Whether it’s a minor bump on the head or a severe concussion, a head injury is never pleasant. There may be a period of time where you don’t feel like yourself or you have lost the ability to do things you have always been able to do. In the case of severe injuries, this is more likely to happen. Keep in mind that the cost of a blow to the head can add up over time. Here’s what to know about the potential costs of such an injury.
1. Short-Term Care
Because it’s difficult to tell the severity of a head trauma when it first happens, short term care often should immediately follow a head injury. This frequently involves emergency room care, although in the case of a less-severe injury, you may be able to go to an urgent care center instead. Urgent or emergency care can quickly become quite expensive. Most injuries will require at least a CT scan to be done in order to immediately assess the extent of the damage. Severe injuries may necessitate a hospital stay, and in most cases, you’ll be prescribed medication as well. Although all of this can seem a little unnecessary for a little bump on the head, it can determine if you need extensive care or prevent serious problems from arising.
2. Long-Term Care
Unfortunately, in the case of a major head injury or trauma to the brain, the costs don’t stop after initial care. According to Dolman Law, brain injuries can have serious physical and cognitive consequences, often requiring long hospital stays and therapy to recover from. With most injuries of this nature, you can’t simply return to normal function once you leave the hospital after your initial treatment. Many patients require extensive rehabilitative therapy. In some cases, this therapy is to help you return to normal motor function. In other cases, you will need cognitive therapy. Since the brain is such a complex organ, each traumatic injury is different, you likely will need a specialized regimen of therapy in order to fully recover.
3. Mental Health Costs
Of course, even after rehabilitative therapy has been completed, a head injury can still cost you. According to Family Aware, brain injuries can increase your risk for developing mental illness, and this link may not be immediately apparent. If you’ve survived a traumatic brain injury, you may find yourself paying for psychiatric treatment and expensive medication. A decline in mental health is also often linked to a decline in functional abilities, so you could also have difficulties with work.
We all know that brain injuries have the potential to be life-changing events, but their far-reaching effects are still being investigated. While there are some precautions you can take against these mishaps, they can happen regardless of how careful you are. Getting immediate care may be able to help minimize the damage and also reduce the long-term costs you’ll have to face.
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