What Is the Glasgow Coma Scale?

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Comments (193)

Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.

Anonymous replied on

There is NT ( not testable) below a 1

Anonymous replied on

My father gcs is 4 after surgery before surgery it was 7. is there any chance recovery

Nightrogirl replied on

There is ALWAYS HOPE...UNTIL THERE'S NOT!!

Grayfox replied on

So Jimmy Sham being GC15 is good and bad. Damn permanent neurological damage, I hope not.

Nontobeko replied on

Examination if GCS is 115/15 you are Okey everything it's fine

Anonymous replied on

To all the Doctors, nurses and anybody whatsoever connected with hospitals and the emergency services. For all of us you are our heroes because we all need you throughout life.

Thank you!

dr freeburns replied on

thank you....... God bless you

Aqk replied on

My grandmother gcs level is 3 is there is any chance for her to be normal?

Anonymous replied on

That's pretty low, prognosis isn't good. Even an MD might say that. It all depends on the reason the GCS is so low...Stroke? Sepsis? No one can say much without the complete clinical picture. D. Gonzales RN

Veronica cerda ... replied on

I'm a clear glass glow abnormal scale human diamond the general daughter

Shane replied on

Hello! I don't know the extent of her injuries but, I was in a car accident almost 4 years ago and I believe my GCS score was 3-5, I was in a coma for 10 days and had paralysis on the right side of my body. Physically I have fully recovered, I had to relearn how to walk so I still have a very slight limp. However during my recent research of TBIs I have come to learn that TBIs start as acute (when they first happen) and turn into chronic TBIs (over time it becomes worse neurologically) as it turns into a chronic TBI, the psychological effects of the injury become worse due to the effect it has on the brains neurotransmitters. As far as I put together (I'm no doctor) my injury has effect on my serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine levels (probably effect other neurotransmitters, I have only researched these so far) and the TBI causes a deficit in these neurotransmitters. These deficits have caused a lack of motivation, sleeping all the time, memory, attention, learning and processing speeds, these are typical signs of depression, I am not sad, just experiencing symptoms of depression do to my brain injury affecting my neurotransmitters. From my research a SSRI and dopamine agonists/DARI (dopamine reuptake inhibitors) will help reduce these affects. I have yet to go to a psychologists to get these drugs. Do some research of how TBIs affect the neurotransmitters! She might not need them now but in a few years he might, definitely tell her or care giver to mention this to doctors, I waited 4 years to get help and my condition has only gotten worse, I can barely pass basic college classes now, with this information in her doctors hands can improve his doctors life! I've also read that Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can bring people out of vegetative states

Anonymous replied on

Friend was A Glasgow 3, now Orthopedic surgeon.

Anonymous replied on

From what I am reading, the **INITIAL** GCS Score has nothing to do with the chance of survival or quality of life. It is should be used only as a diagnosis tool that can show improvement or deterioration. Do I understand this correctly?

Lama replied on

My friend, 23 years old, suffered a road traffic accident on 24 july 2019 (3 days ago).
His GCS is 6.
What are his chances of recovery?

Shubham replied on

It depends on various factors
Mri reports
Is he conscious or not
First 48-72 hrs are always critical in these kind of cases
If he shows progress in one or 2 days chances are he will recover

Shane replied on

Hello! I don't know the extent of your friends injuries but, I was in a car accident almost 4 years ago and I believe my GCS score was 3-5, I was in a coma for 10 days and had paralysis on the right side of my body. Physically I have fully recovered, I had to relearn how to walk so I still have a very slight limp. However during my recent research of TBIs I have come to learn that TBIs start as acute (when they first happen) and turn into chronic TBIs (over time it becomes worse neurologically) as it turns into a chronic TBI, the psychological effects of the injury become worse due to the effect it has on the brains neurotransmitters. As far as I put together (I'm no doctor) my injury has effect on my serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine levels (probably effect other neurotransmitters, I have only researched these so far) and the TBI causes a deficit in these neurotransmitters. These deficits have caused a lack of motivation, sleeping all the time, memory, attention, learning and processing speeds, these are typical signs of depression, I am not sad, just experiencing symptoms of depression do to my brain injury affecting my neurotransmitters. From my research a SSRI and dopamine agonists/DARI (dopamine will help reduce these affects. I have yet to go to a psychologists to get these drugs. Do some research of how TBIs affect the neurotransmitters! Your friend might not need them now but in a few years he might, definitely tell your friend or his care giver to mention this to his doctors, I waited 4 years to get help and my condition has only gotten worse, I can barely pass basic college classes now, with this information in his doctors hands can improve his doctors life!

