http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 � Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/ http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=26 According to a report commissioned by the U. S Department of Veterans Affairs, Traumatic Brain Injury (tbI) has become the signature wound of the recent war on terror. As of January 2008, more than 5,500 U.S. military personnel had suffered traumatic brain injury in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of the widespread use against them of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Although more research is needed, military troops in Afghanistan and Iraq who have suffered from head injuries face a daunting array of potential medical consequences later on. The force of an explosion can induce what is essentially a concussion in the brain, sending it ricocheting around within the confines of the skull. The damage caused by even a mild brain injury can take six months to heal, said Dr. Donald Stuss, a brain expert and vice-president of research at the Rotman Research Institute of Toronto's Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Injury can be done to different parts of the brain, triggering a variety of problems. But Dr. Stuss stressed that after-effects – or whether there are any long-term problems – will vary from person to person.

The Institute of Medicine has reported that military personnel who sustain traumatic brain injuries face a higher risk of "developing seizure disorders and psychoses, problems with social interactions and difficulty holding down a job. Troops who sustain even mild brain injuries are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And all are at a higher risk of experiencing aggressive behaviour, depression and memory problems."

The report from the Institute of Medicine, which advises the U.S. government, encouraged them to help troops recover from health problems that develop as a result of the brain injuries. Military employees who sustain even moderate brain injuries may go on to develop Alzheimer's-like dementia or symptoms similar to Parkinson's, a neurodegenerative disease.

Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said that brain injuries do not have to be severe or involve penetration of the skull to set up a soldier for significant health consequences

“For mild brain injuries, which is a much bigger group of injuries and it has a much broader scope, what we can say is for those kinds of injuries that there's a probable association between having one of those – especially with loss of consciousness – and having depression, having aggressive behaviour ... or having persistent post-concussive symptoms. Like memory loss, like headaches, like dizziness,” according to Rutherford.

The Medical Institute panel read 1,900 studies on brain injuries looking for evidence of what troops who suffer brain injuries might face. But most of the studies relate to injuries suffered in car crashes and sports. The report says the injury picture could look different for troops who may also develop post-traumatic stress disorder from experiences in combat and that more research is needed. All researcher agree that the most important thing is to identify people with the problem and start treating them quickly.

Among surviving soldiers wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, TBI appears to account for a larger proportion of casualties than it has in other recent U.S. wars. According to the Joint Theater Trauma Registry, compiled by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 22 percent of the wounded soldiers from these conflicts who have passed through the military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany had injuries to the head, face, or neck. This percentage can serve as a rough estimate of the fraction who have TBI, according to Deborah L. Warden, a neurologist and psychiatrist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, who is the national director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC). Warden said the true proportion is probably higher, since some cases of closed brain injury are not diagnosed promptly. As insurgents continue to attack U.S. troops in Iraq, most brain injuries are being caused by IEDs, and closed brain injuries outnumber penetrating ones among patients seen at Walter Reed, where more than 450 patients with TBI were treated between January 2003 and February 2005. All admitted patients who have been exposed to a blast are routinely evaluated for brain injury; 59 percent of them have been given a diagnosis of TBI, according to Warden. Of these injuries, 56 percent are considered moderate or severe, and 44 percent are mild.

One positive aspect of these latest tragedies is that public attention and congressional interest are being focused on TBI and its long-term treatment as never before. As more experts work with this high-visibility group of patients with TBI, then perhaps all who suffer from it can benefit from the new research and care plans which evolve.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=26 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:54:00 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=25 There are many suggestions for family members on how to deal with the traumatically brain injured, (TBI). Recovery for the Brain Injured is facilitated by the love and care of family members who also need to learn how to deal with the changes in behavior the brain injured experience. As a (TBI ) patient moves through different Cognitive levels of recovery, known as Rancho Levels, some of the following suggestions published by the Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center may be helpful.What family/friends can do at earlier Cognitive Levels
(no--low response)
• Explain to the individual what you are about to
do. For example, "I'm going to move your leg."
• Talk in a normal tone of voice.
• Keep comments and questions short and simple.
For example, instead of "Can you turn your head towards me?", say, "Look at me".
• Tell the person who you are, where he is, why
he is in the hospital, and what day it is.
• Limit the number of visitors to 2-3 people at a
time.
• Keep the room calm and quiet.
• Bring in favorite belongings and pictures of
family members and close friends.
• Allow the person extra time to respond, but
don't expect responses to be correct.
Sometimes the person may not respond at all.
• Give him rest periods. He will tire easily.
• Engage him in familiar activities, such as
listening to his favorite music, talking about
the family and friends, reading out loud to
him, watching TV, combing his hair, putting
on lotion, etc.
• He may understand parts of what you are
saying. Therefore, be ca

