If you suffer an injury and have only minor symptoms, you may be tempted not to get medical treatment. After all, doing so can be quite expensive. Many people prefer to wait and see if their symptoms will heal on their own, perhaps just relying on rest and simple treatments like taking painkillers or drinking water.
One problem with this perspective—especially when considering brain injuries—is that symptoms can get worse over time. For example, there’s a type of injury known as a subdural hematoma, where there’s bleeding around the brain. This can happen right away, often due to a violent injury, but it can also happen days or even months after impact.
Why does this happen?
Oftentimes, the issue with this particular injury is the accumulation of blood and the pressure it puts on the brain. For instance, a minor injury suffered in a car accident may have caused the rupture of a blood vessel, but the bleeding is very slow. If it heals on its own, it may not be an issue. But if the bleeding continues, pressure can build up in the hours or days that follow.
This is why it can sometimes be dangerous to sleep after a brain injury. Sleep itself is actually helpful for recovery and doesn’t cause an injury to get worse. But if someone isn’t monitoring their symptoms, an issue like a subdural hematoma could lead to catastrophic or even fatal consequences before anyone realizes it. Those who sleep after a suspected brain injury are often best monitored by someone else who can wake them up periodically to check their symptoms, and even then, it is best to talk to medical professionals.
Seeking medical care can be expensive, but if you’ve been injured, you may be able to seek financial compensation from the party who caused the injury. Once your health has been seen to, you can explore your legal options next.
