If you suffered a blow to your head during a car crash or slip and fall accident, you may have sustained something called a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is common in car wrecks for someone to sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury if they hit their head against a windshield, for instance, or if their head was struck by an object, even without a visible wound. Falls and car accidents are leading causes of severe head injuries. It is also important to note that brain damage can be caused even if you don’t hit your head or suffer a loss of consciousness. Symptoms of a TBI may appear immediately such as with a loss of consciousness or they may not appear until days or weeks following your injury.
Brain injuries, although largely invisible, are among the most devastating of bodily injuries. Most of us take our brain function as for granted until we experience severe head injury or traumatic brain injury and understand how much is at risk. A traumatic brain injury can cause countless symptoms including — cognitive, mental, behavioral, and physical disorders. Some of the most prevailing conditions resulting from a traumatic brain injury, whether mild or severe, are sleep disorders. Sleep disorders include hypersomnia (sleeping too much), insomnia (can’t get to sleep), fatigue and sleep interference. These conditions can permanently plague those who suffer from them and can negatively change lives.
HYPERSOMNIA
Hypersomnia is a type of sleeping disorder in which you experience excessive daytime sleepiness even after getting a full night’s sleep and is similar to narcolepsy. According to International Classification of Sleep Disorders, post-traumatic hypersomnia can be explained as sleepiness following TBI that is not explained by any other medical or neurological disorder and remains a diagnosis of exclusion. Previous research in TBI topics indicate that this diagnosis represents the biggest percentage (30 percent) of sleepy patients following brain injury. Mechanically, any trauma to the central nervous system, including direct blows and neurosurgical manipulation, may lead to this disorder. Symptoms include: falling asleep in a very short time, inability to remain alert during the day and daytime sleep attacks.
INSOMNIA
According to Associated Professional Sleep studies, insomnia is considerably more common among patients with mild traumatic brain injury than in the general population. Because TBI may interfere with multiple parts of the regulatory sleep / wake network, the researchers believe that TBI patients have an elevated incidence of insomnia and other sleep-related issues. Persons with post-traumatic insomnia may also show signs of anxiety, depression and fatigue. Symptoms of Insomnia include difficulty getting to sleep, sleep disturbances through the night and early morning awakenings.
FATIGUE
Fatigue is frequently associated with TBI and neuronal injury or dysfunction. Fatigue caused by injury or illness is called primary tiredness. Different factors, including pain, sleep disturbance or stress, may exacerbate fatigue. Fatigue is called secondary fatigue due to these variables. Fatigue can be a symptom of depression, and early morning waking may result in depression.
INTERFERENCE WITH SLEEP DUE TO TBI
Since the brain controls sleep, including its rhythm, and efficiency, it therefore makes sense that after a TBI, problems with sleep may increase. Patients suffering from a brain injury, whether immediately after the injury or in the weeks and months following, may experience fragmented sleep which consequently leads to daytime drowsiness, increased need for sleep, interrupted sleep, inability to fall asleep as well as fatigue.
TRAUMA BRAIN INJURY ATTORNEYS
Head trauma cases can be medically complex and legally challenging. Your attorney must be experienced with these matters and have access to doctors and experts who are up to date with the current science if you want to win your brain injury case. The compassionate brain injury attorneys at our Griggs Injury Law understand the scientific and legal aspects involved, as well as the emotional impact these kinds of injuries can have on the family. You may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company. But often time insurance companies will try to take advantage of your lack of understanding of the claims process if you do not have an attorney standing up for you. Call Annette Griggs to discuss your case and receive the settlement you deserve.
