The things that can happen if a person has brain injury depend on whether you are looking at the initial or long-term phase. The following factors can also determine the type of consequences of a brain injury:
- The severity of the injury
- How quickly the person got medical attention
- The region of the brain that got damaged
- What caused the brain injury, such as a stroke, aneurysm, or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Depending on the facts of your situation, additional issues could impact your recovery.
Consequences of a Stroke Include Temporary and Permanent Disability
After experiencing a stroke, a person can have a range of disabilities that can be temporary or permanent. The Mayo Clinic says that some of the more common complications of brain injury from a stroke include:
- Challenges to swallowing, speaking, and communicating: A person might be unable to control the muscles in the throat or mouth, making eating and talking difficult. Some people may lose the ability to write, read, or understand what people say.
- Partial paralysis: Many people have paralysis on one side of the body or one group of muscles after a stroke. One side of the face might droop because of loss of use in those muscles. A person might have a limp or be unable to use one arm.
- Nerve damage: A stroke can affect nerves as well as muscles. As a result, a person might experience uncomfortable or painful sensations throughout the body, particularly in an area the stroke targeted. An arm or leg could be both numb and painful.
- Cognition dysfunction: Since a stroke involves the death of brain cells, many people experience cognitive loss. A person might struggle with remembering things, learning new material, thinking, and performing other higher-level brain functions.
- Decrease in socialization and personal hygiene: Social isolation and self-care can become issues after a stroke. Many people withdraw from others because of their impairments. Some people need assistance with independent living skills, like bathing, dressing, grooming, fixing meals, and other everyday tasks.
- Depression: A stroke can cause emotional issues, either directly or indirectly. Cell death can occur in regions of the brain that regulate emotional control, leading to emotional volatility or instability. People can develop chronic depression because their life as they knew it is changed forever after their stroke.
These are only a few examples of what happens if a person has a brain injury from a stroke.
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Brain Aneurysms Can Lead to Severe Brain Damage
A brain aneurysm happens when a blood vessel in the brain develops a bulge or balloon that then leaks or ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain. According to the Cleveland Clinic, an aneurysm in the brain can cause swelling that can lead to permanent brain damage, a stroke, or the following consequences:
- Spinal fluid can build up in the brain, causing pressure and a condition called hydrocephalus
- The patient could have vasospasm, which occurs when blood vessels can become narrow, letting less oxygen and other nutrients get to the brain
- The patient can develop hyponatremia, which affects the sodium levels in the blood, causing brain cells to swell and lead to brain damage
- Some people experience seizures or muscle convulsions after a brain bleed, which can lead to additional damage to brain tissue
- The patient could lose consciousness and slip into a coma that can last anywhere from days to weeks
You might experience other side effects from a brain aneurysm.
Damage from a Traumatic Brain Injury Can Affect Cognitive Functions
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause both short-term and permanent disability. Also, traumatic brain injury can be fatal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person can experience these outcomes, either short-term or long-term, after a traumatic brain injury:
- Sensory changes: These changes may affect a person’s ability to see, hear, smell, taste, or feel.
- Communication challenges: People may have difficulty controlling their mouth or throat muscles, which allow a person to speak, swallow, eat, or drink. People can also struggle to find the words they want to use to express themselves. Some people lose the ability to read, write, or understand what other people say.
- Cognitive changes: A person can have memory loss and find it challenging to think, reason, or learn new information.
- Personality changes: Loved ones often report that, after a TBI, a person undergoes significant personality changes and emotional instability.
A traumatic brain injury can also cause altered states of consciousness. With a mild TBI, the person might “pass out” for a few seconds or minutes. With a moderate or severe brain injury, the person might be unconscious for hours or several days. A person could also slip into a coma or vegetative state.
A person may also develop epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other brain conditions because of a traumatic brain injury.
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Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins to Build a Brain Injury Case
If you or a close relative suffered a brain injury because of someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you might qualify for monetary compensation for your losses. You can call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 877-239-4878 for a free consultation.
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