Dealing with a fractured skull is one of the possibilities you face if you suffer a strong blow to the head. While damage to the soft tissue – i.e. the brain itself – serves as a more common problem, even bone can buckle under enough force.
Thus, you need to know how to identify signs of a potential fracture in order to get the fastest medical treatment possible.
Internal bleeding and external bruising
Merck Manual discusses some of the red flags that might indicate a skull fracture. The physical signs may not stand out as prominently, but they can indicate the possibility of blood inside the skull. First, keep an eye out for bruising around the eyes or behind the ears. This is due to the fact that blood in the skull will often settle in the hollow points, and will show in the form of bruising.
You may also notice blood leaking from the ears, along with clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose. Blood may build up behind the eardrums until they burst, while the clear fluid – cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) – is within cranial and spinal spaces. If these spaces end up punctured or damaged, the fluid within can leak out through orifices in the face.
The onset of neurological symptoms
The onset of neurological symptoms due to skull fracture also often appears faster than the symptoms that occur due to concussive damage. This may include seizures, repeated vomiting, partial or full paralysis and a failure to identify one’s surroundings.
If skull fractures do not get immediate medical treatment, you risk the possibility of permanent brain damage. Thus, if you notice such signs, you want to get immediate medical help.
Medical researchers discovered that physicians made diagnostic errors resulting in injuries, disability or death that involved almost 10% of their patients. As reported by Health.com, cancer, infection and cardiovascular issues reflected the most common conditions that doctors misdiagnosed or failed to detect in time.
A failure to screen or treat a patient complaining of symptoms for the first time may lead to a delayed diagnosis. A practitioner who brushes off a valid complaint may cause harm to the patient, especially if the patient continues to experience symptoms.
A failure to diagnose cancer or cardiovascular conditions may have serious consequences
Several hospital or office visits later, a patient’s cancerous condition may have progressed to a catastrophic stage with lasting damage. Nearly 23% of lung cancer patients studied experienced a “meaningful” delay in receiving their diagnosis.
Stroke symptoms that physicians may ignore include headaches or dizziness. They account for about 9% of the diagnostic errors made. When patients do not experience these symptoms at the same time that they display the more obvious signs of a stroke, such as difficulty speaking or a facial droop, a doctor might ignore them.
Researchers find women face a higher risk of misdiagnosis
Women reportedly face a higher chance of a heart attack misdiagnosis. As noted by Nature.com, physicians initially misdiagnose women following a heart attack 50% more frequently than men. Blood clots also occur in women more often, yet doctors may fail to prescribe them medication to prevent clotting.
Medical practitioners owe a duty of care to provide patients with an accurate diagnosis and timely treatments that reflect their medical conditions. When critical issues remain untreated because of a doctor’s diagnostic error and lead to injuries, paralysis or death, a harmed individual or family may file a legal action.
Whether you fall down on a slick surface while shopping in a building or walking on the sidewalk, it is important to review your rights if the accident occurred due to another party’s carelessness or negligence. Every year, many people suffer serious injuries and even lose their lives due to slip-and-fall accidents.
There are many hazards that can cause someone to fall, from icy and slick surfaces to clutter, uneven steps and broken walkways. If you are struggling with the consequences of falling down, focus on your recovery and look into resources that could help you move forward.
How many people suffer injuries after falling down?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each year, more than 800,000 people require hospitalization due to fall-related injuries, many of which involve a fractured hip or head injury. Moreover, falls account for more traumatic brain injuries than any other risk factor.
Older adults are especially vulnerable when it comes to falls and every year, more than 3 million people 65 and older need emergency treatment after falling down. In fact, over 25% of older adults fall down on an annual basis.
How do fall injuries affect victims?
If you fall down, you could struggle with various challenges. For example, you could have to take time off of work to recover from your injuries or you could lose the ability to work indefinitely. Physical pain, medical costs and emotional hardships also affect many fall victims. If you fell down because of a negligent business owner or a careless property owner, take a look at the options you have.
