If you suffer a violent blow to the head or body during a car accident, it can result in a traumatic brain injury. While mild TBIs only affect the brain temporarily, a severe TBI can result in long-term complications.
According to MayoClinic, traumatic brain injuries can result in various physical issues.
Complications resulting in physical problems
In the early stages of a traumatic brain injury, you may experience seizures. While seizures are more common in the early stages of a TBI, they can continue for years following the injury. If you have recurrent seizures, you may have a diagnosis of post-traumatic epilepsy. Blood vessels can also become damaged, causing strokes, blood clots and other problems.
One of the most common physical ailments after a TBI is the headaches that follow. Headaches may begin within a week of the initial injury. After the headaches begin, they may persist for weeks or months after the initial injury.
If your TBI occurred at the base of your skull, other complications may include dizziness, hearing loss, altered smell and taste, facial muscle paralysis and loss of vision.
Complications resulting in altered consciousness
Some patients who suffer traumatic brain injuries completely lose consciousness. They may become unaware of their surroundings due to widespread damage. Some people may emerge from comas within a few days or weeks, but others never do. In a severe brain injury, people may have minimal consciousness. They may show signs of self-awareness. In this case, patients may be in a transitional state to recovery.
Brain injuries can result in serious complications following the initial injury. Monitoring of the initial injury can help alleviate future problems.
