There are three forms of TBI, mild, moderate, and severe.
http://www.health.mil/Press/Release.aspx?ID=591
Symptoms of TBI
Each
of the three forms of TBI display different symptoms to be aware of.
Mild TBI, otherwise known as concussion, is more difficult
to diagnose both in civilian life and on the military battlefield.
- With mild TBI patients, full recovery can be within minutes
to hours; a small percentage have symptoms that may persist months or years.
- Symptoms of mild TBI include headache, dizziness,
nausea/vomiting, trouble concentrating, memory problems, irritability.
Moderate TBI includes a population of patients that falls between
the mild and severe spectrum. Moderate TBI patients have the most variability in the clinical presentation picture.
- There
is usually loss of consciousness, from an hour to a day; there can be confusion for days to weeks; and mental or physical deficits
that can last months or be permanent.
- The vast majority of these service members are identified and evaluated at theater-level
medical facilities, and are evacuated back to the United States for further evaluation and care.
Severe TBI usually results
from a significant closed head injury, as in an automobile accident or most open or penetrating injuries, where there may be considerable
residual deficits of brain function.
- Depending on the injury, a severe TBI could impact speech, sensory, vision and cognitive
deficits including difficulties with attention, memory, concentration, and impulsiveness.
- There is an aggressive initial treatment
program in theater, with neurosurgical expertise.
Read more at the link.
A windy day at
Cape Hatteras and
I just happened
to catch a
picture of this
Marine flag
at the exact right
moment!
Since becoming a Marine mom in 2003, I have learned how important it is for military parents to connect with other military parents,
not to believe everything in print or on television, and that every one of us has a strength deep down inside to draw upon when we
need it most.
My hope here is to honor the troops and to share online resources, letting you know that you are not alone.
Marinemoms-Bethesda.org and Jane's Blog are not endorsed by or connected in any way with the USMC, the DoD or anyone
else official. The opinions here are the opinions of the author's only.
Copyright © 2008-2010 Jane's Blog.
All rights reserved.
Continued prayers for our Military and their families.
Love and Hugs,
March is National Brain Injury Month
March is
National
Brain Injury Month
I've been trying to wrap my mind around how I wanted to post about this and I am still not sure. There is so much out there about
TBI... it can be overwhelming.
The first letter we received from our son during his first deployment back in 2004 - ages ago
and just yesterday - said, "It seems like IEDs are a big deal over here." He had been in a convoy and a truck three trucks
ahead of his hit one. Their baptism in the land of the sand.
A few months later another letter. "We finally got our new humvee,
scrounged around town and found enough metal to armor it up." Hmm okay so he didn't tell us he was in one that got blown up. He waited
until they had their "new" one to tell us. In the meantime they had hit another IED - 6 out of 9 with shrapnel wounds, he was
one of three untouched. This made three IEDs that I knew of... back in the day before the *really* powerful IEDs came along. Otherwise
he would probably be... nope - can't think of that, Janie. Stop that right now!
He doesn't talk much about his time over
there unless it is funny stuff... gotta love a Marine's sense of humor, they totally crack me up.... he was funny before he left home
and then the Corps refined that weird sense of humor he has... my daughter says it's genetic from the maternal side of the
family but I dunno 'bout that...
Then there was the second deployment. He doesn't say much about that one either. I've
learned don't ask, be there if and when he wants to talk, and we keep an eye on him, even now after him being out 2
1/2 years.
What I am getting to is that one of the things I have noticed is this - many of the guys who EAS'd when their
four years were up don't want to sign up for the VA. "I don't need it." "There's nothing wrong with me." "I'll be fine...."
And
then - months later -
"I flew off the handle at work and I don't know why." "I can't sleep more than 2 hours at a time." "I have
ringing in my ears." "I get dizzy spells."
Then after phone calls back and forth to their buddies who signed up for their
first VA appointment, got into the system, found out that although it was a bear to get into and find the right counselor, got the
right rating, things were finally much better for them "So Bro - get yourself in there - you have a baby on the way, think about your
future, man. If it's like this now, think about how it might be a few years down the road."
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the
signature wound of this war.
It can be caused by an impact or a jolt to the head, or a penetrating wound to the head, and
it can also be caused by an air vacuum that happens from a blast from an explosion. These can cause the brain to rattle around
in the skull, tear itty bitty nerves in the brain, cause air pockets or little holes in the brain. This in turn causes nerve
impulses and chemicals in the brain to get screwed up, and can affect moods, vision, hearing, memory and that's just for starters.
Think about it - the nerves are torn and can't connect the way they should. The air pockets cause disruption in the way
everything works together.... No wonder something's not right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
There are alot of good things going on out there with research and programs available, and with March being
National Brain Injury Month I am seeing numerous articles about TBI being written, bringing awareness to the public about
it.
Innovative Brain Therapies Offer Hope to Injured Troops
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2009 - Innovative therapies that have assisted previously comatose patients regain
consciousness may be incorporated on a greater scale to treat troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, a brain injury expert
said here today.
Dr. Philip A. DeFina, chief executive and scientific officer at the not-for-profit International Brain Research Foundation
Inc., in Edison, N.J., said that, over the past four years, electronic brain stimulation, oxygen-induction, drugs and other therapies
were used to bring 43 people, including five injured soldiers, out of minimally-conscious or vegetative states. (Read more that thelink.)
+++++++++++++++
Most Soldiers With Brain Injury Heal, Medical Official Says
By C. Todd Lopez
Special to American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 5, 2009 - Mild traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion, affects
from 10 to 20 percent of servicemembers returning from combat deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan.
During a roundtable discussion at
the Pentagon yesterday as part of "Brain Injury Awareness Month," Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree K. Sutton, director of the Defense Centers
of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, said more than 90 percent of servicemembers with TBI have concussions
and recovery quickly.
"I can't stress this enough," Sutton said. "The vast majority of people with TBI will get better. Certainly,
the moderate or more severe cases will take longer to recover, but it is also important to recognize this is not an individual concern
alone. That's where family comes in, the unit comes in, and the community comes in." (Read more at the link. )
+++++++++++++++
Looking for resources? These are a jumping off points to find them. I'm not recommending any of them, just pointing them out to you.
Here
are some .mil and .gov sites where you can find help and resources:
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
OUR MISSION The mission of the Defense
and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) is to serve active duty military, their dependents and veterans with traumatic brain injury
(TBI) through state-of-the-art medical care, innovative clinical research initiatives and educational programs.
Hmmm....
then I found this:
VA Watchdog dot Org
This is about one of the articles above.
And
found this
forum at Had It.com
Lots more sites out there. Just google TBI.
+++++++++++++++
The Dad of a Marine
dealing with TBI said to me not long ago:
"The doctors at the VA described my son with TBI as a beautiful slab of meat you are going to barbecue. Looks just great on the
outside but is pulverized on the inside. Lots of nerves have been severed, pockets of air are on his brain. At times it can be
overwhelming trying to figure out how to get them help. "
Yes, I agree. It's very overwhelming...
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Past Posts
Holiday Cheer at Bethesda
Never Forget!
Quilt Raffle Update
Arlington visit
Independence Day
May 2009
April 2009
March
2009
November 2008