Category Archives: Brain Injury Treatment

June 15, 2017 09:44 ET | Source: Association of American Physicians and Surgeons TUCSON, Ariz., June 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Contrary to decades of medical teaching that the brain and nervous system, once injured, cannot heal, the nervous system has significant capacity for repair and regeneration, write Timothy Marshall, Ph.D., and Carol Henricks, M.D., in the summer issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. About 2 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year, as from concussion. Thousands of veterans have disabling damage due to blast exposure from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Medications currently used to treat consequences such as depression, sleep disturbance, and cognitive problems may help some symptoms, but they do not promote healing or inhibit cell death or neurodegeneration, the authors note. A new treatment model called biochemical restoration is emerging. Minerals that are especially important in reducing neuro-inflammation and promoting repair are lithium, magnesium, and zinc. Authors review some of the biochemical mechanisms in which these minerals are involved, such as regulating the function of more than 100 proteins. Neurological repair, even in long-standing injury, is also stimulated by hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT), that is, breathing oxygen in a chamber under … Continue reading →

Initial treatment of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) begins upon arrival to a hospital. At the hospital, a team of medical professionals, generally led by the trauma surgeon, will meet the patient. The trauma surgeon, acting as the leader, will direct the team. The trauma staff will initiate resuscitation procedures, monitor the bodys vital functions, respond to potential life-threatening changes and coordinate care with other hospital personnel. The patient may need surgery for injuries. In addition to the trauma surgeon, the surgical staff could include the neurosurgeon, a physician who performs brain and spinal cord surgery; an orthopedic surgeon, a physician who works with broken bones such as fractures of the arms and legs or the spinal column; or a general surgeon. While the physicians are assessing the patient and the response to treatment, the trauma nurse is caring for the patient: providing resuscitation, stabilization and supportive care. The nurses have the responsibility to coordinate and provide communication within the hospital and with the family. Once stabilized, the patient will be transferred to a specialized trauma care unit. Care will be provided by the critical care nursing staff. The nursing staffs responsibility is to assess, monitor and interpret vital physiologic … Continue reading →

Headway of WNY, People Inc. and Catholic Charities are co-sponsoring a presentation in support of veterans from 8:15 a.m. to noon Wednesday, June 14, at the Center for Tomorrow, 101 Service Center Road at the University at Buffalos North Campus. The symposium, titled Signature Injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars: Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment Diagnoses and Treatment, will offer an interactive discussion for attendees. There is no cost to attend the symposium. Featured speakers and topics include: Michael Santa Maria, a board-certified neuropsychologist, who will focus on neuropsychological assessments. Elisabeth Mann, of the Erie County Medical Center, who will discuss counseling and treatment intervention. Dr. Jonathan T. Marshall, of the Erie County Medical Center Radiology Department, who will present use of imaging for diagnoses of blast injury. While the event is free, two Continuing Education Units will cost $20, which are available for preregistered, licensed mental health counselors and social workers. Cash or checks are payable to Catholic Charities on the day of the event. To register or for more information, email support@headwayofwny.org or call 408-3100. Breakfast is included. The symposium is co-sponsored by Headway of WNY, People Inc. and Catholic Charities. Excerpt from: Presentation to support veterans' … Continue reading →

Sports was life for Cory Palazzi. He and his mother, Lori, were always on the move from one game to another. Since he was a little boy, he always had a love of sports. He always wanted to keep busy and always wanted to play sports -- sports was like his number one, said Lori Gonsalves. What a great time it was in his life and in my life. His biggest passion was baseball. He was a talented pitcher, often making headlines in the newspaper. Scouts were taking notice as Cory got closer to college. But today, just standing on his own is a challenge. His brain damage, the result of an injury followed by a battle with addiction, is extensive. Lori Palazzi explained, His junior year going into senior year, he was pitching a game and he felt that his arm wasn't right, so we went and had that check and he had a torn labrum.so he had shoulder surgery on his right pitching arm. Cory Palazzi was a star athlete before injury, and then addiction. He was prescribed Percocet after the surgery. That was in 2005. Corey graduated from high school and went to college, but he never … Continue reading →

Nearly two million traumatic brain injuries occur every year in the US. Reports have shown that emergency rooms can fail to diagnose or even document certain types of head trauma. Whereas something as noticeable as a cracked skull will generally be immediately diagnosed, subtler types of head injuries may not be caught by the first doctors to examine them. If a patient then follows up with other medical providers after the first ER trip, the lack of documentation and diagnoses on TBIs can lead to further delays in treatment. Complicating the issue further, some physicians are not experienced in mild traumatic brain injuries, preventing them from recognizing the signs of a TBI in the weeks after an accident. If the patient is relying on his insurance company to choose a doctor for treatment, the insurance company may select one that does not have experience in traumatic brain injuries as well. Dangers of Delayed Diagnosis with Traumatic Brain Injuries Of course, a delay in diagnosis means a delay in treatment for the traumatic brain injury. This is especially troubling in matters concerning the brain, as failure to treat the injury in quickly can cause more severe, long term problems to arise … Continue reading →

