Signs Your Neck Pain Could Be a Traumatic Brain Injury

June 29, 2024 | Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers | Personal Injury

You may not feel anything more than some minor discomfort after a car accident or slip and fall incident. However, depending on your injuries, it can take up to 24 hours or more for severe pain or signs of a serious condition to occur.

That’s one reason why it is so important to seek medical attention after an accident, especially if you begin to experience neck pain or other unusual symptoms. Medical personnel may be able to detect signs of potentially debilitating harm, such as a traumatic brain injury, before it causes permanent damage.

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is, to be frank, exactly what it sounds like. It is an injury caused to the brain by a traumatic accident.

Often, TBIs are caused by a violent jolt to the head, such as when a motorcycle accident causes a rider to hit their head on the pavement. The result of such an incident can be a mild injury that heals within a few weeks or serious damage that leads to long-term complications or even death. Brain injuries kill approximately 69,000 people in the U.S. every year.

Whiplash is a common complaint after a car accident or other type of injury that forces the head to “whip” back and forth violently. It’s understandable for individuals who’ve been injured in a crash to assume that their neck pain is an indication of having whiplash. While that could be the case, more serious injuries like TBI could also be to blame.

Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

Some signs of a TBI appear almost immediately after the related event, while others can take days or even weeks to arise. Follow all medical recommendations after an accident and be on the lookout for these warning signs of a mild TBI:

Neck pain
Dizziness or balance problems
Nausea, vomiting
Problems with speech
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Ringing in the ears
A bad taste in your mouth
Sensitivity to sound or light
Memory or concentration problems
Changes in sleep patterns

Brain injuries in children often present differently than they do in adults. If your child has incurred a head or neck injury, watch for these symptoms in particular:

A change in nursing or eating habits
Persistent crying
Inability to pay attention
Sad or depressed mood
Lack of interest in favorite activities or toys

Speak with your doctor or seek emergency care if your child has received a blow to the head or body.

How Does Neck Pain Relate To Brain Injury?

An injury to a part of the head will likely result in some level of discomfort in that area, but since the head and neck are, of course, connected, a brain injury can also cause neck pain.

Some of the ways neck pain can be linked to a TBI include the following:

Spinal cord damage or misalignment of the spinal column, especially the cervical spine
Injury to the soft tissues of the neck, such as the muscles, ligaments, and tendons
Injury to the bones
Compensating behaviors that cause changes in posture or gait
Inflammation in the neck
Vision or hearing changes that stress neck muscles

A violent blow to the head can cause the neck to move suddenly, and even absorbing the shock of a head blow can injure the neck.

When To Seek Medical Treatment After an Accident

The best time to pursue medical aid is immediately after you’ve been involved in an accident. Even if you don’t suspect injury at that moment, a checkup will protect your health. If you are entitled to financial compensation related to your injury, having a record of medical care will help your attorney build a strong case on your behalf.

If you are unable to see a doctor right away, seek care at the first sign of injury symptoms. Delaying care could result in permanent or debilitating brain damage.

Contact a St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyer from Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Lakeland.

We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, and its surrounding areas:

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(813) 223-6200

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