Brain Aneurysm – Signs, Symptoms, & Recovery
A brain aneurysm occurs when a weak area of a blood vessel in or around your brain begins to bulge. As this blood vessel expands, the area fills with blood and can either cause a ruptured or unruptured aneurysm.
Types of Brain Aneurysms
Ruptured Brain Aneurysms
Ruptured brain aneurysms usually cause bleeding in the space around your brain, called a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
Symptoms
- sudden and severe headache
- nausea/ vomiting
- stiff neck
- blurred or double vision
- sensitivity to light
- seizure
- drooping eyelid
- dilated pupil
- pain above and behind the eye
- loss of consciousness
- confusion
- weakness or numbness
Unruptured Brain Aneurysms
In most cases, an unruptured brain aneurysm will go unnoticed because they are small and usually have no symptoms. However, though rare, an unruptured brain aneurysm may become large enough to press on nerves in the brain which will cause symptoms.
Symptoms
- blurred or double vision
- a drooping eyelid
- a dilated pupil
- pain above and behind one eye
- weakness or numbness
Unruptured aneurysms rarely cause chronic headaches, however acute change in chronic headache pattern with respect to intensity or frequency would be a good reason to reach out to your healthcare provider.
Treatments, Recovery, & Changes
Recovery after experiencing a brain aneurysm will vary based on patient and whether the aneurysm ruptured or not. Your treatment plan may include surgical treatment or endovascular treatment. It is important to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding your treatment plan.
After treatment, you may experience or notice changes, including:
- fatigue
- a diminished sense of smell and taste
- low back pain
- headaches
- vision problems
- constipation
- slowed reaction times
You may also notice emotional changes, including:
- loss of emotional control/confusion
- self-esteem/ relationship changes
- feelings of isolation
- depression and anxiety
During recovery, neurologic deficits can be common. These deficits vary in severity and can be short- or long-term. With deficits, persistent issues with focus, memory, language processing, organization, concentration, decision-making, and higher-level thinking are common.
Survivors of ruptured aneurysms often have more significant and noticeable deficits, leading to a longer recovery time. Therapy options, like physical, occupational, or speech, can aid in recovery for minor and severe deficit cases.
In less severe cases, subtle deficits are more noticeable by family members than by the survivor and become more apparent after resuming a demanding lifestyle. If you or a loved one notice a subtle deficit challenge in a survivor, it is important to discuss it with their therapist or doctor.
Seeing Your Health Care Provider
If you have an unruptured brain aneurysm, you will need to see your healthcare provider regularly to monitor the size of the aneurysm.
If you’ve had a ruptured brain aneurysm, you will need to see your healthcare team regularly to monitor any complications and make sure another aneurysm doesn’t develop.
Sources: Mahmut T. Kaner, MD, Brain Aneurysm Foundation