At Cognitive Level IV:
( some generalized response—confusion and agitation strong at this stage)
• Tell the person where he is and reassure him that
he is safe.
• Bring in family pictures and personal items from
home, to make him feel more comfortable.
• Allow him as much movement as is safe.
• Take him for rides in his wheelchair, with
permission from nursing.
• Experiment to find familiar activities that are
calming to him such as listening to music, eating,
etc.
• Do not force him to do things. Instead, listen to
what he wants to do and follow his lead, within
safety limits.
• Since he often becomes distracted, restless, or
agitated, you may need to give him breaks and
change activities frequently.
• Keep the room quiet and calm. For example,
turn off the TV and radio, don't talk too much
and use a calm voice.
• Limit the number of visitors to 2-3 people at a
time.

What family/friends can do at Cognitive Level V.
(Confusion still exists)
• Repeat things as needed. Don't assume that he
will remember what you tell him.
• Tell him the day, date, name and location of
the hospital, and why he is in the hospital
when you first arrive and before you leave.
• Keep comments and questions short and
simple.
• Help him organize and get started on an
activity.
• Bring in family pictures and personal items
from home.
• Limit the number of visitors to 2-3 at a time.
• Give him frequent rest periods when he has
problems paying attention.

What family/friends can do at Cognitive Level VI:
(Some confusion, some appropriate response)
• You will need to repeat things. Discuss things
that have happened during the day to help the
individual improve his memory.
• He may need help starting and continuing
activities.
• Encourage the individual to participate in all
therapies. He will not fully understand the extent
of his problems and

What family/friends can do at Cognitive Levels VII/VIII
(purposeful and automatic responses)

• Treat the person as an adult by providing
guidance and assistance in decision making.
His opinions should be respected.
• Talk with the individual as an adult. There is
no need to try to use simple words or
sentences.
• Be careful when joking or using slang, because
the individual may misunderstand the
meaning. Also, be careful about teasing him.

Help the individual in familiar activities so he can
see some of the problems he has in thinking,
problem solving, and memory. Talk to him about
these problems without criticizing. Reassure him
that the problems are because of the brain injury.
• Strongly encourage the individual to continue
with therapy to increase his thinking, memory
and physical abilities. He may feel he is
completely normal. However, he is still making
progress and may possibly benefit from
continued treatment.
• Be sure to check with the physician on the
individual's restrictions concerning, driving,
working, and other activities. Do not just rely on
him for information, since he may feel he is
ready to go back to his previous lifestyle.
• Discourage him from drinking or using drugs,
due to medical complications.
• Encourage him to use note taking as a way to
help with his remaining memory problems.
• Encourage him to carry out his self-care as
independently as possible.
• Discuss what kinds of situations make him angry
and what he can do in these situations.
• Talk with him about his feelings.
• Learning to live with a brain injury can be
difficult and it may take a long time for the
individual and family to adjust. The social worker
and/or psychologist will provide the
family/friends with information regarding
counseling, resources, and/or support organizations.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=25 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:52:00 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=24 Choosing a Rehabilitation Center for the Traumatically Brain Injured (TBI) can be a critical and difficult decision. Since the overall goal of rehabilitation is to help the survivor function at home and in society, it is important for the TBI patient, and their family’s to select the most appropriate rehabilitation center for their needs. There are many paths to rehabilitation which is a crucial part of the recovery process for Brain Injured patients. Some of the rehabilitation options include home-based rehabilitation, hospital outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation centers, comprehensive day programs at rehabilitation centers, supportive living programs, independent living centers, club-house programs, school based programs for children, and others.Through testing by a trained neuro psychologist an individual's cognitive, language, behavioral, motor, and executive functions can be assessed to help determine the level of rehabilitative services needed. In 1998 a Consensus Development Panel at the Conference on Rehabilitation of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury recommended that TBI patients receive an individualized rehabilitation program based upon the patient's strengths and capacities and that rehabilitation services should be modified over time to adapt to the patient's changing needs. Additionally, the panel recommended that individually tailored treatment programs in the areas of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, physiatry (physical medicine), psychology/psychiatry, and social support also be involved in a TBI survivors care.

