{"id":10968,"date":"2022-07-28T21:49:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T21:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wondermentgardens.com\/?p=10968"},"modified":"2022-09-29T16:10:39","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T16:10:39","slug":"traumatic-brain-injuries-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wondermentgardens.com\/traumatic-brain-injuries-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural Approaches to Traumatic Brain Injuries"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Let’s talk about Traumatic Brain Injuries.<\/p>
Earlier this year, I took a fall that resulted in a concussion or what the medical people called a closed- head, traumatic brain injury. In my case it was exacerbated by a bleed in the frontal lobe of my brain. The whole thing felt surreal because it didn\u2019t feel bad at the time. Even a day or two later, being discharged from the ICU, I didn\u2019t feel badly. Instead, as time passed, symptoms morphed, becoming more difficult, lingering for about 12 weeks.<\/p>
My Dr. said I had a mild injury and that complete healing could take over a year, with the first 3 months being the most significant.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Directly after the injury, I was tired. I was responsive, but very tired, with a lingering headache. Pressure developed over the first few days behind my right eye that trailed to the back of my head. Mostly I wanted to sleep.<\/p>
In the days after my fall, I began to experience several persistent unpleasant symptoms. First, I was ANGRY! AT EVERYTHING! Thank goodness that one passed quickly. Following came a range of symptoms that lasted about 2 months, including tiredness, sensory sensitization (like sounds echoing and double vision etc.). As I write this, I am about 12 weeks out from the incident. Most of the symptoms have cleared. Yet I still struggle to focus from time to time and sometimes tire easily, especially in the afternoon.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>
As I recover (and I really feel healthy and great most of the time), I am inspired to research about this type of injury. Hopefully the work will support others who have either suffered from a head injury themselves or those who are helping others.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t This work will be delivered in three parts for easier assimilation. Brain injuries as it turns out can be quite complicated and involved.\u00a0<\/p> Throughout human history, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have been, and continue to be, one of the most common causes of death and disability. In the United States alone, an estimated 1.2 million emergency room visits are associated with TBIs. In the past, only the most severe head injuries were of consequence. Not anymore. Every day we learn more about the workings of the brain and possible, long-lasting side effects connected to head injuries. Even mild ones.\u00a0<\/p> Everyone experiences TBIs a little differently. Some are more severe from the beginning, others are slower to cause problems. The brain is a complex organ and is responsible for many crucial functions of our physical, mental, and emotional body. It is made up of several parts (called lobes). Each lobe has a specific role and operation, each controlling different life functions.\u00a0<\/p> Sometimes seen as the body\u2019s central processing system, the brain controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger, and every process that regulates our body. More than controlling our physical body, the brain helps balance, modify, and regulate all levels of mind, emotions, and spiritual senses. From the cranium it extends to the spinal cord to make up the central nervous system. Click here for more information about brain anatomy.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t When we think of a brain injury, most of us think of a blunt trauma to the head, like falling or hitting the head. However, traumatic brain injuries include any trauma that damages the operation of the brain. This includes concussions, shaking, striking blows, contusions, hemorrhages, hematomas, stroke, penetrating injuries and more.<\/p> The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke define traumatic brain injury as a form of acquired brain injury that occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. The brain is jostled inside the skull, damaging, and stretching brain cells causing chemical changes and cell death, thus, disrupting normal functioning.\u00a0<\/p> Inflammation is a huge concern. Studies show post injury swelling is responsible for much of the significant damage from a blunt head trauma. After any injury, damaged tissue tends to swell. But, because the cranium affords little room for swelling, pressure builds up easily. Resulting pressure can choke blood flow to some areas. Limited blood flow means lower levels of oxygen and nutrients to brain tissue, causing brain cell malfunction and death. \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t The most common causes of head injury include car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. High-contact sports like football, basketball, soccer, ice hockey, and wrestling can put athletes at a greater risk. For younger children, accidents like a fall on the playground or off a bicycle can cause a concussion. Penetrating injuries are caused when an object penetrates the skull.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tSummary of Presentation<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
About Traumatic Brain Injuries<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Causes of TBI<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t