Cerebral Contusion
Radius Clinic gets you Back on your Feet following an Automobile Accident.
Radius specializes in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and we help people get back on their feet after injuries. If you have suffered a cerebral contusion in an automobile accident, your visit to the ER may not have been enough to get you back to normal. Radius will work with you and alongside other necessary specialists to manage your recovery.
How Serious is a Cerebral Contusion?
Discoloration in bruising results from tiny blood vessels rupturing; what you see is the blood from these burst vessels under the skin. The body needs time to repair these small vessels and remove any blood collected in soft tissue. In the short term, however, damaged vessels can be a problem. Bleeding can put pressure on the brain and result in a lack of nutrients and oxygen for the tissues served by the damaged vessels.
When nerve cells die or become damaged, the body must replace them. This often means re-learning the essential functions that they had provided. Our brains retain a level of neuroplasticity, which enables task-specific neurons to mold and change their function by emphasizing new actions and habits. For example, if a cerebral contusion you suffer in an accident renders you unable to walk properly, you can learn to walk again through guided practice. While your caregiver patiently helps you to your feet to practice taking steps, your brain adds new neurons where the old ones were, thus forging the connections necessary to re-build the habit of walking.
What are the Symptoms of a Cerebral Contusion?
The symptoms produced by a cerebral contusion will depend on which part(s) of the brain sustained the injury. Here are some of the symptoms produced by traumatic brain injury, such as a cerebral contusion:
Headaches
Confusion
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Loss of Consciousness
Nausea/Vomiting
Seizures
Problems with Coordination
Problems with Movement
Lightheadedness
Tinnitus
Spinning Sensations
Poor Memory
Poor Vision
Poor Speech
Poor Hearing
Trouble managing emotions
Thinking Difficulties
Mild Symptoms
An individual can experience headaches, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, drowsiness, speech problems, dizziness, or balance problems with a mild cerebral contusion. A contusion can affect the senses, producing blurred vision, ringing in the ears, problems with smell or taste, or sensitivity to light or sound. Cognitive or mental difficulties can include a loss of consciousness, confusion, poor memory or focus, changes in mood, anxiety, depression, or trouble sleeping.
Moderate to Severe Symptoms
With a more severe traumatic brain injury, patients can lose consciousness for several hours. They can suffer from persistent headaches, continuous nausea or vomiting, seizures or convulsions, dilation of one or both pupils, clear fluids draining from nose or ears, an inability to awaken from sleep, weakness or numbness in fingers or toes, or loss of coordination. A severe contusion can result in profound cognitive or mental symptoms, including extreme confusion, agitation or confrontational behavior, or slurred speech.
Risk Factors
The groups with a greater risk of a cerebral contusion are the same as any traumatic brain injury. They are:
Young Children: Children at 0 to 4 have a higher risk of experiencing a head injury.
Young Adults: From 15 to 24, teens and adults are more likely to suffer a head injury.
Seniors: From age 60, seniors have a higher risk of sustaining a head injury.
Males: Males have a higher risk of traumatic brain injury.
Complications
Most significant complications from a cerebral contusion arise in cases where the bleeding continues unabated. Continuous bleeding can result in brain cells not receiving oxygen, which can damage them. It can also create pressure inside the cranial cavity.
Altered States of Consciousness
The more severe complications from a contusion are related to consciousness. A severe contusion can cause a coma, put the patient in a vegetative state, or leave them brain dead. Severe bleeding can also kill the patient.
Loss of Abilities
A severe brain injury can result in various ongoing physical problems, such as seizures, infections, fluid buildup, or other issues. It can also lead to poor cognitive function or management. It can affect language, behavior, emotions, or sensory function. There is some chance that it can lead to degenerative brain disease (e.g., Alzheimer’s) later in life, although this correlation is not fully understood yet.
Treatment
When treating a cerebral contusion, our team works with other professionals to gain a firm understanding of exactly how your injury is affecting you and where you may still be at risk. Exercising an abundance of caution, we develop a comprehensive plan for your rehabilitation and wait until the right moment to move forward. Whatever function you may have lost can often be recovered - if you are patient and willing to put in the work. Some of that work will be on your own time.
As we guide you through your routine, your brain will slowly replace the cells damaged in your injury. In time, you will regain function, range of motion, and strength, and we will support you along the way to restoring your physical health.
Choose Radius Clinic for Treatment of a Cerebral Contusion
Radius operates two clinics in California’s Sacramento Valley, in the towns of Roseville and Grass Valley. If you live in the Counties of Sacramento, El Dorado, Nevada, or Placer, call or stop by today for help. We have assisted countless patients in the difficult challenge of overcoming limited mobility following brain injuries. This task is not easy, and you will want someone in your corner with experience, training, and a kind, delicate touch. That’s what we provide. We look forward to hearing from you.