posted
Not like bleeding or cuts on the head, like impact injuries. What are signs that it's something requires care or at least more horizontal alignment?
posted
Uneven pupils (one dilated, one not, etc.) Usually if you get the lump on the outside (visible lump) that is better than having the hematoma on the inside of the skull, where you can't see it....
Lots of other stuff/symptoms, but I'll let CT answer it more completely.
posted
Let's suppose, hypothetically, that someone was having difficulty focusing, kept almost nodding off and had a sever head ache, but only had minor naseua and dizzieness? Obviously they have a head injury, but is it really woth doing anything about or will this hyopthetical person just get better after a few hours?
posted
It's worth taking this hypothetical person to a doctor. Unless you are cool with the chance that this hypothetical person won't live very long. It may be a long shot, but this hypothetical person needs hypothetical treatment, no matter what.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Yeah, a lot of stuff has already been covered. I'll summarize:
Mental status changes - confusion - disorientation - inappropriate sleepiness (i.e., at a time when you wouldn't usually sleep) - irritability - persisting headache
Physical changes - uneven gait - numbness/tingling/paralysis/etc in part of the body - "posturing" (limbs get frozen in certin fixed positions) - vomiting - unequal pupils - blurred or double vision - slurred speech - suddenly drippy nose (could be cerebral spinal fluid) - bruises appearing on the bony prominanaces behind the ears (aka "Battle sign") - racoon-eye bruises - neck stiffness - fever - very fast or very slow breathing
Particularly worrisome is a lucid interval followed by a blackout, as well as any seizure activity.
Basically, if you aren't sure, get it checked out by a professional. Here is an eMedicine patient information article on Head Injury.
quote:Let's suppose, hypothetically, that someone was having difficulty focusing, kept almost nodding off and had a sever head ache, but only had minor naseua and dizzieness? Obviously they have a head injury, but is it really woth doing anything about or will this hyopthetical person just get better after a few hours?
Hobbes: well, duh.
Does the person not have insurance? Is that the problem?
posted
Hobbes, what you've described sounds like how I felt when I had a concussion. Though they couldn't *do* anything about it, it was important to know that I had one and what danger signs to watch for.
posted
Let's say this hypothetical person is me and had class for another hour and a half, can he just wait and see how he's feeling after that time before deciding anything?
Look, if you have any serious question, it would behoove this person to be seen and evaluated by a professional -- neurological examination, physical exam, and whatever else is appropriate. Especially (but not limited to the case) if this person will be alone for part of the day today.
If insurance is a problem, the hospital or clinic will work out a payment plan. An urgent care clinic would be cheaper, if available.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Go, Hobbes. I thought I was fine and actually left the scene of my accident (I slipped on ice and hit my head on my car and then the ground...ow!) against medical advice. It wasn't till I was driving and mistook the cars driving beside me for sharks that I knew something was really wrong.
posted
OK, class ends in five minutes, I'll skip my next one. This is my third visit in like a month and a half, and that was the first time I went.
Don't worry KQ, if there's one thing I wont be doing, it's biking. I'm very, very close to the building right now, like 1 minute and a half walk. Only thing is, I don't know where urgent care is there, only check-in. Sigh. I'll go though. Thanks.
posted
This reminds me of an episode of the ER show on Discovery channel some time back.
Kid came in, having fallen from a bike, doing really well, no major symptoms of head trauma and the trauma specialist ordered a scan. Told the camera operator "This is probably nothing, we're doing this only as a precaution."
The kid had a fractured skull.
The doctor said that's why they do it - 99 out of 100 times the extra precaution doesn't turn up anything, but if you happen to be that one....
With head injuries, always, always err on the side of caution.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Thanks Dag, it appears both of those things happened, except that I'm supposed to find someone to discharge myself into their care for the next 24 hours. I wish Annie was here.
Anyways, he said he didn't find anything and though it's ovious where I hit my head (or more percisley where my helmet hit my head) there were no deep impressions so probably no skull fracture.
posted
I've always wondered... You know in the movies hen someone gets hit on the back of the head and is knocked out and then is just fine? Is that even possible? Seems to me that they'd have to be hospitalized for a concussion or something.
Posts: 2258 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I did ask! I think everyone should be proud of me, afterall, my intial instinct was to ignore the pain and not even wash or cover the cuts (or take any pain killer)! [And I did actually do all those things...]
posted
I don't know, I fixed the chain (kind of) and bent the handlebars back into place, but that's not too healthy for it. For obvious reasons I haven't tried riding it anywhere. My helmet cracked too. It was an expensive, nice helmet.
posted
On the bright side of all this, the Nurse said that my blood pressure and pulse show the continual biking. Other than that though, I have to stay that I'm pretty underwhelmed with Purdue's urgent care.
posted
I didn't know my head was cut [almost all the serios abrasions where on my arm], it was very minor bleeding. Besides, the whole staff treated me like paranoid hypochondriac anyways.
posted
Hobbes, they have to do that to make you feel like nothing's really wrong. But you did the right thing to go in, and don't you forget it!
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I'm a nut for bike saftey. I hope everyone takes an object lesson from this.
[KQ: Not just that they kept assuring me I was going to be fine, they kept making comments that always seemed to be along the lines of "why are you here again" though obviously not nearly that blunt]
posted
Yes, but some people aren't complete idiots, just lazy or arrogant or whatever, and pay for it with their lives. Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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