Specialized Therapists help the patient adapt to new disabilities or make environmental modifications, to make everyday activities easier and to limit patient frustration.
Some patients may need medication for psychiatric and physical problems resulting from the Traumatic Brain Injury. A very critical factor in recovery is the family to provide social support for the patient by being involved in the rehabilitation program. In addition, family members may also benefit from psychotherapy. All these factors are critical considerations to factor into choosing a Rehabilitation Center for the Traumatically Brain Injured.

Craig Hospital, a specialty center for rehabilitation of TBI and spinal cord injuries in Denver, Colorado, encourages patients to consider not only the treatment plans being offered but for family members to also consider care, services and equipment rehabilitation centers offer. Specialty centers like Craig “offer staff and physicians with focused expertise, large numbers of patients with similar injuries for peer support, and specialized patient and family education and support programs. They also are equipped to offer additional valuable services not found in general rehabilitation centers as well as follow-up services and ongoing support.” Ask the following questions to evaluate if the center is right for you:

• How many patients are who have injuries similar to the patient I know are treated per year?
• How many patients are being treated right now?
• Are patients’ ages about the same as the patient I know?
• Is the facility a specialty center, and if so, for how long? What specialty accreditations does the facility have?
• How many years of experience do the physicians have, on average? Staff?
• How long have the physicians practiced at the facility? Full-time or part-time?
• Which physicians, therapists, and other professionals will work with the patient I know?
• Who will be the patient’s primary physician, and does he/she specialize in either spinal cord or brain injury?
• Is air transportation available?
• Are specialty education programs available for patients and families? What are they?
• What is the family’s role? What are the policies regarding family visitation?
• Is their designated low cost housing available?
• Who will help with discharge planning before the patient comes home?
• Are long-term follow-up services provided?
• Are the physicians and staff currently involved with research and training?
• What is the caseload size for the nursing, treatment, and counseling staff?

]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=24 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:50:00 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=23 The Rancho Los Amigos Levels are an assessment tool based on observation of the patient during the recovery stages as he responds to environmental stimuli. Rancho Levels evaluate Cognitive Functioning –basically thinking or memory skills. Since any type of brain injury can affect cognitive skills, Rancho Levels provide a description of the various behavioral stages a head injury victim will experience as he begins to progress through recovery toward rehabilitation.The speed at which progression takes place from one Rancho level to another cannot be predicted. For family members, understanding the characteristics of each of the Rancho Levels is helpful as they deal with the brain injured patient.

When someone is recovering from a brain injury, they may go through some or all of the stages. It is important to remember that a survivor may show signs from more than one level at a time and may also stop at any Rancho Level during their recovery. The descriptions listed below list cognitive levels in stages and provide insight into the expected progression during recovery and rehabilitation as well as expectations for this level as published by The Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center:

Stage 1 (No response)
They appear to be in a deep sleep and don't respond to sounds or stimulation. This is referred to as 'coma'. While in coma, the brain is not functioning at the normal level. There is a limited ability to take in information or respond to light, sound or touch.

