Concussion, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI

 

You do not have to be unconscious to suffer a brain injury!

Brain injuries are a contributing factor to a third (30.5%) of all injury-related deaths in the United States. About 75% of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild traumatic brain injury.

Each year, emergency rooms treat an estimated 173,285 sports- related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents, from birth to 19 years. During the last decade, ER visits for sports-related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents increased by 60%.

Overall, the activities associated with the greatest number of TBI-related ER visits included bicycling, football, playground activities, basketball, and soccer. But the truth is TBIs occur in all sporting activities.


Many Injuries are ignored or dismissed as “just getting your bell rung.” But you do not have to be unconsciousness to have a TBI!
Signs that you have a brain injury can be seen by others as well as the injured person.
Here are a list of signs typically noticed by others:

• Appears dazed or stunned
• Is confused
• Forgets instruction
• Moves clumsily
• Answers questions slowly
• Mood, behavior or personality changes
• Can't recall events prior to hit or fall
• Can't recall events after hit or fall

Here are a list of signs typically noticed by injured individual:

• Headache or "pressure" in head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, groggy or foggy
• Concentration or memory problems
• Confusion
• Just doesn't feel "right"

Many times those who have suffered with a concussion or TBI are told just to relax and wait for the brain to heal and the symptoms to go away. Once the physical side heals, others think the person is back to normal. Much of the time, however, this isn't the case. The post-concussion symptoms can be devastating and take much longer to heal. They can include:

• Headaches or neck pains that don't go away
• Difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions
• Slower speaking, reading, thinking or acting
• Getting lost or easily confused
• Feeling tired all the time, having no energy or motivation
• Mood changes (feeling angry or sad for no reason)
• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or trouble sleeping)
• Light-headedness, dizziness or lack of balance
• Urge to vomit
• Increased sensitivity to lights or sounds
• Blurred vision or eyes that tire easy
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Ringing in the ears

Anxious to heal, TBI patients often push themselves to try and take on those things they were doing before the accident. This can cause more problems because they have not let the brain heal. Some say they feel fatigued, as if they have been without sleep for days. They sometimes liken it to a constant meditative state. During these times there is no inner chatter, just quiet darkness. During these times the brain is trying to heal itself and therefore goes “offline.” When this happens they can be physically unable to stay connected mentally.
The good news the brain is an amazing organ. It can learn to rewire and heal itself. Using a selection of therapies, it is possible to help the brain heal much more quickly.
Contact BrainAdvantage today to see how quickly and effectively our programs work to heal the brain!