Traumatic brain injury comes from an outside force on the brain, such as a blast or hitting your head. TBI can be one of three levels: mild, moderate or severe. Most TBIs are mild. A mild TBI is also called a concussion. A mild TBI is related with brief loss of consciousness (less than 30 minutes) or seeing stars (“having your bell rung”) or feeling woozy and confused for up to 24 hours. The person with a mild TBI may also have trouble remembering what happened in the 24 hours after the incident. Usually there is no need for imaging tests such as x-rays or MRIs.

The term TBI can be scary and concerning to the patient and family. It is good to know that most mild TBI symptoms go away completely after a few days or a couple of weeks. The person can return to work, exercise and a regular life. There is no need to “baby” yourself after the symptoms have gone. Only a very small fraction of mild TBIs cause any problems to the person. Some persons may experience on-going headaches, dizziness, fatigue and concentration/memory problems. If these problems continue, an individual should consult with a doctor who specializes in TBIs.