Some injuries after a car accident are immediately apparent. However, there are injuries that aren’t quite so obvious, and even though they may be silent, they can still be as dangerous as other auto accident injuries — and in some cases, they may be even worse.
While there is no one-size-fits-all diagnostic tool that will tell you at home that you definitely have a brain injury, there are several symptoms to look for in the aftermath of an auto accident. While this list may seem long, keep in mind that even one of these symptoms warrants an immediate medical evaluation. Even something as seemingly as simple as a headache can be a sign that you have a brain injury that needs prompt treatment.
Hidden Brain Injury Symptoms
If you’ve been in a car accident, here are some hidden symptoms that may indicate you have a brain injury. While some symptoms, such as blurry vision, nausea, loss of balance or dizziness are more overt symptoms that are easy to recognize, there are plenty of symptoms that can fly under the radar.
- Headaches
- Moodiness
- Emotional spontaneity
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Slowed reaction time
- Decreased ability to focus
- Mental fogginess
- Sudden anxiety
- Overwhelming flood of thoughts or emotions
- Changes in relationships
- General forgetfulness
Brain injuries can result from many different mechanisms during a car accident. While direct blows to the head can cause brain injury symptoms, don’t forget whiplash, violent stopping, jerking, strong head rotation or even penetration of a foreign object. While skull penetration will decidedly result in immediate medical attention, those other gravitational forces can cause less obvious brain injury symptoms that still need careful evaluation and treatment.
If you have one or more of these types of hidden symptoms, you’ll need to seek immediate medical care. The earlier you visit a doctor, the better your chances will be for a complete recovery.
Treatment for Brain Injuries
The treatment process for brain injuries is as unique as each individual. At Florida Physical Medicine, we specialize in injuries that result from car accidents. We have a wide variety of treatment options under one roof and a multi-disciplinary team that works together to establish a treatment plan for each patient under our care.
We will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that can include input from neurology, physical therapy, interventional pain management and even mental health care. We have a wide variety of treatment options available and state-of-the-art technology (including in-office neurocognitive testing) that will aid in your recovery from a brain injury, and you never have to worry about unnecessary testing.
Silent Brain Injury Symptoms
While sometimes brain injuries are immediate and obvious, other times they’re not. Some symptoms can sneak up on you and because they may seem so mild (or completely unrelated to the brain) you may hesitate or even avoid seeking treatment. Keep the above list of symptoms in mind if you or a loved one have been through a car accident, and visit a qualified doctor if even one of the above symptoms pops up.
