Brett Favre Believes He’s Suffered “Thousands” of Concussions

Brett Favre is making headlines again, stating he has suffered an alleged thousand concussions during his NFL career as a quarterback. He is best known for his 297-straight game streak, which set a record that has yet to be broken.

Previously, Favre thought he’d only suffered three concussions in his career, but after his latest interview, the estimate is now in the thousands. He gets this number by stating that he suffered a concussion every time his head hit the turf. Favre is correct about one thing: concussions are still a mystery and involve more than losing consciousness.

Brett Favre had a twenty-year career, and that means, according to his statements, he suffered a minimum of 50 concussions each year. While the NFL is now changing policies and has concussion protocols in place, they did not exist when Favre was on the field. A minor concussion during his time meant a player could get back on the turf without regard for their well-being.

Now, if you suffer a head injury on the field, you cannot play until you have a diagnosis and treatment plan. The former quarterback is now pushing for kids under 14 to stay away from tackle football and instead participate in flag football.

What are the levels of brain injuries?

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) involving temporary loss of consciousness or confusion. These injuries happen after a blow or shock to the head. Other forms of brain injuries are:

• Hematoma: A blood clot on the brain surface, with two other classifications. A subdural hematoma happens between the dura mater and the brain’s surface. An epidural hematoma occurs between the dura mater and the inside of the skull.
• Intracerebral hemorrhage: Brain tissue bleeds that can sometimes require surgical removal.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage: Brain bleeds that leak into the subarachnoid space
• Ischemia: This happens when there is insufficient blood flow to the brain. It is often specific to a particular area.
• Diffuse axonal injury: Leads to disabilities where the brain loses axons and begins to impair brain function.
• Skull fractures: Cracks in the skull that can cause damage to nerves, arteries, and more. The worst outcome is cerebrospinal fluid leaks.
• Edema: Swelling of the brain.
• Contusion: When there is bruising of the brain tissue. It usually happens in the front part of the brain but can happen anywhere.

A timely diagnosis of these injuries is vital to ensure proper treatment. You will undergo a neurological assessment, followed by imaging such as CT scans, X-rays, and MRIs. You will also need advanced imaging like SPECT, PET, and TDI scans. A medical professional specializing in brain injuries will review the results and determine the severity of the injury and possible treatment plans.

Causes of brain injuries in Gettysburg

Brain injuries are prevalent in the NFL and other contact sports, but you can suffer an injury in other ways. Traumatic brain injuries are not exclusive to professional athletes. Everyday people can suffer an injury during mundane tasks. Examples of accidents and incidents that can lead to a brain injury include:

• Acts of violence
• Car accidents
• Slip and falls
• Birth injuries
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Worksite accidents

Children and adults can suffer TBIs and can experience varying symptoms. There are various classifications for traumatic brain injuries, from mild to severe, but all TBIs require extensive medical treatment and must be taken seriously. The CDC reports there were 223,000 hospitalizations in 2019 for traumatic brain injuries, and in 2020, 176 Americans died each day from TBI-related injuries.

Signs and symptoms of brain injuries

While some brain injuries have external signs, others do not. These injuries are very complex, meaning you can suffer a TBI and not even know it. Exterior signs of trauma include open wounds, bruises, lacerations, abrasions, and skull penetration. Symptoms of brain injuries vary from severe to subtle, and even a slight change is cause for concern. If you experience the following symptoms, you must get medical treatment:

• Dizziness
• Amnesia
• Vomiting
• Dilated pupils
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Seizures
• Extreme fatigue
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Lack of bladder control
• Extreme emotional responses
• Problems swallowing
• Memory problems
• Tremors
• Decreased motion in extremities
• Numbness and tingling

Once you have a TBI diagnosis, you can begin to get treatment. Many traumatic brain injuries lead to permanent ailments. If it is a sports injury, that can mean the end of a career, as it has been for many athletes. While the NFL has concussion protocols in place, they do not always follow them, or doctors release patients before they should, as was recently the case for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Lifelong injuries caused by TBIs

When a child suffers a TBI, they will also experience a disruption in development which limits their ability to participate in sports and school activities. Those with mild TBIs can recover at home with ongoing medical care. Patients with moderate and severe TBIs require ongoing or lifelong care. They may not even be able to recover fully, with many experiencing cognitive disabilities and health problems requiring follow-up care.

Treating a traumatic brain injury involves surgery, medication, and long-term therapy. If you suffer a concussion or other brain injury, our Gettysburg attorneys can help you file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your losses. KBG Injury Law will seek financial recovery for your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, scarring, disability, medical bills, and permanent injury.

If the injury was work-related, you could file a workers’ compensation claim to recover similar losses from a different entity. The family can begin a wrongful death claim if the brain injury leads to death. Many of these injuries are sports or car accident-related and require an extensive investigation to determine your legal remedies for these negligent parties.

TBI victims will suffer lifelong pain, and it is vital to call our Gettysburg office and speak to a seasoned traumatic brain injury lawyer from KBG Injury Law. Call our office at 717-848-3838, or submit our contact form to schedule a consultation. We have additional offices in York, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Hanover.