PCS: Why That Car Accident May Still Be Affecting You

By Aghabegian & Associates on April 29, 2020

After suffering through your concussion, you finally feel like you’re back on your feet and on your way to a full recovery. But then out of nowhere, your headaches come back and they’re even worse than before. You start to have issues concentrating, and your vision is going blurry. Despite the fact that the accident that caused your concussion was weeks ago, you are getting worse, not better. Eventually, a medical review by your doctor may demonstrate that you’re suffering from post-concussive syndrome, otherwise known as PCS.

What Is PCS?

Post-concussive syndrome is often a result of a mild brain injury. Of course, no brain injury is really ‘mild’, but it doesn’t take a hard blow to the head to develop PCS. You don’t need to lose consciousness in order to eventually suffer from it, and even less severe concussions can eventually develop into the syndrome.

It can take anywhere from seven to ten days to begin exhibiting symptoms. If you only had a moderate concussion, then you may believe that you are almost fully recovered by the time PCS begins to develop. The syndrome may not go away for upwards of three months, and some severe cases have been known to last longer than a year.

Unfortunately, no one is entirely sure why some people get PCS after a head injury while others don’t. Some experts believe it may be caused by structural damage to the brain. Others think it may relate more to psychology. No one has a conclusive answer. Which means there is no foolproof way to treat it. Most doctors will simply focus on controlling the symptoms.

The Symptoms of PCS

PCS can be just as, if not more, debilitating as the initial head injury that caused it. Those who develop the syndrome can expect to suffer from:

• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Dizziness
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• A lowered sense of taste and smell
• Blurred vision

Mild versions of the syndrome may just feel like tension headaches, but three months to a year of headaches, even if they aren’t severe, can impact anyone’s life. More severe versions can result in migraine-like pain that just won’t go away. Again, there is no sure way to treat post-concussive disorder. More than likely your health care professional will seek to minimize your symptoms as much as possible, but finding the right medications and treatments to do that involves a lots of trial and error. Which means you may not find any relief for weeks.

When in an Accident

After being involved in an accident, perhaps a slip and fall or an auto accident, you may be tempted to forgo a medical examination in favor of going home and relaxing. Maybe you’re afraid of the costs or you’d just rather forget your traumatic experience. However, you should always seek medical help. While medical professionals won’t be able to stop you from developing PCS, they will be able to treat any current head injuries you might be suffering from and may have a better idea of how to treat your post-concussive disorder if it begins to develop. Head injuries are no laughing matter and should never be brushed off.

If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence and you are now facing a future with PCS, then you deserve compensation. Contact Aghabegian & Associates, PC to get in touch with a Glendale personal injury attorney by calling at (818) 507-4311. We can prepare a detailed personal injury claim that accounts for all your injuries, including PSC, and advocate for proper compensation after an accident.