 Many people experience problems
thinking, concentrating, and remembering after a car accident. The most common
causes are pain and insomnia. Pain can effect the way our brains process
information. Getting the pain under control with drugs that don't make you feel more
"out of it" is essential. If you already have problems thinking due to
pain, you should stay away from narcotics and muscle relaxers during the day.
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| Good, restorative sleep is another problem after car accidents. Most
patients can't sleep because of pain, but some have problems with
nightmares
of the accident. This lack of sleep usually leads to problems thinking,
concentrating, and remembering. Talk to your doctor about different methods to
increase sleep. Here are some ideas: |
- Control the pain at night with
anti-inflammatories, pain relievers, narcotics, or muscle relaxers.
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- Add in sleep inducing drugs like
hypnotics or low dose anti-depressants.
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- Learn biofeedback and relaxation
techniques.
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- Sleep with the room colder.
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- Find more comfortable sleep positions.
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- Eliminate coffee, soft
drinks, and other foods with caffeine.
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Another problem that can
effect thinking that's sometimes seen after car accidents is depression. |
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Finally, it's possible to get a bruise on the brain in a car accident.
This is most commonly associated with getting hit on the head or knocked out, but it can
also happen without those things. Like any bruise, 99% of these heal without any
problem. However, in a very small number of people, problems persist. If you
feel that all of the things above have been checked and you still have difficulty with
thinking, concentrating, and remembering, consult your doctor. He or she may wish to
refer you for a neuropsychological evaluation. |
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A great patient
resource on how to cope with brain injury, prepared by experts in the field... |
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