A Royal Marine who nearly died in a bomb blast in Afghanistan is calling for greater awareness of a 'hidden injury' that at times has made his life unbearable. Harris Tatakis, a former section commander in the Royal Marines, was seriously injured when his Land Rover drove over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while he was serving in Afghanistan in 2007. The blast shattered his left leg, broke his right foot, caused brain damage and ruptured both his ear drums. Ten years after the incident, the veteran has revealed that out of all his horrific injuries, it was an invisible condition that has affected him the most - tinnitus. READ NEXT: How our city failed vulnerable Plymouth man found dead in garden The 39-year-old from Plymouth, who has undergone numerous operations on his leg and treatment for his brain injury, is now calling for greater awareness of the condition. People affected by tinnitus hear a ringing, hissing or whistling sound in one or both of their ears or head, which is not linked to any external source. It is often caused by exposure to loud noise or ear or head injuries. Mr Tatakis said: "Because it's an unseen injury, it … Continue reading →

Caribou, MaineOn May 24, KeyBanks Caribou branch employees participated in the companys 27th annual Neighbors Make the Difference Day by volunteering at AMHCs Center for Integrated Neuro Rehab (CINR) in Caribou. Eight Key Bank Employees from Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton worked alongside CINR clients, staff and a community volunteer to build and plant five portable raised bed vegetable and flower garden carts. Each cart has 8 square feet of growing capacity and is 3 feet high with wheels so that garden tending can be done while standing and can be moved to gain optimal sun and shade during the day. AMHCs CINR service was selected by Key Bank in March upon submitting a project proposal requesting bank volunteers to help build raised garden carts, as gardening is a much loved therapeutic activity for the Centers clients. In addition to building the carts, Key Bank staff also donated flowers and vegetable plants and seeds. The Key Bank volunteers are Rob Faulkner, Jeremy Flannery, Brian Flewelling, Tanya LaPointe, Erica Moir-Boyles, Matthew Orcutt, Riley Parady, and Steve St. Pierre. Dave Letourneau, one of the staff Certified Brain Injury Specialists, donated the use of his tools and worked alongside Joe Owens, an AMHC … Continue reading →

Posted June 13, 2017 12:54:11 Dianne Haines thinks it is ironic that a drug that is prescribed in Australia to treat arthritis and psoriasis is not available for treatment of stroke or acquired brain injury. "Yes, the drug is already approved for use and it is approved for use in inflammatory conditions," Ms Haines said. "So the only thing that is different with this treatment is the method of administration." The Townsville woman is the primary carer for her 40-year-old son Jeremy Haines who acquired a brain injury in a car accident 38 years ago. Mr Haines' injuries rendered him hemiplegic he has mobility on his left side but not his right and requires assistance to do basic tasks like eating and dressing. After decades of physical rehabilitation treatments in Australia, the family were curious to try a treatment only available in the United States injection of Etanercept at the base of the neck. The drug is commonly prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis but perispinal injection is not yet legal in Australia and has only been available at Florida's Institute of Neurological Recovery since 2012. In October 2016, the Haines family flew to Florida to receive the treatment at a cost … Continue reading →

ROCKLIN >> There is still time to sign up for the Game-Changer Celebrity Golf Classic on Saturday in Rocklin, a fundraiser for research on traumatic brain injuries in high school football and other sports. The Game-Changer Celebrity Golf Classic is headlined by former NFL greats and other sports celebrities, including three members of the NFL Hall of Fame and 20 former Oakland Raiders, including Super Bowl MVP Jim Plunkett and future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson. The fantastic response from members of the NFL is heartwarming knowing they are supportive of our cause, said Jeffrey R. Jenkins, M.D., chief medical executive of Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, who is helping to promote the tournament. Because of this spirit of cooperation, we will be able to make a huge difference in the knowledge about detection, prevention and treatment of traumatic brain injuries among high school athletes. The tournament is hosted by the family of 17-year-old Toran Maronic of Bear River High School in Grass Valley, who was a college prospect in football and lacrosse. In June 2016, the wide receiver sustained a brain injury during a 7-on-7 scrimmage. Specialists believed Toran would never come out of his coma or fully recover, but … Continue reading →

Updated June 12, 2017 14:36:29 A series of catastrophic strokes at 23 left Sam Goddard unable to talk, walk or see. Doctors thought he had suffered irreversible brain damage but Sam knew exactly what was going on he was just unable to express himself. Luckily for him, his family and fiance refused to accept the bleak medical assessment and for the past seven years have fought to help release him from his trapped state. Defying medical advice, they have experimented with different drugs and flown overseas for treatments not approved in Australia. The results have been nothing short of spectacular. On Valentine's Day 2010, Sam was living large. He was enjoying work as a young accountant, partying hard and just weeks away from getting married. He had been out for drinks the night before and, in the sweltering heat, played soccer at a Brisbane corporate charity event. At midday, he came off the field with a headache after heading in a goal. By 2:00pm, he was screaming and rocking back and forth in agony. By 3:00pm, emergency room doctors doubted he would survive the next 24 hours. Sam had suffered two massive strokes, which the family believes could be linked … Continue reading →