Partial or Temporary Memory Loss After a Brain Injury
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, memory loss is a common occurrence. Although often temporary, memory problems after a TBI can be a scary experience. It’s important to seek medical attention right away and get onto the best possible treatment protocol for your recovery.
At Brain Injury Law of Seattle, our years of experience have given us a thorough understanding of temporary or short-term memory loss. We've helped countless trauma victims get the compensation they need to recover fully.
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What is Temporary, Partial, or Short-Term Memory Loss After a Brain Injury?
The terms temporary memory loss, partial memory loss, and short-term memory loss refer to the same thing:
You’re having difficulty remembering information you’ve just learned. You may notice:
- Frequently asking the same question
- Forgetting recent conversations
- Misplacing items regularly
- Relying on notes and apps to remember details and information
- Difficulties following instructions
- Disorientation and brain fog
- Inability to concentrate
- Headaches, tiredness, and fatigue
These symptoms of memory loss from a TBI may remind you of conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia. However, those conditions cause permanent symptoms, while memory loss after a head trauma tends to be temporary.
Read this post for more information on traumatic brain injury symptoms.
How Does Short-Term Memory Loss After a TBI Occur?
There are a few ways that a TBI can produce memory loss.
The most common cause of memory loss is from a head injury—some form of a blow to the head. It causes inflammation, swelling, and reduced blood flow in the affected area. This physical trauma can damage multiple parts of the brain associated with the creation and retrieval of memories.
More specifically, the temporal lobe of the brain is in charge of storing memories, and the hippocampus, which is contained within this region, helps retain new information. If this area is damaged by the TBI, temporary memory loss (or even long-term memory loss) can occur.
A TBI can also cause a chemical imbalance, which can result in the loss of memory or even temporary post-traumatic amnesia.
It’s also worth mentioning that medication memory loss is becoming more common, especially in older individuals who often mix multiple types of treatments.
Depression and anxiety are also known causes of short-term memory loss, as well as confusion, difficulties concentrating, and other cognitive symptoms.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Memory Loss: Treatment Options
First, there are a number of medications doctors can prescribe to help patients with thinking, language, and other thought processes that can be negatively impacted by their injury.
Exercise is also important. The brain consumes almost 20% of your body’s oxygen, so increasing blood flow to this vital organ can help accelerate its healing process. It has been proven to improve circulation and reduce inflammation across the body by opening up our veins and arteries, increasing blood flow, and delivering oxygen to injured tissue. This, in turn, can help improve brain fog and other symptoms related to TBI short-term memory loss.
Cognitive rehabilitation can also help you recover from TBI memory loss. This consists of exercises that promote the usage of memory functions, retraining the brain and improving memory.
It’s important to note that cognitive rehabilitation may only be available in specialized clinics, and it requires a significant investment of time and energy. If you or a loved one has to undergo this type of treatment, it’s important to have enough resources to cover your expenses.
Get the Compensation You Need to Focus on Recovering
Any loss of memory after a head injury, whether temporary, partial, or permanent, can be terrifying. It’s important to stay positive and focus all your attention on making a full recovery from any form of post-concussion amnesia.
That’s difficult to do while worrying about how you'll pay for treatment.
If your brain injury was caused by the actions or negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. At Brain Injury Law of Seattle, our team of attorneys specializes in helping TBI victims get the compensation they need to cover:
- Lost wages
- Property damages
- Medical bills
- Additional expenses
Client Story
M.W., Kent, WA
"M.W. was riding his bicycle in a bike lane in Kent. He was a 24 year old elite cyclist in excellent shape. A driver of a truck in the lane next to him suddenly turned right and nicked M.W., making him fall off his bike. He was wearing his helmet. However, when he fell to the ground, his head struck the pavement along with his left shoulder. "
Contact Brain Injury Law
Call or email us for a free consultation, and find out how we can help you get your life back following a brain injury. We are here to help, answer questions, and educate you about what you have to look forward to. We have the medical and legal knowledge to tell you what you are facing and how you can be helped. We pledge to always tell you like it is so you can make informed decisions about your brain injury and how best to help yourself. This is what we do.