Whether you have a child who frequently walks near traffic or you enjoy getting exercise by jogging alongside the road, it is very important to understand how prevalent pedestrian accidents are. Moreover, you should review statistics on pedestrian injuries and deaths as well as risk factors surrounding these accidents.
Sadly, many people lose their lives as a result of negligent drivers and those who survive pedestrian accidents often struggle with many hardships. Physical pain, the inability to keep working, financial problems and emotional challenges impact many pedestrian accident victims and their families.
How many pedestrians lose their lives and suffer injuries?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5,977 pedestrians died in traffic accidents over the course of 2017. Moreover, roughly 137,000 people had to receive emergency treatment due to injuries sustained in pedestrian accidents, according to estimates.
Based on these figures, a pedestrian passed every 88 minutes during 2017, on average. Furthermore, pedestrians have a greater chance of losing their lives in traffic accidents compared to those riding in vehicles.
Which risk factors increase the odds of pedestrian accidents?
The CDC reports that 47% of fatal pedestrian accidents involved alcohol. Additionally, pedestrian accidents take place more frequently during the night and on urban roads. When a driver travels too fast, not only do they increase the odds of a pedestrian accident but they also increase the likelihood of a pedestrian sustaining more serious injuries.
When it comes to pedestrian fatalities, older adults and young children are especially vulnerable. If you or a loved one suffered an injury because of a negligent driver, do not hesitate to look over your options.
A wide range of physical effects can accompany traumatic brain injury (TBI). When these injuries are severe, patients often require ongoing treatment and therapy to make a full or partial recovery.
While the physical effects of TBI are challenging, the emotional effects are even more so. According to the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, there are a variety of emotional effects that can also occur with TBI. While difficult for the individual patient, they are also very challenging for the patient’s family. Here are a few of those effects and how they impact patients.
Depression
Depression is a common factor with severe injuries. This is especially true when there are distinct changes in functioning and ability. These changes often overwhelm TBI patients. They might also miss doing things they once enjoyed.
Professional treatment for depression can help patients develop healthy coping mechanisms and thinking. Some patients can also take medication to prevent severe, lasting bouts of depression.
Anxiety
While it is normal to experience anxiety when in a fearful situation, it can also occur without cause. People sometimes experience a general form of nervousness, or they can go through acute panic attacks, which are periods of intense fear.
Anxiety after TBI occurs because of physical damage to the brain, or it can occur as a result of a patient feeling pressured to do things before they are ready, such as returning to work too soon.
Mood swings
Certain parts of the brain regulate moods. When these areas sustain damage, patients can experience rapidly changing moods for no real reason. A person might appear happy one minute and sad the next, or even experience anger and irritability.
Most people are able to regulate their moods again as they progress through the recovery process. While they are acclimating, family and friends should express sympathy and patience when faced with mood swings.
Some TBI effects are permanent, while others resolve after weeks or months. In either case, patients must receive proper treatment and care to ensure good health and quality of life.
Certain injuries are very common during auto accidents. According to Healthline, auto accidents often cause headaches and back pain simultaneously.
Even relatively minor pain can have a negative impact on your life if it occurs frequently. In this case, you must seek out the proper medical care to relieve pain and discomfort, while also improving range of motion and movement. Here are the steps you can take to heal after a damaging car accident.
What to expect when visiting the doctor
If you do not require immediate medical care after a car accident, you should follow up with your primary care doctor as soon as possible if symptom present. Your doctor will ask about the type of pain, its intensity, how long you have experienced it, and whether you experience any other symptoms.
Your doctor will also perform a physical exam to get a better understanding of your symptoms. They may ask you to sit, stand, or walk, perform blood testing and diagnostic imaging, perform neurological exams, and undertake other procedures. These tests and exams are integral for developing an effective treatment plan.
