How hard of a blow to the head do you need to cause brain damage?

Question

I have been smacked in the head a couple times. I did NOT lose conciousness, have vision loss, or un-even pupils. However, I did have a headache.

This last time I went to the doctor. He told me I had a "scalp contusion" and I had no internal injury. He said the blow to my head was not hard enough to cause brain damage.

I am a hypochrondriac and I am worried I might have brain damage. Can some knowledgable person please assure me how hard a blow you need to acquire brain damage?

Also, if I DID have brain damage, wouldn't I have some vision problems or hallucinations or something?

Should I get a CT scan to assure myself?

Answer 1

Let me first start by saying I am a State of Ohio Certified Emt. For you so have sufferd some sort of serriuos brain damage you would have had to have been hit in the head with something harder than a hand. Most cases of brain damaged people that I have see have been from a blunt force trama to the head. The way you would suffer that kind of injry is form  eather hitting your head in an auto accident, a fall of greatter than 5 feet, or someone hitting you in the head with something, other than a hand. Then some of the thing's I would be looking for would be unenqual or un reactive pupils, loss of conssisons, massive headache, and a clear fluid cominf from the ears. As far a having a headache you may have one from being smaked in the head as far as getting a ct scan I wouldn't waste your money becuase there is I feel nothing wrong with you, just worry!

Answer 2

stay out of bikers clubs that will take care of blows to your head and would help you avoid brain injury

Answer 3

I believe you answered this question yourself when you admitted to being a hypochondriac. Anyway, this question is impossible to answer as there's never going to be one specific "hardness" of a blow to create brain damage. It depends on the person, on what's being used to strike the head, etc. etc.

You'd probably end up doing more damage to yourself by having an unnecessary CT scan because you're exposed to much higher radiation levels than if you were to have even a simple X-ray, especially since it's more than likely you're fine (even your doctor told you so).

I'd recommend seeing some kind of psychiatrist to help with you being a hypochondriac, though.