Stage 2 (Generalized Response)
The child or young person begins to react to loud noises or painful sensations by making noise or moving their arms or legs. This response may not happen often and they may still appear to be asleep most of the time. Patient responses may be slow, inconsistent, or delayed. The patient will imitate what he hears, sees, or feels. Some responses may include chewing, sweating, moaning and increased blood pressure.

Stage 3 (Localized Response)
The person may respond by moving away from uncomfortable procedures such as injections. They may turn towards sounds or try to watch people around them.
The person may respond to simple instructions such as 'close your eyes'. be awake on and off during the day; At this Rancho Level a brain injured patient may begin to recognize family and friends, or follow simple directions like, "Look at me" or "squeeze my hand"

Stage 4 (Confused - Agitated)
Behavior is variable during this stage. The child/young person may be inactive or restless, loud or agitated. Though this can be distressing, it is important to remember that they cannot control this behavior.
The child/young person may be confused and try to wander. They may need to be watched closely during this time as they may not know where they are going.

Their attention span is short and they may forget things that have happened to them. Although they are more aware of what is going on, they can't make sense of it all. be very confused and frightened. Because of their confusion, a patient may overreact to what he sees, hears, or feels by hitting, screaming, using abusive language, or thrashing about.

The brain injured patient may be highly focused on their own basic needs ie: eating, relieving pain, going back to bed, or going home. They still may have difficulty following directions and may need help with simple routine activities.

Stage 5 (Confused - Inappropriate)
Children/young people are usually calmer at this stage and can do simple things for themselves with step by step instructions.

They may become agitated if they are over stimulated or asked to do something they can't do.
They will start to talk more clearly but what they say might seem inappropriate. Large crowds may overload the patient. He may remember events from before the brain injury accident,

Stage 6 (Confused - Appropriate)
The child/young person may still be confused but start to behave more appropriately.
They will start to show that they remember simple day-to-day things such as the names of staff. They may be able to work at tasks in therapy sessions for longer periods.

The brain injury survivor will remember main points from a conversation, but forget
and confuse the details. He may be able to pay attentions for about 30 minutes but can’t concentrate if there are numerous steps to an activity For example, at an intersection, he may be unable to step off the curb, watch for cars, watch the traffic light, walk, and talk at the same time.

Stage 7 (Automatic - Appropriate)
The child/young person is able to do normal activities with only a little help. It is important to follow a asset schedule and allow the patient to care for themselves without help if they are able. The brain injury survivor still gets frustrated, and may act without thinking,

Stage 8 (Purposeful - Appropriate)
They are able to recall past information and recent events.
They may better understand what has happened to them and may get upset.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=23 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:49:21 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=22 How does faith affect the Traumatically Brain Injured? Whether it’s the economy, personal tragedy, or healing, worldwide test results are the same—Those who have faith seem to heal faster.

In two studies led by Assistant Psychology Professor Michael Inzlicht, participants performed a Stroop task which assesses cognitive control. Comparing believers against non-believers, religious participants showed significantly less anxiety.

Inzlicht’s research shows our belief system can help block anxiety and minimize stress. “We found that religious people or even people who simply believe in the existence of God show significantly less brain activity in relation to their own errors. They're much less anxious and feel less stressed when they have made an error, " says Inzlich who teaches and performs research at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Obviously, anxiety can be negative because if you have too much, you're paralyzed with fear," he says. "However, it also serves a very useful function in that it alerts us when we're making mistakes. If you don't experience anxiety when you make an error, what impetus do you have to change or improve your behaviour so you don't make the same mistakes again and again?"

