What Do You Know About Post-Concussion Syndrome?

What Do You Know About Post-Concussion Syndrome?

After a car accident, you learned you sustained a concussion. Could you be at risk of experiencing post-concussion syndrome?

WebMD explains the causes, diagnostic methods and symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. Understand how your injury may affect you, to protect your right to compensation.

Defining Post-Concussion Syndrome

A person with a head injury, such as a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion, may suffer from post-concussion syndrome. The medical complication may linger for weeks or months after a doctor diagnoses the person with a head injury.

Causes of Post-Concussion Syndrome

Just because you sustained a concussion does not mean you should expect to experience post-concussion syndrome. If you experienced a head injury before, you could be at higher risk of the syndrome. Other causes of the syndrome include early injury symptoms, such as headache, and mental shifts, such as fatigue, memory loss and brain fog. Women and older adults are also at higher risk of the syndrome.

Diagnosing Post-Concussion Syndrome

Post-concussion syndrome symptoms may mirror other conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. Medical professionals have yet to develop a definitive test for the condition. Instead, doctors base their diagnosis on the patient’s symptoms and medical history. Effective diagnosis tests include magnetic resonance imaging scans and computed tomography scans. Medical care providers may conduct other tests to rule out associated causes of symptoms. For instance, the patient may experience bleeding in the brain, infection or poisoning rather than post-concussion syndrome.

Symptoms of Post-concussion Syndrome

Common signs of post-concussion syndrome include trouble sleeping, headaches and dizziness. A person may also experience anxiety, depression and irritability.

You deserve to know the extent of your car accident injuries and how to protect your legal rights.