A subdural hematoma is a condition wherein there is bleeding in the tissue around the brain. Blood pools between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater. This can lead to increased pressure on the brain itself, which can cause all manner of health issues – and may even be fatal.
A subdural hematoma could happen if you strike your head in a fall at work, if you get injured in a serious car accident, etc. No matter how it happens, if you are experiencing bleeding around the brain, you need to know what symptoms to watch for, as you’ll need to get medical care immediately.
What symptoms should you expect?
As with all head and brain injuries, specific symptoms of brain bleeding can vary from case to case. With that said, if you experience any of these common symptoms, you’ll want to act with particular urgency:
- Headache: Persistent or worsening headache is a common early symptom. The pain may be dull or throbbing.
- Confusion: Individuals with a subdural hematoma may become confused, disoriented or have difficulty concentrating.
- Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting can occur due to increased intracranial pressure.
- Drowsiness: A person with a subdural hematoma may feel excessively sleepy or lethargic.
- Weakness: Muscle weakness, especially on one side of the body, may develop.
- Difficulty speaking: Trouble finding the proper words or slurred speech could both be symptoms of a subdural hematoma.
- Seizures: Some people have seizures after a hematoma, due to the increased pressure on the brain.
- Visual problems: Blurred vision, double vision or other visual disturbances can occur.
- Loss of consciousness: A severe subdural hematoma can cause a loss of consciousness or a coma.
- Personality changes: Changes in personality, mood swings or irritability may be observed.
- Unequal pupil size: This condition, known as anisocoria, can occur due to pressure on the brain’s nerves.
- Unsteady gait: Difficulty walking or maintaining balance may develop after a hematoma.
It’s important to note that symptoms can develop slowly over time, particularly in chronic subdural hematomas, which may not cause immediate, noticeable effects after the initial head injury. Acute subdural hematomas, on the other hand, often result from more severe head trauma and can cause sudden and severe symptoms.
Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to reduce the risk of complications and improve the chances of a full recovery. This can be expensive, so you may need to look into your legal options to seek financial compensation from any parties that contributed to the cause(s) of your harm once you’re medically stable.