Scientists are taking a hard look at the value of faith as an instrument in healing. Scientists at such prestigious institutions as California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, Duke University in North Carolina, and the George Washington University Institute for Spirituality and Health in DC are exploring the relationship of prayer and faith to healing.
Religion can help those with chronic conditions, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke and arthritis, say the authors of a study at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
The North American Brain Injury Society released an article in November 2008 supporting faith in the healing process of the brain injured. The society claimed that what is at the core of brain injury rehabilitation is the same as what we believe gives value to human existence, i.e. happiness, dignity, respect, growth, dedication, and community integration. Part of the healing process after brain injury consists of a “community of thriving,” one in which individuals are allowed to make contributions to their own lives and to the lives of others. “To be successful, brain injury rehabilitation must focus on critical, real-life, heart-and-soul issues. A functional model of brain injury intervention must not only focus on walking, talking, and what is “medically necessary,” but must uphold what makes us special as individuals. The focus on the being of the person, that essence that makes us each feel alive, must be at the heart of our endeavors and scientifically supported, faith seems to make a difference.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=22 Mon, 9 Mar 2009 14:10:18 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=21 Dubbed the "walking wounded" Jonathan Lifshitz, an assistant professor at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center says there are countless numbers of Americans, "who look just fine on the outside, but who aren’t the same on the inside.”

Official numbers underestimate the actual problems of TBI since initial injuries are often dismissed as a bump on the head. A TBI can do significant damage without leaving any visible signs. Safety equipment like seatbelts, air bags, safety helmets have made great advancements in recent years, yet evidence indicates that over the last 10 years, TBI's are actually on the rise. According to Lifshitz, "people who once would have died from injuries in an accident now live, but with badly wounded brains."In an interview with Linda Carroll for MSNBC news, Keith Cicerone director of neropsychogy at JFk Johnson Rehabiltiation in Edison, N. J. describes a TBI as the loss of a limb. "If you lose a leg, you wouldn't expect it to regrow," he said adding, “It’s a long road going from the injury to learning to live a fulfilling life, but with limitations.

Just as an amputee can learn to walk in a different way using a prosthesis, a TBI sufferer can learn by practicing certain mental exercises to overcome some of the deficits caused by the injury. " Cicerone says the new circuits may not work as efficiently as the old ones, but sometimes they work well enough. Most therapy for TBI focuses on retraining the brain to get it to rewire.

“We’re not looking to make you who you were. We’re trying to trying to teach you to live with the person you’ve become — who you are now.”

Another by products of TBI include profound changes to mental processing: thinking can be slowed, attention dulled, memory muddled and judgment impaired. Therapy can help people cope with the changes, but it doesn’t repair the damage. Brain damage is forever.

Scientists now say TBI, sets processes in motion that continue throughout a person’s life and comment that much of the damage in a TBI occures when the brain's soft tissue and nerve cells slams up against the hard walls of the skull during the injury. When this occurrs, nerve fibers stretch and tear which lead to cell death just days after the injury. Initial injuries — whether it’s from a car wreck, a fall, or a blow to the head — set off a sequence of events that takes anywhere from hours to days to complete.

Carrolls article says that beyond the bruising that occurs when the brain slams up against the skull, damage is caused by the brain’s own reaction to the trauma:

• Hosts of brain chemicals are released. And while these neurotransmitters are normally present in small amounts in the brain, the flood resulting from a TBI fries brain circuits, says Dr. Douglas H. Smith, director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania.

• Meanwhile, another kind of damage occurs as individual nerve cells stretch and twist. Rips form in the axons — long, slender, cable like structures that project from the center of the nerve cell and carry information to the cell’s body.

• When an axon rips open, chemicals rush in and cause it to swell. Proteins released in response to the tearing can chew the cell up from the inside out, leading to its eventual destruction.

Recovery is slow and many victims feel isolated as friends and family struggle with adjusting to the new person the victim has become.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=21 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:42:00 -0500 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=20 Millions of people every year are victims of some level of a traumatic brain injury. Some aren’t very bad relatively speaking as no brain injury is good, but the mild ones rarely require hospitalization. More severe ones do, however, and some are, quite simply put, fatal. Fortunately, out of the millions affected by a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) every year, the number of fatalities is very small. That leaves millions who are affected and require some level of recovery and rehabilitation in order to be reintegrated into society.For those who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and for the friends and family around them, knowing what to expect and how recovery will progress is something they want to know. The severity of the injury is the single biggest factor. The prior health and functions of the survivor will also impact recovery. Any pre-existing conditions, and the health conditions and strength of the victim before the injury occurred, are all factors which will impact recovery.