Bhaskar Rajoriya replied on

My friend's GCS is 3. And he is on ventilator. Doctors are saying that now they can't do anything. Only miracle can do. And if any miracle will happen even then also the patient will not be able to live his life outside the bed. Can any doctor here please suggest the next steps. To me or Doctors at the hospital. Thanks in Advance

Concerned Auntie replied on

My niece is in the same situation they have told us the same thing. Today makes 10 days in her coma shes showing no change shes still a 3.
What happened with your friend??

Claire replied on

Hi. I am sorry for hearing that. The fact is we can not predict how a patient is going to evaluate. The GSC is just one of the parameters that us, doctors, use to have a better big picture of the patient’s general state. It will depend on what has caused it. The first 48 hours of evolution and so on. Actually GSC 3 is the minimal, so usually the prognosis is what we call “reserved”. I can’t not give any medical advice, just general information. There are a lot of more information that a doctor might know before giving a proper opinion. Wishing you the best. Claire

Anonymous replied on

I'm Brian and I'm a survivor of a very serious football injury that left me in a coma for 5 weeks. I was a coma scale 3 myself!! I had a one percent chance of surviving myself! I have made a miraculous recovery but lost half of my vision and was parilized on my right side because I did suffer a stroke while I was in my coma. I had many years of intense therapies and my family has sacrificed so much for me! It's been very difficult but accepting new normal has been a very big challenge!! I hope ur friend has a good quality of life like I do!! I'm very lucky

Keith Mackmer replied on

At 25 I was a coil tubing supervisor in the oil field. Dec 9, 2010 me and 3 employees left the hotel headed to a oil well to perform services. My driver who had only been employed a few days with the company fell asleep at 6:48 am. We hit a f150 head on. It’s estimated we were both doing 55-65mph. Both drivers died almost instantly. I was sitting behind the driver. I made it to the hospital before I died. I arrived in a Glasgow 3 coma. Pan fracture (every bone broke in skull), frontal lobe TBI, broke ol factory nerve(can’t smell) left and right femur rod(already had a rod in right femur from dirt bike crash at the track(I love adrenaline!!) the night nurse OD’d me on morphine. I died the first time. I was 23. They brought me back with narcan. I didn’t miss a day of work so I didn’t care. Also have right tibia and fibula rods in right leg and ankle screws. Heart monitor in chest and hernia mesh. My skull reconstruction was 7 hours and 50 minutes. The doctor said it was the worse thing he’s ever seen. If I live, I’d never know my name. He said he had a bowl of cereal when he got done putting my face together. That’s what all the bones look like from my face. Corn flakes I’ve had over 40 surgeries and I prove every doctor wrong everyday!! I have since married my soul mate and we just had our 3 and final child. God is good!

Rachelle replied on

When my daughter was 2 and a half, she drowned in a family pool. I found her, got her out and started CPR, while yelling for my grandpa to call 911. She was clinically dead. It was November and the water cold. Finally am heard and EMS called. I was only trained in basic CPR. I hadn't been taught this, but something told me to press on her belly and get the water out. I did and a lot of water came out, then I started CPR. I was doing it for maybe 7 minutes. In between a breath, I said," Breath Tracy breath". I swear right after I said that she started breathing, but it was erratic and sporadic. EMS arrived right after and took over. When I arrived at the hospital, I was told that she probably won't survive and even if she did, to tell my family that she wouldn't be the same little girl. I was asked if I wanted to donate her organs. I screamed at them that they're not cutting my baby. I prayed and called everyone I knew and asked them to do the same. In less than 24 hours, she walked out of the hospital, as if nothing happened. Now she's 20 years old and attending college. If, you didn't believe in miracles, you should now. My daughter is a miracle.

Tresford replied on

That is a miracle from heaven, God is real and faith in God makes impossibilities possible. We thank God for that my dear and am deeply sorry to those bereaved and grieving, may your souls find peace and rest by the grace of God.

Rajnish replied on

God bless your daughter and your family

Jay replied on

This is so heartwarming to hear. Extending hope to other survivors and their care givers. I myself am a Doctor. Accidentally happened to browse through this site, in an attempt to share info to the father of a girl child patient with Acute TBI who is battling her odds in the hospital today, day 11.
On the bright side, the baby 7/F who was comatose with multiple intra-cerebral bleeds and fractured skull bones after a fall from terrace top. Baseline GCS was 3. has been successfully weaned off the ventilator on day 4. Now she has been shifted to the general ward. GCS improved to 9 with eye opening and movements. Tracheostomy (opening made in neckline for breathing) is helping spontaneous breathing. Motor functions and verbal response yet to recover. Likely to be discharged home over next 5 days.

Just pray that she doesn't land up with sequelae of diffuse axonal injury, given the better healing in kids.

For all the caregivers out there, do believe in your loved ones' spirit to fight the crisis and the supernatural support to heal. Miracles do happen!

ryan replied on

What an amazing story. God bless you and your daughter.

