Concussion symptoms almost always take time to develop. Concussions involve chemical and physical changes to the brain, and these changes take time to develop. Oftentimes, your concussion symptoms will change, appear, or even disappear over the hours and days after your accident.

The result of these delayed symptoms is that your needs may change over time. You may need to take time off from work as your symptoms worsen. You might not be able to take care of yourself or your family when new symptoms appear. 

You could need a return visit to your doctor for further examination or treatment for the additional symptoms you did not originally have.

Read on for an overview of why delayed concussion symptoms happen and how this can affect your injury claim.

How Do Concussions Happen?

Your brain sits in your skull, enclosed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF buffers the brain from hitting the inside surfaces of your skull. But to perform this function, the CSF must exert pressure on your brain when you experience trauma.

If you hit your head or experience a sudden jolt, your brain will slosh in the CSF. As it sloshes, the pressure of the CSF will stop your brain from striking your skull. At the same time, the pressure can damage brain cells.

In response to the damage, some brain cells die. As they die, they release their contents. The chemical changes in the brain due to the damaged and dead brain cells cause some of the concussion symptoms.

In addition to chemical changes, the brain undergoes physical changes after a concussion. The body triggers inflammation in the brain to protect and heal it. But the inflammation produces some of the symptoms associated with concussions.

Inflammation includes swelling. Swelling slows the blood flow into and out of the injured area. This prevents you from bleeding from an open wound and traps any bacteria that got into the wound from traveling into the rest of your body.

But a concussion is not an open wound, so the swelling has mostly negative effects. Swelling slows blood flow to the brain. The resulting lack of blood and oxygen can affect the brain’s ability to function.

Inflammation also includes a fever. Bacteria and viruses die in elevated temperatures, so a fever can battle an infection. But in your brain, elevated temperature can cause delirium.

What Are Common Concussion Symptoms?

Concussions rarely cause death. For that reason, doctors refer to concussions as mild brain injuries. But the symptoms often feel severe.

Immediately after a concussion, you will likely experience symptoms such as:

  • Headache
  • Ringing ears
  • Blurry vision or seeing stars
  • Confusion
  • Amnesia

You might experience additional physical symptoms such as clumsiness, slurred speech, and drowsiness in the hours and days after your concussion. Mental symptoms, such as brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disorders, might appear. 

You might also experience emotional symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and emotional outbursts.

Doctors cannot predict who will experience delayed concussion symptoms or which symptoms will appear. In addition to the evolution of symptoms as your brain inflames, you will also notice more symptoms as you try to do more.

For example, immediately after a concussion, you might not feel anxious. But as you experience triggers, like trying to drive again after a car accident, you might have an anxiety attack.

Compensation for Delayed Concussion Symptoms

Since concussion symptoms take time to evolve, you should seek medical attention immediately after your accident. Make sure to stay in contact with your doctor as your symptoms change.

This will provide a few benefits. First, your doctor will document your symptoms in your medical records. These records will support your personal injury claim for damages.

Second, your doctor can prescribe treatment or work limitations based on your evolving symptoms. This will ensure you put yourself in the best position to recover from your injuries. It will also reduce the chances of the at-fault party blaming you for worsening your condition by acting against your doctor’s orders.

For more information, please contact the brain injury lawyers at Hawk Law Group at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve throughout the Central Savannah River Area and it’s surrounding areas:

Hawk Law Group – Augusta, GA
338 Telfair St, Augusta, GA 30901, United States
(706) 722-3500

Hawk Law Group – Evans, GA
4384 River Watch Pkwy, Evans, GA 30809, United States
(706) 863-6500

Hawk Law Group – Thomson, GA
146 Railroad St A, Thomson, GA 30824, United States
(706) 361-0350

Hawk Law Group – Waynesboro, GA
827 Liberty St, Waynesboro, GA 30830, United States
(706) 437-9122

Hawk Law Group – Aiken County, SC
156 Laurens St NW, Aiken, SC 29801, United States
(803) 226-9089

We also serve in Edgefield County, SC.