A traumatic brain injury can be a life-altering experience that can leave a person suffering a number of residual effects as a result. There are various types of traumatic brain injuries, with one of the most common being a concussion. A concussion is a short-lived occurrence of brain function that occurs when there is trauma to the head. However, this type of injury is characterized by an interruption with a lack of actual damage to the brain itself. Nonetheless, a concussion and other traumatic brain injuries can make back pain worse over time.
Traumatic brain injuries can also have an impact on other functions in the body, as well. From neck pain to severe headaches, these injuries are often slow to heal and may even be slow to present in many patients. They can occur after an acute episode or injury involving the head, most often an accident of some sort.
The fact that back pain can get worse over time when it comes to a traumatic head injury may be so for a number of reasons, However, among the more common is the fact that, at least in part, many people with this level of head injury report at least a temporary or minimal level of cognitive impairment. This can affect a person’s ability to deal with back pain in as well as other forms of chronic pain. A possible reason for this may be the reduction of gray matter in the brain, which is associated with the ability to process pain, as well as the ability to control emotional issues related to pain, such a depressive thoughts and anxiety.
It is also worth noting that when it comes to traumatic brain injuries, the symptoms may be fairly minimal for the first 24 hours. In fact, back pain as well as neck pain may among the first signs that the injury is present and may necessitate further medical attention.
When this occurs, it is best to seek the advice of a medical professional to ensure that the injury to the brain is not serious or debilitating. Since brain injuries are often slow to heal, back pain might be present for some time, leaving the individual to deal with chronic pain when they might not be used to doing so.