Can You Have a Brain Injury With Normal Imaging Results?
If you’re dealing with symptoms of a brain injury after being in an accident, even with a normal scan, it’s important to seek help from a personal injury lawyer who can help you build your case. Contact our team today to schedule your free case evaluation.
Understanding traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries can change the way a person thinks, feels, and acts, even if normal scans show no visible damage. Knowing the basics of TBIs helps you understand why these injuries can be tough to diagnose and why it’s important to take symptoms seriously.
What is a concussion or mild TBI?
A concussion, also called a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), happens when a hit, blow, or strong movement of the head causes the brain to move around inside the skull. These injuries commonly result from car accidents, falls, sports injuries, accidents at work, or if someone is the victim of a violent crime.
While they’re called ‘mild,’ that term refers to how the injury is classified medically – not how severe the symptoms may be or how long they last. Many people with mild TBIs have severe symptoms that last for weeks, months, or longer, even if they seem okay at first.
Why standard CT scans and MRIs may look normal
When a doctor orders a brain scan after a head injury, they’re usually looking for significant issues like bleeding, a fractured skull, or major swelling. CT (computed tomography) scans are the emergency gold standard for rapidly ruling out life-threatening hemorrhages and fractures, while MRI scans offer better (but not perfect) radiation-free resolution for identifying more subtle injuries.
Most concussions or mild TBIs cause tiny, cell-level changes in brain function, problems that are too small for a standard scan to pick up. There are more advanced options, like DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) or fMRI (functional MRI), but these are mainly used in research or specialized medical settings.
Knowing that a normal MRI or CT doesn’t rule out a real injury can make a big difference for brain injury victims and help them get the care and compensation they deserve.
Symptoms of a brain injury despite normal imaging
Recognizing the symptoms of a brain injury is important; don’t assume everything is fine because your scans looked clear. If you aren’t feeling quite right after the accident, keep track of how you’re feeling, because you may need further care. Below are some common signs of brain injuries:
Physical symptoms
After a blow or jolt to the head, you might notice things like headaches, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and sounds, and overwhelming fatigue. These physical signs are common in brain injury cases and show that real changes are happening, whether or not they show up on routine medical scans.
Cognitive symptoms
Brain injuries can affect your ability to think clearly. You might have trouble that wasn’t there before, like not being able to keep ideas organized and finding it harder than usual to focus. Simple tasks like reading a book or following conversations might suddenly become challenging.
Emotional and behavioral symptoms
People suffering from brain injuries may notice mood swings or quick temper flare-ups, even if they used to be very patient. Feelings of anxiety or overwhelming sadness can show up, too, even when the person doesn’t know why they feel that way. Some people experiencing a brain injury may have trouble with impulse control, leading to behavior that makes it look like they’re acting out.
Delayed symptoms
Not every sign of a brain injury shows up right away. Sometimes symptoms start hours or days later because the body’s stress response and adrenaline mask problems at first. Only after the initial event do you calm down and discover there’s an issue. That’s why it’s so important to watch for new symptoms over time and to take these delayed symptoms just as seriously as anything noticed right after the accident.
How doctors diagnose brain injuries beyond imaging
When standard scans appear normal, but symptoms persist, doctors rely on several other important tools to diagnose a brain injury.
- Clinical Evaluation: A doctor will perform a neurological evaluation, checking your reflexes, eye movements, balance, muscle coordination, and more. Simple tests to measure attention span, memory, and problem-solving ability can confirm challenges or improvements over time.
- Neuropsychological testing: Neuropsychological tests go a step further and use detailed questions and tasks to explore exactly where your brain may not be working typically. This type of assessment measures things like recall, concentration, and executive planning.
- Patient history and symptom tracking: Doctors may ask about when symptoms started, how they change throughout the day, and other issues like sleep struggles or headaches. Input from family members can be crucial too, since loved ones may notice odd behavior or memory gaps.
No single test provides the whole picture; a combination of imaging, patient and family input, observation from doctors, and a thorough review of medical records can lead to a proper diagnosis.
Why normal imaging results can complicate a personal injury claim
Insurance and legal cases get tricky when scans appear normal, but serious signs of a brain injury linger. If insurance companies don’t have proof of a brain injury through imaging, they may argue that the injury isn’t real or that you’re exaggerating your symptoms. Some adjusters use the lack of visible proof as an excuse to flat-out deny a brain injury diagnosis. The best way to combat this is to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer who handles brain injury cases.
Reach out to Bradshaw & Bryant for experienced brain injury case guidance in Minnesota
If you or a loved one is dealing with concussion symptoms despite normal brain scans, you’re not alone, and you may still have a strong personal injury claim. Minnesota personal injury law allows victims to recover compensation for injuries proven through medical evidence and expert testimony, even if standard imaging tests do not show visible damage. Lawyers who handle brain injury cases know how to gather medical records, work with specialists, and explain your symptoms for the best chance at fair compensation.
Don’t just accept an insurance denial or quick dismissal if you keep having trouble after a head injury. Reach out to our team today to schedule a free case consultation.