A motor vehicle accident may injure you in ways you do not realize until days or weeks later, lingering in the background of your mind unnoticed. Severe head injuries, including skull fracture, can happen, but others like concussions that don’t seem serious at first can cause long term problems if not addressed right away.
A concussion from a car accident could escape your awareness, which may endanger your health.
Medical Clinics of New York City wants to set you up with an experienced concussion doctor to examine you and treat your auto accident injuries.
A concussion is classified as a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Though a common head injury, it represents one of least serious traumatic brain injuries. Car accidents that whip a person’s head back and forth violently and accidents in which victims suffer blows to the head may cause concussions
During this sudden movement, the brain may twist or bounce in the skull, which can alter brain chemistry and can cause axonal injury, thus affecting brain function.
Specific factors may increase a person’s risk of experiencing a brain injury:
Sports medicine physicians often treat athletes for post-concussion syndrome and other complications. Even though concussions do not always threaten a person’s life, their effects may take a serious toll on a person’s well-being.
When should you consider seeing a concussion specialist? Not only does the brain injury have delayed symptoms affecting normal brain function, but when signs of a suspected concussion appear, some only last for seconds while others endure.
Concussions have several emotional, physical and mental symptoms. Emotional symptoms include:
A concussion could also make a person more susceptible to bouts of anger.
Post-concussion symptoms include:
Concussions may also make a person feel nauseated.
Cognitive symptoms of concussions include:
Concussion patients may confuse their symptoms with other health conditions, and they may not admit or acknowledge the difficulties they experience because of the brain injury.
Family members, friends and even healthcare providers could overlook the patient’s struggles, which is why motor vehicle accident victims must prioritize their health after a collision and visit the emergency room or a concussion doctor.
Seeing a medical professional following symptoms of a concussion is important.
To determine whether a patient has a brain injury, medical care providers find out how and when the trauma occurred and the symptoms the person noticed. A doctor may test the person’s mental focus and memory and perform a neurological examination and a physical exam to test coordination, balance, and reflexes.
After the initial examination, the physician may have enough information to “grade” the concussion. Grade 1 and 2 concussions may require patients to take it easy until their symptoms clear, which could take minutes or a week. Those who lost consciousness during the car accident may have a grade 3 concussion, which requires immediate medical attention.
Doctors may order imaging tests like computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to rule out another brain injury and brain bleeds. Some medical imaging techniques expose patients to unnecessary radiation, which is why a doctor may hesitate to order scans.
Understandably, concussion patients wonder, “how long do concussions last?” The answer depends on the injury’s severity. Those well enough to go home with a mild concussion often must rest and engage in easy activities.
Refraining from using screens could help patients ease their symptoms, and it may help to take an over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen. Concussion patients may need follow-up medical attention if their symptoms worsen within 24 to 72 hours.
Rather than a mild brain injury, a car accident victim may suffer moderate or severe brain trauma. If so, a doctor could recommend rehabilitation or some other focused medical care.
Part of the treatment regime may involve helping the person relearn how to drive, speak and walk. A medical team may screen the person for depression, encourage lifestyle habits that support brain health and educate the patient’s family on limiting and preventing future problems.
Several factors affect a moderate-to-severe TBI patient’s recovery, including brain injury severity and type and the person’s pre-brain injury health. Social and family support and whether the person has access to adequate medical care also determine recovery.
Aside from asking, “how long do concussions last,” those who suffer brain injuries after a motor vehicle accident may also wonder if they should expect complications during their recovery. Some patients experience lingering concussion symptoms, such as trouble concentrating and memory problems, that last for several weeks or months. Medical professionals call this “post-concussive syndrome.”
Symptoms of post-concussive syndrome range from dizziness, headaches and blurry vision to irritability, tinnitus and insomnia. A post-concussive syndrome headache may feel like a migraine or tension headache.
Some in the medical community believe post-concussive syndrome happens when the brain’s messaging system experiences interruptions or when the brain endures structural damage.
Others think mental factors affect the chances of a person experiencing the syndrome. Usually, both factors play a role in whether a person should expect enduring brain injury symptoms.
After beginning the initial concussion treatment and recovery process, concussion patients may undergo physical medicine and rehabilitation to get back to normal activities.
We know you may have other options for receiving treatment for motor vehicle accident injuries, so why choose Medical Clinics of New York City? Our concussion center is dedicated to providing all our patients with quality medical care and superior customer service.
We also offer some of the most favorable neurological condition treatments, and we prioritize staffing our office with the most skillful pain management physicians. All our patients receive effective and safe treatment in a stress-free medical environment.
Do you think a concussion doctor could help you make a full recovery after your auto crash? Let Medical Clinics of New York City put your mind at ease and help you get the treatment and results you deserve. We accept workers’ compensation, no-fault, and most insurance plans.
To schedule your appointment, call us at 1-877-465-7360 or submit an online form.
The doctors of Medical Clinics of New York City are dedicated to quality care, comprehensive services, and caring customer service in a warm, stress-free office setting.
We’re conveniently located in New York City with several offices to serve you.
