Symptoms of a Brain Bleed After a Head Injury
February 6, 2025 | Brain Injuries
Head injuries can be minor, but they can also cause serious complications like an intracranial hematoma or brain bleed. Brain bleeds are potentially life-threatening. Immediate treatment can make a significant difference in survival. Watching for symptoms of a brain bleed after hitting your head could save your life.
What Is a Brain Bleed?
A brain bleed, sometimes called a brain hemorrhage, is the rupture of a blood vessel inside the skull. These ruptures can be the result of several factors, such as high blood pressure or a brain aneurysm, but trauma is one of the most common causes.
As blood from the broken vessel pools within the skull, it causes pressure and swelling in the brain. Without treatment, a brain bleed will most likely be fatal. Emergency surgery can repair the broken vessel and remove the blood, allowing the brain to heal.
Even though a ruptured vessel can be repaired, a brain bleed is a type of stroke that may lead to permanent brain damage and other serious complications.
What Are the Potential Symptoms of a Brain Bleed After an Accident?
If you suffered a slip and fall accident or a head injury during an auto crash, brain bleed symptoms may appear immediately or weeks later.
The time between the trauma and the manifestation of symptoms is called the “lucid interval.” Within this time, an injured person might experience minor discomforts without realizing they are symptoms of a health emergency. As the bleed worsens, so do the symptoms.
Warning signs of an intracranial hematoma include:
- Headache that worsens with time (the most common symptom)
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pupils of different sizes
- Drowsiness
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of movement (paralysis) or weakness on one side of the body or face
- Neck stiffness
- Behavioral changes
- Seizures
It is always recommended to seek medical care after an auto accident or other incident that involves a head injury. Many conditions are not immediately apparent, and diagnostic testing can help identify life-threatening injuries before they become fatal. If you experience any symptoms of a brain bleed after hitting your head, seek emergency medical care.
How Is a Brain Bleed Diagnosed?
Imaging tests are the main tools for diagnosing a brain bleed. Testing can show the size and location of the injured vessel, saving precious time for emergency interventions.
A CT scan (computed tomography) creates a three-dimensional image of the brain and provides doctors with accurate, up-to-date information.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used to see more detailed images of the soft tissues within the brain. MRI testing can be more useful for detecting small bleeds before they become larger.
Treatment Options For a Brain Bleed
If a brain bleed is small and doesn’t progress, no immediate treatment may be required. Your healthcare provider will carefully monitor the condition and may recommend rehabilitative therapies as needed.
Surgery is the most common treatment for a brain bleed. The type of surgery depends on the size and location of the ruptured vessel.
Medications typically include anti-inflammatory medicines and anticonvulsant drugs if seizures are present. Some patients develop depression related to a brain bleed. Medications and therapy to treat depression are advised.
You Can Survive a Brain Bleed
Brain bleeds are serious and frightening conditions. While they can be fatal, treatment can be successful. However, recovery often includes months or even years of rehabilitative therapy.
The costs of medical care can quickly become overwhelming. If your brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, consider speaking with a personal injury attorney to learn about your right to financial compensation.
Contact an Experienced Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer for Help With Your Claim
If you were injured in an accident in Phoenix, AZ, and need legal help, contact our Phoenix personal injury attorneys at Runion Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.
Runion Personal Injury Lawyers
1221 E Osborn Rd. Suite 201
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 600-9000
Runion Personal Injury Lawyers
400 Gold Avenue SW Suite 650
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 594-3621
