How Long Will It Take to Recover From a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head. The sudden impact causes the brain to shift and move around inside the skull. The movement of the brain can damage cells, and the victim can suffer permanent effects.

Concussions can happen in any kind of accident. Whether you have been injured in a car accident, on the job, during a slip and fall while shopping, or in any other type of accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Getting the financial recovery you deserve requires the help of an injury lawyer experienced in head trauma.

The head injury attorneys at Arash Law, headed by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., are here to help you get your life back on track. If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion, contact us today at (888) 488-1391 or chat with us today to schedule a free no-obligation case evaluation.

How Common Are Concussions? Understanding Recovery Time

A concussion can affect anyone who has suffered a blow to the head. However, according to a study referenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth who participate in sports suffer concussions at these rates:

• 15.1 percent of student-athletes reported they suffered at least one concussion that is related to their sport.
• 6 percent of student-athletes reported they had suffered two or more concussions while playing a sport such as football.

Symptoms of a Concussion

Concussions happen after a blunt force to the head. A medical evaluation is required to confirm a concussion diagnosis. The following symptoms may indicate that you are concussed.

In addition to the above symptoms, people with concussions often suffer from a condition called cognitive delay. The cognitive delay happens when the brain cannot process information as efficiently as it could before the accident. Some patients describe cognitive delay as brain fog. Patients who have cognitive delays may exert more mental energy to complete simple tasks.

Some people also may experience post-concussion syndrome. Post-concussion syndrome is marked by lingering concussion symptoms that last for weeks or months after the accident.

How Are Concussions Diagnosed?

There are several tests that physicians use to confirm you suffered a concussion. Your doctor may want to conduct an imaging test, a neurological exam, and a cognitive test before making a conclusion.

Imaging Test

A doctor may order an imaging test if the patient suffers a blow to the head and has seizures, severe headaches, and gastrointestinal problems that get progressively worse. Standard practice is to have potentially concussed patients undergo a CT scan or an MRI to find bleeding or swelling or to identify changes in the brain that confirm a concussion. Children who may be concussed generally do not undergo CT scanning to avoid radiation exposure in children.

Neurological Exam

Concussions can change the mechanical function of someone’s body. A neurological exam tests your balance, coordination, reflexes, strength, sensation, hearing, and vision.

Cognitive Testing

Cognitive testing tests your ability to think and your overall mental function. Your doctor may use several tests to determine if the blow to your head caused a concussion. The tests are focused on finding changes in your ability to recall information, concentrate, and complete tasks, as well as any memory loss.

How Long Will It Take to Recover From a Concussion?

Every concussion requires some kind of recovery. Even mild concussions can take a person away from school or work for an extended period. The severity of your injuries is the determining factor in how long your recovery will take.

Most people who suffer concussions will recover in one week to 10 days. Twenty percent of people who suffer from concussion symptoms take more than six weeks to recover fully. In the worst-case scenario, it can take years for a patient to stop experiencing concussion symptoms.

What Affects Concussion Recovery Time?

In addition to age and health before the accident, there are several factors that affect the speed a person suffering from a concussion can expect to recover from their injury. Some factors that may slow the progress of your recovery may include:

Activities to Avoid During Concussion Recovery

After suffering a concussion, you should not quickly return to everyday life. Trying to pick up normal daily activities back up too quickly after a concussion can delay your recovery. Some activities you should slowly incorporate back into your routine include:

• Grocery shopping
• Household chores, including laundry, dishes, or anything that involves heavy lifting
• Exercising or other athletic activities
• Traveling

Phases of Concussion Recovery

Doctors have found that most patients recover from concussions in several phases. Each phase has its own challenges and requires the patient to rest to avoid delaying their recovery.

Acute Phase

The acute phase of concussion recovery happens after the initial hit that caused the injury. During this phase, the patient’s brain needs physical and mental rest to begin healing. A patient should avoid work, school, or any activity requiring concentration, memory, or focus. In their leisure time, patients should also avoid listening to loud music, watching television, playing video games, texting, using a computer, and driving. These activities make the brain work harder and can make symptoms worse. As a result, patients can take longer to recover from a concussion than expected, and it’s important to follow medical advice for a safe and complete recovery.

Patients are also vulnerable to second impact syndrome during the acute phase. Second impact syndrome is a life-threatening condition that happens when the patient suffers a second blow to the head before they fully recover from the first injury.

Recovery Phase

During the recovery phase, the patient may continue to feel the effects of the concussion, but they feel an improvement. Patients may still have trouble concentrating, thinking, remembering, learning, and processing information.

During this phase, patients can begin to gradually return to their daily activities while under the direction of a physician.

