Forgetting dates and times may not seem like a big deal at first, but if you’ve been in an auto accident, these signs may signal concussion-induced memory issues. Another warning sign of memory loss is difficulty finding words. If you’ve sustained a concussion following an auto accident and are having memory issues, it’s vital to seek a medical assessment.
The Tulsa Accident Care Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, stands ready to diagnose and help you recover from an auto accident injury. Our multidisciplinary team, consisting of physicians, nurse practitioners, and imaging technicians, have the tools to carefully evaluate patients who have been in an accident and advise them on the most appropriate treatment plan.
Our team routinely treats patients who have sustained concussions. These injuries occur when the brain collides with the skull. Unfortunately, symptoms sometimes go unnoticed. After an auto accident, you may feel shaken up and mistake the symptoms for stress, or think that you need to sleep it off. To help you understand when you should see a doctor, we’ve outlined some important points about concussions for you to know.
Concussions can occur when you hit your head against a headrest, steering wheel, or window. However, you can still sustain a concussion even if you don’t hit your head in a car crash. The sudden impact of a car crash can cause the brain to shift inside the head and slam against the skull.
You may not have any external injuries or evidence of an injury on the outside of your head. That’s why seeking a thorough evaluation is crucial.
Concussion symptoms usually go away within a few weeks to a month of the accident. If your symptoms linger beyond a period of about four weeks, you may have post-concussion syndrome.
This happens when symptoms following a condition linger longer than the expected recovery period. While most of the time people fully recover from concussions, it’s important for doctors to identify signs of post-concussion syndrome.
Most people think of memory loss in terms of amnesia, where you have a complete lack of memory. However, memory loss actually comes in a variety of forms, including:
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and experience these signs, it’s crucial to discuss any symptoms related to memory loss with a doctor.
Concussions are classified as mild traumatic brain injuries. However, don't be fooled by the title. All brain injuries have the potential to cause serious health issues and have an impact on daily life.
The signs and symptoms usually appear shortly after the injury. However, you may be unaware of the severity of the injury, and some symptoms may not appear for hours or days later.
Other concussion signs to look out for include:
Don’t wait for symptoms to get better on your own. Early intervention can be beneficial and lead to better outcomes. The sooner you seek treatment the better.
We generally advise seeing a doctor following a serious car accident to ensure that no life-threatening injuries have occurred. Here at the Tulsa Accident Care Center, we’re equipped to quickly and accurately diagnose auto accident injuries, including performing imaging tests to check for a concussion.
Even if a doctor previously determined you did not have a concussion following a car accident, we recommend coming in for an evaluation if you have persistent symptoms.
Don’t wait to get treatment for a concussion or symptoms that linger after a concussion. The team at Tulsa Accident Care Center can help you get the care you need to get back to your life. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call the Tulsa Accident Care Center team at 918-372-3694 or book an appointment online today.
