Atlanta Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury as a “disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” Traumatic brain injuries are serious and can cause permanent damage and even death.

Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury. Promptly seeking medical attention can significantly reduce the likelihood of long-term harm with some types of traumatic brain injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms

Brain injury symptoms can vary in intensity and duration depending on seriousness. However, seeking immediate medical attention is critical if you or a loved one suffers from any of the following:

• Ringing in your ears.
• Neck pain.
• Blurry vision.
• Confusion.
• Slow reflexes.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Lasting nausea or vomiting.
• Lasting headache.
• Dilated (larger than normal) pupils.
• Trouble waking up, walking, or speaking.
• Slurred speech.
• Weakness or numbness in your arms or legs.
• Drainage of bloody or clear fluids from your ears or nose.
• Seizures.

Medical attention should be sought if you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms. Self-treatment can make things worse and it is always best to seek the medical attention of a qualified professional. Once medical attention has been obtained, contact Ponton Law to discuss your legal rights and options.

Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries

There are many types of treatment or rehabilitation processes that a victim of a traumatic brain injury may go through during recovery. Some examples include:

• Acute Rehabilitation. Acute rehabilitation is provided in a special unit of the trauma hospital, a rehabilitation hospital or another inpatient setting. The goal of acute rehabilitation is to get the patient back to being able to conduct normal daily functions such as dressing, eating and talking.
• Posta-cute Rehabilitation. This type of rehabilitation involves intensive therapy and is usually conducted at a rehabilitation facility. The phase of rehabilitation focuses on healing and recovery. Subacute rehabilitation is a less intensive type of posta-cute rehabilitation for patients who are not responding well to the intensive nature of posta-cute rehabilitation.
• Ongoing Rehabilitation. Most patients suffering from a traumatic brain injury will need ongoing care (perhaps indefinitely). These types of treatments may be conducted at the hospital, another rehabilitation facility or in the patient’s home.

Medical professionals may also prescribe certain medications to supplement the patient’s rehabilitation. According to the Brain Injury Association of America – a  nonprofit organization – a traumatic brain injury patient may by prescribe a number of medications, including:

• Analgesics may be used for pain relief and pain management.
• Anti-Anxiety Agents may lesson feelings of uncertainty, nervousness, and fear.
• Anti-Coagulants may be used to prevent blood clots.
• Anti-Convulsants may be used to prevent seizures.
• Anti-Depressants may be used to treat symptoms of depression.
• Anti-Psychotics may be used to target psychotic symptoms of combativeness, hostility, hallucinations, and sleep disorders.
• Muscle Relaxants may be used to reduce muscle spasms or spasticity.
• Sedative-Hypnotic Agents may be used to induce sleep or depress the central nervous system in areas of mental and physical response, awareness, sleep, and pain.
• Stimulants may be used to increase levels of alertness and attention.

Many of these medications should not be taken together and it is important that a medical professional takes the time to check the medications against each other before prescribing a treatment plan.

Ponton Law

Traumatic brain injury attorney James Ponton at Ponton Law today by calling 404-902-3154 to discuss your traumatic brain injury case. We look forward to helping you and your family.