Chronic Phase

Unfortunately, some patients live with concussion symptoms for months or years after the impact. They may need ongoing neurological treatment, potentially costing thousands of dollars.

During the first few days after the impact, you should rest. It is important to take as much stress off your brain as possible. On the first and second days of your recovery, you should avoid the following:

Patients can take over-the-counter mild pain relievers. They should take acetaminophen but avoid aspirin and ibuprofen to reduce the risk of stomach bleeding.

Over the next several days, a patient should continue to minimize the amount of mental focus. The brain is still strained. Continuing to limit activities that require a large amount of mental focus is best for your recovery.

If you are only a few days into your recovery, avoid activities that risk re-injury. You can slowly start to work and attend school again but take it easy because your symptoms can reappear and derail your recovery.

After one week, most of your symptoms should subside, and you should start feeling normal again. At this point, most patients can safely return to their normal activities.

Practical Steps to Take After a Concussion

Although a concussion is a serious medical condition, fortunately, you can do some things at home that may help improve your symptoms sooner. If you have suffered a concussion, consider taking the following steps to get healthy again quickly.

Slowly Increase Your Activity Level

After a hit to the head, you should take it easy. When you begin to feel better, you can slowly increase your activity level but don’t dive back in too soon. Monitor how you feel after participating in an activity and see if the activity triggers a concussion response. If you experience any triggers (like headaches, dizziness, light or sound sensitivity, etc.), consider stopping the activity and speaking to your doctor.

Get Enough Sleep

Traumatic brain injuries require rest to heal. Patients that suffer from concussions should get rest as soon as it is safe to do so. Overstimulation can delay recovery. Along with enough sleep, you should be sure to take breaks from work and school when you need them.

Avoid Alcohol

You should avoid being under the influence of alcohol or drugs during your recovery. Intoxication increases the odds of re-injury, which can make your initial injury worse. You might develop life-threatening conditions, including second impact syndrome.

What Are My Legal Options After a Concussion?

If you suffered an injury because of another’s negligence, you might have a legal right to compensation. Concussions can prevent you from working, halt your progress in school, and negatively impact your quality of life. Potential damages an attorney can legally recover for you may include:

Economic Damages

Economic damage addresses physical losses sustained by victims. This damage is intended to return the victim to the financial position they were in before the accident happened. Economic damages can include current and future medical bills, current and future lost income, lost earning capacity, and other tangible losses related to an accident. Rest assured that with the help of our experienced car accident lawyers, you can recover all these economic damages and other accident-related losses.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are the invisible losses a person suffers after an accident. These intangible losses are usually difficult to prove. Non-economic damages typically include loss of enjoyment of life, pain, suffering, inconvenience, decreased quality of life, disability, etc.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are intended to deter wildly outrageous actions in the future. These damages are not always available, and courts typically limit the amount of recovery for a plaintiff. In California, punitive damages are available in very limited circumstances. California law allows punitive damages to be awarded in cases where there is clear and convincing evidence of oppression, fraud, or malice. A California brain injury lawyer can help you understand your right to punitive damages.

How Can a California Brain Injury Lawyer Help Me With My Concussion Recovery Time?

Ensuring full recovery after an accident starts with having a legal team working on your side. Your attorney is your advocate during settlement negotiations and at trial. The legal team you choose will work hard to help you maximize your financial recovery. A brain injury attorney can help you in the following ways:

Negotiate on Your Behalf

Accident claims begin with negotiating with the insurance company. If you are not an experienced negotiator, you may leave money on the table that deserves to go into your pocket. An experienced brain injury attorney, such as our own Tina Eshghieh, can help you avoid the tactics insurance companies use to minimize the number of settlements it pays out. Some common tactics include boxing victims into a story quickly after the accident before they have a chance to consult an attorney, offering a settlement quickly after the accident before the victim has completed medical treatment, and outright denying a claim happened or shifting the blame from their insured to the victim.

Help Evaluate Your Damages

Often accident victims do not realize they are entitled to certain damages. Your attorney will listen to your story and ensure you never settle for an amount that will not cover your losses.

Prepare You and Represent You at Trial

Presenting a persuasive case in front of a jury or judge requires a lot of preparation. From the moment your complaint for damages is filed, you begin preparing for trial. All good brain injury attorneys will ensure that all deadlines are met, pleadings are filed, and you put your best foot forward at trial.

Contact Arash Law Today

Our team of expert brain injury attorneys at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., wants to help you protect your legal rights after suffering a brain injury in California. People across the state have trusted our law firm for decades to assist them in getting financial recovery after an injury caused by another’s negligence. We want to do the same for you. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury after an accident, contact us today at (888)488-1391 or chat with us to schedule a free no-obligation case evaluation. We look forward to working with you.