Out of the Blue
One morning in July 2010, as I lay blissfully sleeping. enjoying those last few moments of peace before dragging myself out of bed and starting the daily rat race, I was struck in the face by something hard. It was jarring and confusing and I cried out in pain as I sat up to figure out what was happening.
Was I being attacked by someone? Was the ceiling falling in? Who was the culprit? Alas, it was only a well-intentioned little boy who had gotten up and found his new baseball batting helmet. Darling 2 had climbed in bed with me and accidentally hit me in the face when he threw the helmet off his head. Or at least this was the best explanation I could piece together given the evidence.
At the moment of being yanked out of my deep sleep by a sharp pain I could only wince and cry. It felt like my skull was fractured in those first raw moments of grogginess. In fact, it was a black eye. So, I went around with a swollen, darkened eye for several days. It actually felt much worse than it looked and it left no lasting effects after it healed a week later.
Head Injuries
It was my second black eye. I fell on a cement step when I was in Kindergarten and ended up with my first black eye, but I have never had a concussion. Darling 1 has fallen down the basement stairs hitting the tile twice in his 5 years, and had a black eye, but no concussions; and Darling 2 has had several egg-sized bumps from various falls, but again, no concussions...yet...at least as far as I know. Now, Will has had two concussions, and I'll tell his story tomorrow.
If you, your spouse or your child had a bad fall or a hard hit that resulted in a concussion, even a slight concussion, would you know it? And if it was only a slight concussion, would you do anything about it or worry about lasting damage?
Until recently, concussions were not treated with much care unless it was a severe case. Now, after more information has come out about how dangerous these traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be parents, coaches and medical personnel are becoming more educated about the warning signs, treatments and dangers.
What exactly is a concussion?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs when there is a blow, a jolt or a bump to the head that can alter the normal brain functions. A concussion can happen any time there is a fall or force that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.
While concussions are generally characterized as a "mild" brain injury, the effects can be quite serious. Concussions can cause cognitive impairment, loss of motor skills or memory loss, etc.
Warning Signs
Here's what you need to watch for:
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Headache or neck aches that don't go away;
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Lightheadedness, dizziness or loss of balance;
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Ringing in ears;
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Loss of sense of smell or taste;
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Blurred vision, double vision or eyes that tire quickly;
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Nausea or vomiting;
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Sensitivity to light or noise;
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Clumsy movements;
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Dazed, confused or stunned;
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Easily forgetting simple instruction;
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Slowness in talking, thinking, acting or reading;
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Changes in mood, behavior or personality;
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Loss of memory of events prior to the hit or fall;
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Loss of memory of events after the hit or fall;
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More emotional or depressed or sad;
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Getting lost or easily confused;
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Exhaustion with no energy; and
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Changes in sleep pattern.
Sources: Brain Injury MN and SportsConcussions.org
A child with a brain injury suffers the same kind of symptoms, but a child is not always able to verbalize how he or she is feeling. A parent of a young child who may have suffered a TBI should watch for these symptoms:
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Unusual tiredness or listlessness;
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Increased irritability or crankiness;
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Loss of new skills;
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Changes in sleep patterns;
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Refusal to eat;
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Changes in performance at school;
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Lack of interest in toys or games; and
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Changes in play.
Source: Brain Injury MN
The Scoop
It's important to remember that these symptoms may not appear immediately. It could take days or weeks for these side effects to show up and are commonly missed if the person seems otherwise healed. If you notice any of these signs or other unexplained and abnormal changes, seek immediate medical care for the person injured.
A second blow that results in a concussion before the first concussion has had a chance to heal could be fatal. This is why it's so important for athletes, their coaches and parents to diligently watch for signs and symptoms of a concussion and seek medical attention and receive a medical release before returning to practice or a game.
I'll discuss treatment and recovery in my next article. Over and out...
Anna
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