Just as the term suggests, “delayed concussion symptoms” are signs of a concussion that appear several days or weeks after the concussion occurs. Usually, the symptoms impact higher brain functions, such as emotions, memory, and cognition.
Unfortunately, if you experience delayed concussion symptoms after a car accident, it can signify a permanent brain injury. It may also indicate additional brain injuries, besides the concussion.
After a car accident, it is smart to consult with Daytona beach personal injury lawyers to know your rights. It’s also important to learn the signs of delayed concussions to know when to seek medical care.
Causes of Concussions
Your brain sits in a protective type of viscous fluid caused by CSF or cerebrospinal fluid. The purpose of the CSF is to surround your brain and cushion it, so it doesn’t hit the inside of your skull. Usually, CSF is enough to prevent a brain injury. The fluid’s viscosity makes the brain move very slowly in your skull when you move your head in normal situations.
However, if your head moves quickly forward and backward, like what happens during a car accident, the pressure of the CSF may damage your brain tissue. The pressure in front of your brain will increase, while pressure behind it falls. This pressure difference can rupture and damage blood vessels and brain cells.
The pressure damage is what causes many of the concussion symptoms you experience. However, the other symptoms are typically caused by brain inflammation.
Your body’s natural response to damaged cells is inflammation. The goal is to rush immune and blood cells to the affected area to help rebuild the damaged cells and fight off an infection. Unfortunately, fluid accumulation in this area results in swelling and increased temperature.
After a concussion occurs, your brain will likely experience mild yet widespread inflammation. The term “mild” means that the inflammation is unlikely to cause you to die. However, the inflammation typically impacts a large part of the brain that is affected by this “pressure wave.”
Because inflammation is so widespread in the brain, symptoms that often have an unpredictable onset, nature, and duration are seen.
Concussion Symptoms
Symptoms of a concussion can be emotional, cognitive, and physical. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Ringing in the ears
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
If you experience a more severe concussion, you will likely lose consciousness. In some cases, the only time you open your eyes or move in this situation is when responding to pain or a stimulus. You may not answer questions or be able to give coherent responses.
For moderate concussions, you don’t typically lose consciousness. You may open your eyes spontaneously and move your eyes when told to do so. You will also be able to give mildly confused or coherent answers to any questions being asked.
With a mild concussion, loss of consciousness is usually not an issue. Instead, you are able to open your eyes, move around, and answer the questions being asked.
Symptoms of a Delayed Concussion
Concussion symptoms won’t always show up right away. Once a concussion occurs, the emotional stress and physical pain caused by the injury may result in you overlooking some common symptoms. You may try to rest and take it easy after a concussion and only start to notice symptoms when you get back to your normal schedule.
One of the most common reasons that delayed concussion symptoms occur is because the inflammation doesn’t develop immediately. Just like a sprained ankle may keep swelling after you are involved in a slip and fall accident, your brain may start to swell after you experience a concussion.
The swelling may result in pressure on your brain. As the pressure builds, it will start to impact the nerve signals that are traveling through your brain. It may also begin to squeeze the blood vessels, which will deprive certain parts of your brain of much-needed oxygen.
Some of the most common delayed concussion symptoms include:
- Sleep disorders
- Seizures
- Amnesia
- Issues with concentration
- Emotional outbursts
- Slurred speech
- Aggravation
Hire a Florida Personal Injury Attorney for Help
If you are involved in a car accident, it is smart to seek medical evaluation right away. This is true even if you don’t believe you are injured. A doctor can determine any problems and help ensure you receive the best treatment. Also, contact Florida injury lawyers to ensure that you can recover compensation, if you deserve it, for your accident and injuries.
