Should You Treat Any Bump on the Head as a Potential Concussion/TBI?
You’re physically active, regularly involved in some recreational sports…and you play hard. Occasionally, you’ll suffer some type of blow to your head…you may get an elbow to the noggin going up for a rebound or you may do a header on the tennis court chasing down a drop shot. Your competitive side tells you that it’s nothing, just shake it off, but there’s another voice inside you warning that you may have a concussion or traumatic brain injury and you should immediately stop what you’re doing, so you don’t make the situation worse. What do you do?
Consider Every Blow to the Head as Potentially Serious
The safest and smartest thing to do is recognize that any type of trauma that involves your brain has the potential to have serious repercussions. Accordingly, it’s always a good idea to pause and pay attention to your physical and mental responses. Do you feel dizzy? Did you lose your focus for any period of time? Was there even a few seconds where you felt disoriented or were uncertain where you were or what happened? If so, stop what you are doing immediately.
It’s also a good idea to let others observe you, and to defer to their judgment and observations. A head injury can compromise your ability to objectively assess your condition.
Of course, there are certain symptoms that will remove all doubt:
- If you lose consciousness, even for just a few seconds, you should stop playing and seek immediate medical care
- If you feel nauseated or experience vomiting, you likely have a concussion/traumatic brain injury
- If you have an open wound on your head, go immediately to the nearest emergency room
- If your speech is slurred or have any type of seizure, seek immediate medical attention
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.
