A traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to a brain injury caused by an outside force, such as a forceful blow or jolt to the head or body or from an object that penetrates the brain, like a bullet.
Some types of TBI cause temporary or short-term difficulties with brain function, including how a person thinks, understands, moves, communicates, and acts. Serious TBI may lead to severe and permanent disability or even death.
When the damage is immediate, the injury is called primary. It’s called secondary when the effects occur gradually over hours, days, or even weeks after an injury. Secondary TBIs result from reactive processes that develop after the initial trauma.
Non-penetrating TBIs (also called closed head injuries or blunt TBI) are caused by an external blow forceful enough to move the brain within the skull. These are common with falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, or being struck by an object.
At Santa Cruz Osteopathic, physiatrist and physical medicine specialist Dr. Richard Bernstein treats all manner of sports injuries, including mild forms of traumatic brain injury, such as a blow to the head during a football game. What happens with such an injury? What does recovery look like? Here’s what our expert has to say.
Concussion is a type of mild TBI. It’s a temporary injury to the brain that takes anywhere from minutes to several months to heal. A concussion is caused by any rapid movement of the brain within the skull, so that the soft tissue impacts the bone, as can happen when a person is violently shaken, is playing sports, or is involved in a car accident.
The person either suddenly loses consciousness or their state of consciousness or awareness changes abruptly. Symptoms include physical, sensory, and cognitive problems:
If a second concussion closely follows the first one — known as the “second hit” phenomenon — it can lead to permanent damage or even death in some instances. Post-concussion syndrome, as we see with many football players, involves symptoms that last for weeks, months, or longer.
That’s why preventing future concussions is critical. Most people recover fully from a first concussion within a few weeks; however, recovery from a second or third concussion takes much more time.
If you’ve had a blow to the head and suspect a concussion, you need to go to your doctor or the emergency room to have it checked out.
The doctor uses the Glasgow Coma Scale, a 15-point test, to assess the initial severity of a brain injury. It checks the patient's ability to follow directions and move their eyes and limbs. The coherence of their speech also provides important clues.
Some people with a mild TBI may not require treatment other than to get “relative rest” and use over-the-counter pain relievers for symptom relief.
Relative rest means limiting physical and cognitive activities requiring attention and concentration, as they can worsen things. Your doctor monitors you for any delayed or worsening symptoms and advises you when it’s okay to resume your regular activities.
You should also pay attention to any new signs or symptoms, even if they seem unrelated to the injury (e.g., mood swings, unusual irritability). They may be related even if they occur several weeks after the injury.
With a mild TBI, most people recover most or all of their brain function within three months after the injury, with most recovering sooner.
Even after concussion symptoms go away and your doctor clears you, return to your daily activities gradually. While some guidelines are available on what’s appropriate, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of mild TBI on the brain and determine when it’s safe to resume normal activities.
If you’ve sustained a mild TBI and want to investigate how physiatry and physical medicine can help you recover, schedule an appointment with Dr. Bernstein. Call us at 831-464-1605, or book online today.