The worst state is when the victim is effectively brain dead. The body is still alive, but there is no brain activity and in order to keep the body alive, artificial means are required. The removal of the life support equipment would result in all cessation of other life sustaining functions. This condition will not improve.

The next state is almost as severe, but not quite. If the injury is severe, then it is expected that the victim will probably be in some form of a coma, or a state where the body is alive, but unaware of stimulus. This state is often the case when the brain is still showing signs of activity however the body may still require artificial means to maintain life. This condition may improve, but the odds of recovery decrease as time progresses. If conditions improve within the first one to three months, odds of some form of recovery are quite good. However, if the vegetative condition persists for longer than a year, then the odds decrease dramatically.

For patients who are aware and are sustaining consistent awake/sleep cycles, the diagnosis of how much damage has occurred will be based on tests to determine how much the various skills have been affected by the injury. From basic motor skills, through vision and hearing tests, and following up to concentration and attention skills, doctors and diagnosticians will see if any other lower functions are affected. After that, language skills, spatial and constructional abilities and memory skills are studied for any deficiencies. Lastly, reasoning skills, intellectual abilities and academic abilities are tested for both pre and post injury retention and capacity.

Once all of these tests are run, the doctors, diagnosticians and specialists will sit down, come up with a “map” of the severity and scope of the injuries and set down a course of rehabilitation and therapy for the victim to recover as much of their abilities as possible. While a full recovery may not be possible, the quality of life for the victim can usually be improved greatly through drug, psychological and physical therapy. Also, having an attorney who is familiar with traumatic brain injuries involve ensures the victim is getting the full attention they deserve and need in order to recover as fully as possible.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=20 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=19 Concussions are the most suffered Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (MTBI) and can cause persistent headaches, trouble remembering things, concentrating or making decisions. Also, a concussion can have lingering effects such as a tired feeling, sadness, listlessness or anxiousness. Other effects can include becoming irritated or angry for little or no apparent reason. Signs of concussion vary between adults and children, and a popular misconception is that the victim has to lose consciousness to have suffered a concussion. This is not true. It is possible to have a concussion and not be knocked out, although those cases are usually not as severe as other types.

Warning signs of a concussion in adults are as follows: a headache that gets worse, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination, repeated vomiting. Other warning signs are that the victim falls asleep and cannot be awakened, has one pupil where the lens, or the black part in the center, is larger than the other, the victim may have convulsions or seizures, may have slurred speech and may get more and more confused, agitated or restless. The danger signs for children include all the signs for adults and infants and toddlers may not nurse, can’t stop crying and may be inconsolable.

Recovering from a concussion is a lot like recovering from most injuries. Resting gives the brain time to heal. Taking the time necessary to recover is important. Depending on the severity of the concussion and the location of the part of the brain that was injured will also affect the amount of time it’ll take to recover. Other factors that can delay recovery are if the body has other injuries or medical conditions prior to the concussion, and if there have been other concussions prior to the current one.

Aside from getting plenty of rest at night, and resting during the day, victims of a concussion don’t need to return to their daily routine at once. Slowly adding activities back to their schedule and especially avoiding activities that could result in another brain injury are necessary. Since a concussion may well affect coordination and reflexes, it is important to get a doctor to assess whether or not the victim can return to driving.

Other things to keep in mind that may make the victim’s life easer are to have them write things down if they have problems remembering, and if they’ve exhibited problems with decision making abilities and with concentration, to have them consult with others before making an important decision and doing one thing at a time until it is completed.

