with parents,siblings, teachers, counselors, babysitters, coaches, and others who interact with the child helps them understand what has happened and how to meet the child’s needs.

HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH CONCUSSION
There are many people who can help you and your family as you recover from a concussion. You do not have to do it alone.
Show this booklet to your doctor or health care provider and talk with them about your concerns. Ask your doctor about whether you need specialized treatment and about the availability of rehabilitation programs.
Your doctor can help you find a health care provider who has special training in treating concussion. Early treatment of symptoms by a specialist may speed recovery. Your doctor may refer you to a neuropsychologist, neurologist, or specialist in rehabilitation.
Keep talking with your doctor, family members, and loved ones about how you are feeling, both physically and emotionally. If you do not think you are getting better, tell your doctor.

HELP FOR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS
When someone close to you has a concussion or a moreserious brain injury, it can be hard to know how best to help.They may say that they are “fine,” but you can tell from howthey are acting that something has changed.
If you notice that your family member or friend hassymptoms of a concussion that are getting worse, talk tothem and their doctor about getting help. They may needhelp if you can answer YES to any of the following questions:
•Are any of the concussion symptoms substantiallyaffecting their life activities (such as feeling restricted intheir activities due to symptoms, performance in schoolor at work has changed, unhappy with life changes)?
•Has their personality changed?
•Do they get angry for no reason?•Do they get lost or easily confused?
•Do they have more trouble than usual making decisions?

You might want to talk with people who share yourexperience. The Brain Injury Association of America can putyou in contact with people who can help