If you get struck by lightening, or even indirectly hit by lightning, you are more likely to have brain damage than burn scars. In most cases, you need to see a neurology specialist, to help with your recovery. Here's a look at some of the issues you may face.

Neurocognitive Changes

In many cases, your brain changes when it goes through an intense event, such as being hit with significantly more electricity than is used in any household appliance. In particular, your personality may change. Patients often develop a different demeanor or attitude than they had before the incident.

Some victims have neurological changes that cause them to experience learning disabilities that weren't present before, or they find it hard to pay attention. A neurology specialist can give you exercises to help train your brain to become stronger around some of these issues. They can also give you exercises to help improve your concentration.

Additionally, you may face seizures, headaches, and nausea. If you experience hypothalamic damage, your pituitary glands, which regulate many of your body's most important functions, may start misfiring. This can lead to everything from body chills to fatigue to incontinence. However, a neurology specialist may be able to operate or provide other treatment.

Changes to the Peripheral Nervous System

If you compare your body to a computer, the brain is basically like the CPU, and the peripheral nervous system is like the mouse, keyboard, and other components that are connected to the CPU with wires. If these components start misfiring, they send odd messages to the brain, or CPU, and in turn, that starts working incorrectly.

After a lightning strike, your peripheral nervous system may start constantly sending pain signals to your brain. There's no real reason behind the pain signals. Your tissues aren't damaged, and you aren't facing pain at the moment, but your brain feels like your body is in constant pain.

Damage to the Autonomic Nervous System

This part of your neurological system can also be damaged, if you get struck by lightning. This is basically the part of your body that regulates the background programs. For example, this includes the functioning of involuntary organs, such as your lungs and heart.

This type of damage can be the most serious and the hardest to treat. You should always see a neurology specialist, if you get hit by lightning. However, if you haven't seen one yet, and you are experiencing hyperpathia (exaggerated reactions to pain), sweating, or edema (swelling) in the days after the incident, you should contact a specialist right away.

For more information, talk to companies like North Texas Neuroscience Center PA.