Head injury (how do know when you need to see a doctor?)

[YS2003]

If you sustained a head injury (like, cracking the skull or cutting the scalp deep enough for stitches), do you feel the need for those treatments by a doctor? I mean, does the pain make you go see a doctor?

I bumped into the edge of my car's trunk door (while it was open) and started bleeding (I don't like to look at it too much as I don't like a gory stuff). I thought I hit it strong; but, as the trunk lid was not bent, I think I didn't hit it hard enough. It stopped bleeding after several minutes later and the pain is not thumping.

 

[.Andy]

If you sustained a head injury (like, cracking the skull or cutting the scalp deep enough for stitches), do you feel the need for those treatments by a doctor? I mean, does the pain make you go to see a doctor?

I bumped into the edge of my car's trunk door (while it was open) and started bleeding (I don't like to look at it too much) as I don't like a gory stuff). I thought I hit it strong; but, as the trunk lid was not bent, I think I didn't hit it hard enough. It stopped after several minutes later and the pain is not thumping.

For starters you can never be too cautious with head injuries. Going to the doctor would be the best bet. If you've got a headache or blurred vision go to emergency immediately.

 

[foxx0775]

do you feel any symptoms apart from pain?

i did the same thing a table corner.. it bled lots.. had to go get the wound glued up.

you may need it stiched cos its open to infection...

 

[YS2003]

Thanks for the replies. I would rather not to go see a doc if the injury is minor. I wanna know how painful it would be if you cracked your skull or cut your scalp deep enough for stitches.

do you feel any symptoms apart from pain?

i did the same thing a table corner.. it bled lots.. had to go get the wound glued up.

you may need it stiched cos its open to infection...

How painful was that? I feel the slight pain (bleeding has stopped) but not like a throbbing pain.

 

[wwooden]

You go to the doctor when you leave words out of thread titles .

 

[RaceTripper]

You go to the doctor when you leave words out of thread titles .

I was thinking that asking medical questions on a computer forum qualifies as brain damage.

 

[YS2003]

I was thinking that asking medical questions on a computer forum qualifies as brain damage.

Come On. I thought Mac users are smart enough to offer medical advice. I am just interested in hearing how painful it should be before you need to go see a doc.

 

[arkitect]

Come On. I thought Mac users are smart enough to offer medical advice. I am just interested in hearing how painful it should be before you need to go see a doc.

Painful has little to do with it… for all you know you could have massive internal damage.

Not everything is just superficial.

 

[leekohler]

Go to the doctor now. Do not mess around with head injuries.

 

[sushi]

Go to the doctor now. Do not mess around with head injuries.

Agree.

Get it checked out right away. You cannot be too careful with head injuries.

 

[xUKHCx]

For starters you can never be too cautious with head injuries. Going to the doctor would be the best bet. If you've got a headache or blurred vision go to emergency immediately.

Very good advice.

Painful has little to do with it… for all you know you could have massive internal damage.

Not everything is just superficial.

I had suffered a head which didn't hurt (might have been because I was unconscious though , although it didn't hurt when I woke up in hospital) but was hospitalised for a 7 days and had bed rest for a further week.

Head injuries can mess you up quite bad.

I would suggest going to the doctor and getting someone else to take you there as you don't want to be driving with a head injury.


Failing that make sure that there is someone around who knows the signs of head injuries (such as those ones listed in this thread, and being sick etc.) and get them to check on you every now and again. Including waking you up to check that you are coherent etc.

 

[Consultant]

Call the doctor's office and ask them about it.

 

[Xfujinon]

(I'm a medical student).

Always get head injuries checked out, no matter how minor. Go to the ER right away if you have:

Unrelenting pain of any severity localized to one head region
Double vision
Blurred vision
Double or blurred vision in one eye (on the side of the injury)
Headache
Change in hearing
Acid, stinging, or salty taste in the mouth (or tongue numbness)
Nausea with head movement
A "spinning room" sensation
Sudden, sharp head pain that does not go away and makes you vomit
A scalp wound that bleeds for more than ten minutes, or exposes bone
A high fever a few days after getting cut, scraped, etc.
Persistent disorientation, confusion, stupor, or altered personality


It takes a surprisingly small amount of force in some cases to cause an intracranial bleed. Alternatively, scalp wounds can sometimes bleed so profusely that you can lose conciousness, or even die from the blood loss.