J Foley replied on

Good for you, that's what it comes down to in the end. Cold, dispassionate and sterile scientists, and some doctors who like to 'play god', versus actual god. Why do people take everything they say seriously anyway? Medical treatment has its place for sure, but its practitioners, particularly doctors and surgeons, don't need to be glorified and pandered to in the way they currently are. To see everything in purely mechanical, materialistic and physical terms is a disease in itself, a spiritual sickness. Good for you Rachelle; your faith saved your daughter and confounded the medics. I hope you and your daughter both live to see the future world.

Anonymous replied on

Omg!! Rachelle I dont even know how I came upon this page...reading your story I was mortified all til the end, wow my heart was breaking for you, then I read where you say after praying, she began breathing !! Is God trying to tell me something ? My husband is currently in the hospital in a mental state of impairment due to passing out and staying unconscious for about 5 days until a well check was made by the local police only to find him almost dead. We are praying for a full mental recovery so he can be a part of our 9 yr old sons life!

Lori W replied on

Thank you for sharing your needs and I too happened onto this page, as I am recovering from a second TBI from precious, but careless distracted drivers. ❤️ I pray for them a lot. I’d like to apologize for typos as I’m experiencing a slight seizure as I write this, but felt compelled to do so.

Anyway I have experienced many miracles as we have a ministry specifically for the Deployed military members, and I have an Army soldier son of my own. He has been saved from death many times, and yet we have seen many who have fought just as hard and don’t always come home... but God sees the end, which is the Beginning. He sees what our hearts can fathom in such painful, tough situations, whether accidents, illnesses or war.

I’m praying wholeness and healing for those mentioned and you wonderful responders who made comments. I once was requested to go to Cedars-Mt.Sinai, on my way to visit my near to be son-in-law who had been so badly attacked he had Last Rites twice. On my way, I got a call (I’m a non-denominal minister) to pray for a little girl who drowned in my friend’s pool states away. She was in a vegetative state and in full convulsions 24/7. I remember nurses weren’t happy with me when I asked to see her, per her parents request. They just wanted others to let her die peacefully, and felt we were nuts quite frankly. I went into room, tried not to let her string convulsions dampen my faith and prayed. Nothing happened that I could see change. I told the Lord it is up to Him and I’d stand. Nothing happened until hours later that night. I traveled a lot and My friend did not let me know till much later that after I left Elisha suddenly awoke! Fully healed and yes, a miracle. My soon to be son in law was hooked up to countless machines in a catholic Tarzana hospital when I arrived, near LA. Half his head was crushed. Swollen to where I could not tell who he was. Drs said No Hope. I asked his mom in my first level Spanish to come sit by me as I prayed. And prayed. For three days. On the third day I laid my hand beside his, not on it and felt I was to call his name and ask him to squeeze my hand on his own if he could. Immediately to our shock, he grabbed my hand hard and I still have the picture! He slowly improved to a fairly independent state, though not quite the same. It turned out to be as God saw fit, as He sees the whole picture. We never do. I speak hope to you for the impossible. Wisdom for the choices you must make. God’s presence to surround and draw each of you so close you feel it in your heart. I’ve been around for a long time. I’ve seen soldiers and all Kinds of diverse folks seeming fine one moment and when all alone, take their own lives. And I’ve heard military and non-military families were told fellow ministers had left scenes and preached sermons to them Saying their child was in hell. Mortal sin. I do not believe that is scriptural nor do I see such a limited God that He doesn’t hear our last cries. Even if silent. He alone knows the hearts of those who could not hold on. I expect to see them in heaven someday at least I’m praying each one will be!

But for all of us still on this side of the “veil”, battered, depressed or feeling our lives don’t mean much in our condition, we are still here, so we must fight...and when we can’t, we must ask those we love and most of all our God, By His Spirit, to hold our hand through the hard journey whether loved ones live or pass on. But one more word. Talk to them. They often hear everything. Don't just “kick it” yakking or speaking bad outcomes. They “hear.” Speak life until the Master lets their work continue or He sees fit to bring them home. God bless each of you! HOOAH! I’m sorry I was so wordy. I’ll blame it on the rants that comes with TBI’S.
LW.

Chetna Sawant replied on

It's very good to hear tht ur daughter is fyn.
.

Bryan Herr replied on

Wow- amazing story! God Blessed you

Michelle D Leake replied on

I had a severe brain injury during brain surgery in 1998 that had left me with a bad sleeping disorder and short-term memory loss. I was in a coma for a month and paralyzed on my right side and I didn't know who I was or anyone in my family. I had to go through all of the therapy to learn how to walk, talk, get dressed, everything all over again. I will always have my disabilities but I'm a fighter and I have God on my side to help me. I was only 22 years old but like I said I'm a fighter and I will always be. :)

Gandalf Gray replied on

Thanks for your testimony, Michelle!

