Adult head injury doesn't hurt until 2-3 days later? What could be the issue?
my friend hit his head on a towel rack in his bathroom about 3 days ago. It hurt like heck at the time but then it got better.
Well today he woke up with a major headache. His head is very tender to the touch, and he says he just doesn't feel right and it hurts like nothing he's ever felt before
It's been 3 days now, why would these symptoms arise now? He is really worried that there could be something serious going on. He was fine until the morning. Could his scalp just be bruised and that is causing the severe headache? He claims he has hit his head worse than this before, and has never felt this way before
He can't go to the hospital, or doctor even because he doesn't have insurance.
however if any of you think this could be a serious problem, then I will make him go.
Any thoughts as to what could be going on?
Thanks in advance, he really is freaking out and I googled "head injury" but got nothing useful out of what I found.
Thanks again
I don't think people who have insurance understand what it is like to not have health insurance. People have untreated conditions that go on for years, people die on a daily basis, people are miserable because of lack of heath insurance
The last time he visited the ER they racked up a RIDICULOUS bill, I'm talking thousands and thousands of dollars. He CANNOT afford proper care.
I am going to suggest that he see a doctor, but I'm almost positive that it won't happen.
I'm keeping an eye on him
Public Comments
1. Pain from a blunt trauma injury is usually caused by damage of nervous tissue immediately but later aches and pains are caused by broken blood vessels leaking blood into the nearby tissue. That blood causes extra pressure on the nerves nearby. If you can see serious surface bleeding, I wouldn't worry about it too much, but if you can't see anything on the surface, it may be the brain swelling against the skull. If that's the case, a doctor would be highly recommended.2. Of course it could be something serious...and if he were truly worried, he'd go to the hospital or doctor, insurance or not. An emergency room HAS to treat you regardless of whether or not you have insurance and everyone knows this.
I can't imagine your friend whacked his head hard enough on his towel rack to cause a subdural hematoma, but since we've all heard the tragic death of Natasha Richardson and the circumstances surrounding it, why not be safe and just go?
3. If he doesn't see a doctor his condition might deteriorate. I know someone who had a severe head injury and he thought he was well enough to go back to work but he kept messing up orders, and a few days later he was in palliative care. So tell your friend to take his injuries seriously and see a doctor. It's too bad that he doesn't have insurance, but he needs to see a doctor.
4. Delayed, progressive headache = bleeding inside the skull until proven otherwise with a scan.
How much does a doctor visit and scan cost? How much does a lifetime in a nursing home cost?
Get to the hospital.
