I hope the religious holidays were good for the Blue Star
and Gold Star Mothers who may be reading these blogs. I want to pass on what I have been learning
from recent military health webinars and other research in the medical and scientific journals I
sited in previous blogs. Just want to
give you some condensed information I think is relevant and
helpful. If I don’t have to do footnotes
this will be faster and easier for all of us. This blog will explore research and blog # 10 resources to try.
One in four returning service members has a
mild, moderate or severe TBI. You are fortunate that there has been so much
exciting research recently into the brain. Researchers are responding to the
need our returning soldiers have for help with these injuries.
I love it when neurologists now talk about the plasticity of the brain.
In other words new neurons being generated
for rehabilitated function.
Doctors didn’t think it was possible a few years ago.
Having experienced it myself, I know what a challenge it is
to help your child after a traumatic brain injury, or in our case many. In our situation I was
also dealing with my own TBI.
I’m
telling you this because I want you to
know there is hope and healing. It has taken us many years because we were
dealing with it on our own. Now there is help from the VA, DCoE outreach, Wounded Warriors and the
military health system. Blue and Gold Star Mothers are designed to be support groups. Your
warrior can expect a faster more complete
recovery than in earlier conflicts.
I hate to report this. The latest statistics ( Washington Post ) Every day
22 US veterans kill themselves. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are 30 to
200% more likely to commit suicide than
their nonveteran peers. We are all aware
that TBI and PTSD leave the person more vulnerable to substance abuse and suicide. Normal inhibitions may be affected by TBI.
Doctors recommend social support works better than confrontation for substance abuse problems. They also tell us not to use alcohol in the
year following a TBI to allow the brain healing time. People are more susceptible to the effects of
alcohol after a brain injury. Post-Traumatic Stress compounds the problems you and your veteran
must deal with.
I’ve
found some fascinating newly discovered
information about the
effects of physical changes to the
brain. Two concepts new to me are; Anhedonia,
the loss of ability to feel pleasure, and Alexithymia , which is the loss of ability to recognize other people’s or even your own emotions. The newest theory is that they may be more than psychological and are caused by physical change or injury to the brain. Treatment can be more appropriate when the real cause
is known. ((Neurology Now)
Scientists
are now able to find the exact neuron in the brain that carries the memory of a
certain person, or group of people. Responses of each cell are quite selective.
They respond to the concept of
a certain person. If those
neurons in that area are destroyed you won’t remember that person, or the
history and emotional content with that person.
At least until other neurons that contain memories of that person come
back on line or respond later. If that happens.
I have to find the DVD of “ The
Promise” a movie about a woman who
forgets who her husband is after a car accident. The most common comment about a
returning veteran is “He isn’t the same
person .” I think his memories have
changed. ( Scientific American)
Magnesium and B12 are recommended to those with TBI by
Dr. Philip Hocum US Army. Dr. Oz recommends it for everyone. My son and I also take melatonin and acetyl L
carnitine. (military health webinars)
On his
blog ADAM AT EASE, Adam who was a
sergeant in Iraq, talks about the symptoms of TBI. Which are; 1. headaches and
neck pain that won’t go away. 2.difficulty remembering, especially short term
,concentrating or making decisions.
3.slowness in thinking, acting, speaking or reading. 4. Aphasia, (difficulty
recalling words). 5.dizzyness or loss of
balance. 6. Blurred vision and eyes tire easily. 6. Feeling tired all the time,
lack of energy or motivation. Depression, PTSD and SA compound the problems of
course. He gives encouragement and practical advice to others recovering
from TBI.