Kelley replied on

God is amazing! He works miracles all the time!

Wendy replied on

Glad to hear your daughter is OK now.

Madelyn replied on

Glad it turn out good. You saved her with CPR. I have to remember push on the belly.

Kavita dhillon replied on

helo...my father is suffering from SUB dural hemorrhage problm.he was operated by the doctor.after operate 10 day he will fine .but now he can't speak clear word all.whoever want to speak is not able to speak clear.understand everything but have difficulty speaking plz rply me fast gcs 15 /15

Anonymous replied on

Hi . its been about 9 years since. I had a brain trauma. My right side of the brain was struck by A bullet at slow speed and its been in my brain . I was awake the whole way to the hospital. I called my parents informing them on the situation.. When o arrived to the ER. I was thinking I'd ne VfB er. Wake up from surgery. I told My parents good bye just. In case I'd never wake up. I di wake up 2 days. Later with a draining straw from my head and a bag of blood. The doctors decided to leave. The bullet inside since. I had been responsive . until now I havbent suffered of much just some medium headaces . I jger worried at times that I'll die soon because of the lead . I feel OK I guess . and Mainly I feel happy for getting a second chance in living my life.

STEVE ADDY replied on

Hi, my daughter was in a RTA in Sept 2016, she was hit by a van that mounted the pavement when walking home from school. She was two doors from home, she was airlifted to Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool thank God. Her GCS was 3 and was 5 days in a coma, she is doing well and is attending college soon to go to university. Yes miracles do happen, the treating brain surgeon later told me she didn't think she would survive.

jay replied on

My husband was in a head-on collision a little over a week ago. his face was fractured to the point that it caved in all the way to his brain cavity. his GCS number at the moment is an eleven. they have already begun his facial reconstruction and cleaning off his brain. I need to know if any one else has experienced anything similar to his story. and what are the chances of a full recovery? we have four children and I am in fact worry to death about the possibility of him being violent and how I would address it.

linz replied on

My husband was in a head on RTA - serious injuries leg/arm/hand scar under chin, coma. He is fine now apart from arthritis developing over the years. Believe it or not, some slivers of glass still work their way through the scar on his head! Apart from not remembering anything about an hour prior to the accident and on waking he is OK.
His friend was killed outright, so we count our blessings. His coma lasted approx 10 days. God Bless you & your familyx

mustehsen anwar replied on

God Bless you

Victoria replied on

Hello there,
It is so difficult to know what the outcome will be in any brain injury as everyone is different and without looking at the MRI/CT Brain scan it is almost impossible to predict. The Frontal lobe is responsible for Personality, behavior and emotions so if there was any damage to this part of the brain, those functions may be affected.
I would echo the previous responder with recommending plenty of neuro rehabilitation and neuropsychological support. In my experience isolated violence and aggression is unusual. the best advice is to keep having regular updates with his neurology team.

hope this helps

STELLA replied on

Please, in lay terms what does this really mean 'neuro rehabilitation and neuropsychological support'.

Mark replied on

Hi Jay- I hope you happen to visit back and see this. I just happened to see your post when showing someone this page. I'm so sorry about your husband's accident & sure you're all terrified. I'll say that 5 years ago I suffered a brain aneurysm that hemorrhaged and caused me to fall and I suffered a TBI. When I was in a coma for 5 days after my emergency neurosurgery I had a GCS rating of 5. So hopefully your husbands brain has fared better than mine. But my tips would be therapy & Lots of it, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy, traumatic brain injury rehab and lots of love and patience. Knowing that he may never be the same but he may well be better in some ways. I say better b/c everything in his life will be examined and appreciated now. Of course I'm only speaking from my experience. But there can never be enough patience or therapy. This will take time but things will heal.

Laurence replied on

My mother is 81 years old and was brought to the local hospital after she had a fall due to acute pain in her back. This morning, she lost consciousness after she was given the wrong combination of analgesic and morphine. The doctor himself admitted to an error in the dosage administered to alleviate the pain, which seems to have caused her to fall into a deep coma. Her Glasgow score is 5.This happened in France and I live in Ireland, so I'm in shock at the thought of a medical error being the cause of my mum's deep coma. Any thoughts on this would be very appreciated as I'm wondering what to do.

Kriti replied on

Hi i am kriti from nepal..
I need to know that why '0' ranking is not given in GCS scale??
Thank you

Prashant Ghimire replied on

searching for the same answer

Kundendu saurbham replied on

Gcs scale are calculateed by adding eye response , verbal response and motar response. Now if person's all these responses are negligible, these are given as 1, and 1+1+1=3.. so minimum score is 3.

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