A brain injury lawyer understands that a brain injury can have a profound impact on a person’s life, yet sometimes MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) come back with normal results, even if there is a clear history of trauma or symptoms suggesting an injury. MRI scans are incredibly useful for identifying structural issues in the brain, such as bleeding, tumors, or swelling. However, they may not always detect injuries at the cellular level or changes in brain function. Some types of brain injuries, especially mild ones, can result in symptoms without leaving any visible damage that an MRI can capture.
If you have been diagnosed with a brain injury caused by another party’s negligence, we are here to help. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we represent traumatic brain injury victims on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
Contact us today at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation.
Mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI), such as concussions, often don’t produce visible changes on an MRI. These injuries are typically characterized by functional changes rather than structural damage. In many cases, the brain’s structure appears normal on an MRI, but the injury may affect cognitive functions, memory, or mood.
Concussions often involve microscopic damage to brain cells or changes in brain chemistry, which aren’t detectable with standard MRI imaging. MRI technology excels in detecting large-scale, structural abnormalities, such as brain bleeds or swelling, but it has limitations when it comes to subtle brain injuries that involve more nuanced changes at the cellular level.
Symptoms can persist even if an MRI appears normal. This is because an MRI primarily focuses on structural changes in the brain, such as lesions or bleeding. However, a brain injury can cause symptoms that are not related to structural damage.
For example, a person might experience cognitive difficulties, headaches, dizziness, or changes in mood, even if their brain appears structurally intact on an MRI. These symptoms could stem from functional changes in the brain’s neural networks, which MRI is not designed to capture. In some cases, a more specialized test, such as functional MRI (fMRI) or neuropsychological assessments, may be necessary to identify these types of changes.
The timing of the MRI is crucial when it comes to detecting certain brain injuries. Immediately following a traumatic event, an MRI might not show any abnormalities because some injuries take time to develop or become noticeable on imaging. For example, diffuse axonal injuries, which involve stretching or tearing of brain fibers, might not appear on an MRI right away.
In the first few hours or days after a brain injury, small-scale damage to the brain, such as microtears in the neural tissue, may not be visible. These changes could become more apparent in follow-up scans, or in certain cases, may never show up at all. As a result, MRI scans performed right after an injury may not reveal the full extent of the damage.
Functional changes in the brain often do not show up on a standard MRI. While an MRI can detect structural damage, it cannot easily assess how the brain is functioning. For example, functional issues such as changes in how neurons communicate or altered brain metabolism may not be visible on a conventional MRI scan.
Functional MRI (fMRI) or other imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans, are better suited for detecting functional changes in the brain. These types of imaging tests can capture changes in blood flow or brain activity, which could help explain why a person with a normal MRI might still have lingering symptoms from a brain injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to the negligence or recklessness of another party, call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to schedule a free case evaluation and find out what legal recourse your family has for the losses you have sustained.
Call us today at 833-997-1774 to schedule a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury lawyer. Let us help you get the care and compensation you need. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
A brain injury lawyer understands that a brain injury can have a profound impact on a person’s life, yet sometimes MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) come back with normal results, even if there is a clear history of trauma or symptoms suggesting an injury. MRI scans are incredibly useful for identifying structural issues in the brain,…
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