How to treat recurring headaches and back pain
Treatments depend on whether symptoms are minor or severe. For minor pain, your doctor may advise you to rest, apply hot or cold compresses to your head, or take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.
More serious issues might require prescription medication, such as muscle relaxers. Cortisone injections can reduce swelling within the back to decrease movement and relieve any discomfort you are experiencing. Massage therapy is also beneficial, as it can ease muscle tension.
While you cannot control the behaviors of other drivers, you can reduce your risk of experiencing a serious injury. Always wear your seatbelt, operate your vehicle conscientiously, and obey all traffic laws to ensure a safe driving experience for yourself and others.
Following an accident on the 405 South or the 22 Eastbound, you may experience persistent back pain, headaches and other symptoms that greatly interfere with your quality of life. To get your life back on track, you need to pay for vehicle repairs and medical care for your injuries.
Unfortunately, the person who caused the accident does not have insurance. To add insult to injury, your insurance company seems to have forgotten about your claim — or refuses to acknowledge it at all. While your insurer’s lack of action may frustrate you, it may comfort you to know that the law does afford you several protections against insurers that act in bad faith.
Bad faith occurs when an insurance company violates its duty of care
Your insurance company has a duty to thoroughly investigate, negotiate and settle your claims in good faith. Failure to do any or all of the above may constitute a breach of duty and could result in a legal claim. According to FindLaw, the basis for the legal claim, in this case, would be “bad faith.”
Examples of bad faith insurance
Though it can take many forms, bad faith insurance occurs when an insurance company engages in unfair or dishonest tactics. The presence of one or several of these tactics may give you grounds to file a bad faith claim.
- Unreasonable delays: Per California law, insurance companies have 40 days to either accept or deny a claim. If your insurer drags out your claim longer than this without notifying you, in writing, as to the reason for the delay, it may be guilty of bad faith. Insurers purposely delay the processing of claims in hopes that claimants will stop pursuing them.
- Deceptive practices: If your insurer fails to provide you with the paperwork necessary to complete your claim, or if it does not notify you of an upcoming deadline, it could be guilty of bad faith. The same is true if your provider fails to disclose to you applicable coverage.
- Failure to conduct an investigation: Insurers have a duty to thoroughly and promptly investigate each claim. Failure to do so could result in a bad-faith lawsuit.
- Misrepresenting policy language: Your provider may purposely misinterpret the law or the policy language to avoid paying you. Doing so is an act of bad faith.
- Refusing to pay or paying too little: Your insurer has a duty to pay you a fair amount for any injuries or incidences that your policy covers. The courts may construe the failure to do either as an act of bad faith.
If you suspect your insurance company of bad faith dealings, seek legal help right away. An attorney can inform you of your rights and advise you on how to proceed.
Establishing a relationship with your doctor in California can help you feel more confident about your treatment. If you feel unhappy with your treatment or concerned about your health, having a good relationship with your doctor may make it more comfortable to verbalize your feelings.
A good doctor who respects you will listen intently to your concerns and help you identify promising solutions.
Build a relationship
Building a relationship with your doctor will take time. In fact, you may cycle through a couple of health care providers before you find one that meets your expectations and understands your needs. According to the American Migraine Foundation, one of the best ways to gauge the likelihood of forming a good relationship is to analyze how you feel when you speak with your doctor.
You should feel comfortable talking with your physician. You should feel as though your health concerns matter. Your medical records and health history should play an integral role in determining your treatment options. You should feel heard and valued.
Advocate for your health
Once you have established a good relationship built on respect and trust, you can advocate for your health. You will undoubtedly encounter situations where you feel concerned about the direction of your health. Having the confidence and level of comfort to address your concerns without fear of judgment or disregard can aid in identifying a promising solution without wasting precious time.
Forming a good relationship with your doctor enables you to work together as a team. You can each express concerns and ideas. A team approach to implementing sustainable solutions will give you more control of your health and your future.
