Minor Injuries: Seeking Treatment in a Timely Manner

When you fall, trip, or something falls on your head causing you pain and injury, you may not know quite what to do. As long as you haven't lost consciousness or drawn blood, you may be inclined to simply brush it off and keep going about your day. And while under most circumstances, you will probably be just fine, a head injury is nothing to toy with. So, before you decide to go about your day without another care in the world about your aching head, get to know some of the realities about head injuries (even the most seemingly minor ones). Then decide for yourself whether or not to seek out medical assistance. 

Do You Feel Dazed, Dizzy, of Fuzzy-Headed?

When you hit your head, you may understandably experience a moment of confusion or disorientation. However, once the initial daze of the impact has subsided, you should no longer feel any fogginess. 

A continued sense of dizziness, or feeling fuzzy-headed, unclear, or dazed are all common signs of a concussion. A concussion is a brain injury that results from a blow to the head that affects the way your brain functions temporarily. 

While normally a minor issue that clears up within a week, you should go to the doctor if you have such symptoms as dizziness or confusion for more than 30 minutes or so following the initial blow to your head. Particularly if you have had concussions before, the injury to your brain may be more substantial requiring further tests (like a CT scan) or treatments.

Has Your Vision Been Affected?

Immediately following your head injury, it may take your eyes a few moments to refocus. After all, the shock and the pain can take you body a short period of time to process, absorb, and recover from.

However, if you have continued vision disturbances which could include blurred vision, seeing spots, shaky vision, or any other problems with your eyesight, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Vision disturbances are a sign of traumatic brain injury. This can include bleeding on the brain, brain swelling, or a skull fracture that injured your brain. 

You doctor will be able to perform a series of tests and exams to determine the extent of your injuries and proper treatment. In some cases, this can include rest and observation. And in others, it may require emergency surgery or other immediate medical interventions. 

Did You Vomit After Your Injury?

Nausea is yet another sign that your seemingly minor bump on the head is actually more severe than you thought. If you vomit after you hit your head, do not wait to see if it happens again before you call your doctor for help. Instead, get help right away to ensure that your injuries are not dangerous or life-threatening. 

Even though your bump on the head may seem like nothing at all, even the slightest knock on your head can result in serious trauma. So be sure to watch out for troubling signs and seek out medical care if you feel like something isn't quite right.