While concussions do constitute a traumatic brain injury, since they are closed skull injuries, sometimes it is difficult to gauge the amount of time it will take to recover from it. Be sure to discuss with an attorney and your health care professionals about doing things such as returning to work, and what other detrimental effects a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) can have on the victim’s life.]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=19 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:35:00 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=18 If there is a lot of blood and a broken skull, understanding that someone has a traumatic brain injury is fairly easy. Medical professionals busily try to stem the bleeding, and to heal the body. It can be markedly different when the injury isn’t as readily apparent, such as when there is a closed skull injury. Some people have difficulty accepting the fact that a traumatic brain injury has actually occurred unless the patient is unconscious. If a patient is unconscious, then it becomes a matter of determining just how bad is the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The longer the person is unconscious, typically the worse the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Determining the extent and scope of the damage has to wait until the patients regain consciousness before a complete evaluation can be made. Only when the neuropsychological tests are performed can the professional diagnose which areas of the brain are affected by the injury.

MRI’s and CAT scans can be used to see how much physical damage occurred. Vision tests can determine whether the parietal lobes are affected, memory tests assess frontal lobe injuries, motor skills test for the back and brain injury. Psychological and other physiological tests are used to determine how deeply the brain has been affected by the injury. Only after several exhaustive batteries of tests have been run to gauge the extent of the injury can specialized treatment and rehabilitation begin. Even then, the families of the victims need to be informed of the changes they can expect because of the injuries.

When someone shatters a leg or an arm and it is in a cast or is missing, the injury is readily apparent and it is easy for other people to understand that there is an injury. Having others understand that someone who has suffered a mild to moderate brain injury is more difficult even though the injury will have significant changes in a person’s life, because outwardly, there appears to be no obvious injury. Brain injury survivors do not wear a sign that says they have been injured but they need everyone’s patience just as much as others with debilitating injuries. Survivors and the caregivers of those with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) will benefit from listening to the health care professionals and doing the research to understand the effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Victims of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) of this nature may or may not understand that their injury is as impactful on their lives as it can be, so getting as much understanding into the scenario as possible is always beneficial.

Ensuring the victim is getting all the tests they need for a complete evaluation and then getting the victim the best care and treatment available is essential so they can have the best quality of life after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Having people around you like health care providers and attorneys that specialize in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) cases gives the victim of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) the best possible chance for the best possible life.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=18 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:29:00 -0400 http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=17
Damage to the part of the brain that controls our eye muscles can cause several different conditions such as double vision or eyestrain. Double vision occurs when the eyes don’t track the same point at the same time due to a misalignment in the muscles. This may be constant, but also may be intermittent as well, depending on the injury, and may be positional in nature. For instance, the patient may be fine when looking straight ahead, but when moving the eyes to the side, the doubled vision may manifest itself. Also, when reading the eyes track together to move from word to word, and damage to muscular control may impair this tracking, causing eyestrain, headaches and even an impairment in the ability to read.

Light sensitivity may also result from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Like the volume control on a stereo, the eyes automatically adjust to the amount of ambient light in an area, and when this is affected by injury, the eyes either adjust slowly or not at all, which means the patient has difficulty in transitioning from one area to another in terms of light level. This is most often the case when moving from a low-light area to a high light area, such as moving from an indoor room to outside, on a sunny day.

Dry eyes are also a possible effect from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This means the eyes feel dry or gritty, and may have a burning sensation. There are a variety of possible injury causes, but the net problem may stem from a reduction in the amount of tears produced, an inability to close the eyelids properly or a reduction in the blink rate which all results in a reduced ability to hydrate the eyes with tears.

One aspect of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may be a visual hallucination which can be very difficult to resolve. Usually manifested as a misrepresentation of objects or people as flashes of light, stars or flickering distortions, which prevents the victim from being able to properly form the actual image and recognize the object or person.

The last aspect to cover here is impaired visual memory. This simply means that the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has affected the area of the brain which deals with recognition of objects and the resultant is that patients are no longer able to recognize objects, faces or certain letters.

Due to the nature of brain injuries, it is difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the extent of the damage. Quite often, a medical professional who is trained in both low vision and brain injuries is required to develop a rehabilitation plan to best serve the patient. Again, having an attorney who understand the needs of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) victim will help ensure they are able to achieve the best quality of life after an injury as possible.
]]> Brain Injury Legal Information http://www.braininjurync.com/brain-injury-blog/index.php?itemid=17 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:08:00 -0400