May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Brain and Nervous System Blunt head trauma a month ago
Blunt head trauma a month ago |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: A hammer fell off a ladder and hit my head about a month ago. Never lost consciousness, just a bump. However it is still sore to the touch. Is this normal? How long will that last? Should I seek medical attention? Dear Amanda: You suffered a blunt head trauma one month ago that left a hematoma in the site of the hit, and yes it might be sore and tender to the touch for a while. On the other hand, it is important for you to know some info about head concussions. A concussion is a brain injury that may produce headache, altered levels of alertness and unconsciousness. Most of the time is the result of an important and significant blow to the head that shakes the brain inside the skull, which temporarily prevents the brain from working normally, this blow may be mild, moderate or severe. Sometimes a person who has a more serious concussion, may develop new symptoms over time and feels worse than before the injury, this is “Post Concussive Syndrome”. It is important that over the time you start to show Post Concussive Symptoms, you call your doctor and get a thoroughly neurological evaluation. The post concussive symptoms include: difficulty to think, concentrate or remember; headaches or blurry vision; becoming angry or anxious for no reason; lack of interest in your usual activities, changes in your sex drive, dizziness, lightheadedness or unsteadiness that makes difficult for you to walk or standing. It is difficult to predict the outcome in terms of neurologic sequels, some people feel normal again in a few hours after a concussion while others have symptoms and sequels for weeks or months, it depends on each case in particular and also depends on the severity of blows.In the case that you start to have any of the symptoms described above, I strongly recommend you to have an evaluation with your doctor. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 23 January 2012 ) |
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