Unfortunately, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are the leading cause of children’s deaths and disabilities. Once your child has been diagnosed with this type of medical condition, you may feel overwhelmed by all that you need to learn.

Fortunately, there are a number of trustworthy Web sites that provide helpful information for parents in your situation. In fact, some of the following links can even direct you to resources that can help your entire family cope with this sudden change in your world.

Helpful TBI Internet Resources for Parents

• Before beginning any searches for brain injury resources, it will help you to fully familiarize yourself with the basic parts of the brain and some of their functions. You can do this by viewing a map of the brain and then visiting a basic glossary on head injuries;
• If your child has already started school, it may help you to read a chapter of information aboutthe behavioral changes your child may exhibit as a result of his or her injury. Thismaterial also provides some useful tips for coordinating your child’s care and learning experiences with school officials;
• The Brain Injury Association of America can put you in touch with helpful professionals in your state — and possibly even in your own county. Just visit the following link to locate your state and then “click on it:” http://www.biausa.org/state-affiliates.htm
• You may want to review the following medical information to make sure all of the proper steps were followed immediately after your child’s injury. In case anything was overlooked, you should tell your doctor about it. This practical information is provided by the Dr. Sears Web site. Hopefully, it will help you obtain a speedy recovery for your child:http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/childhood-illnesses/head-injuries
• If your injured child is (still)able to read and comprehend many materials, you can find a number of helpful books and articles specifically written to help TBI survivors cope with their injuries: http://www.lapublishing.com/blog/category/brain-injury-survivor-support/
• You can find a number of useful materials forhelping children with TBI injuries at the following publishing group’s Web site:

http://www.lapublishing.com/blog/category/traumatic-brain-injury-faqs/brain-injury-children/

• When you visit the next Internet link, be sure to scroll down to the lower part of the page where a number of highly useful resources are listed. They include people to contact regarding unpaid insurance claims, a family caregiver alliance and The National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education:http://www.headinjury.com/families.htm
• Finally, you may simply want to read all you can about traumatic brain injuries on some of the most reputable medical Web sites: The Mayo Clinic, The Centers for Disease Control, Web MD, The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and The Children’s National Medical Center. Other helpful Web sites include The Brain Injury Society and TBIHome.org.

We hope these Internet resources help you obtain all of the special care your injured child and family need at this difficult time in your life.

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for

almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Most of us correctly associate the hormone progesterone with the female reproductive system. However, this hormone has also been the subject of multiple research studies for almost thirty years since it may offer distinct neuroprotective properties to injured brains.

Years ago, scientists noticed that during various experiments, female rats tended to fare better than their male counterparts after TBIs were inflicted upon them. That observation led researchers to confirm that “progesterone is a potent neurosteroid and [that] progesterone receptors are abundant and widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS).”

TBI Patients’ Immediate Needs Following Injury

At present, doctors are still searching for new treatments that can comprehensively address TBI patients’ most critical needs right after suffering their injuries. There’s a possibility that intravenous progesterone may help new TBI patients maintain proper blood pressure and oxygenation – and even help control the increased intracranial pressure that often confronts them. Of course, new TBI patients will need to receive this progesterone treatment shortly after they’re first brought into hospital emergency rooms.

The next section of this article provides a brief look at how one current clinical trial is administering progesterone to new TBI patients in hopes that they’ll fare better during their rehabilitative treatments and enjoy more favorable overall outcomes.

One Philadelphia Clinical Trial Involving Progesterone

There’s a three-year clinical trial now underway at Philadelphia’s Temple University Hospital that’s seeking to document the precise ways that TBI patients can benefit from having progesterone introduced intravenously shortly after they’ve suffered their injuries. The clinical trial is well designed and is making sure that all patients are receiving the standard TBI care. However, some will also be receiving progesterone treatments. The remaining clinical patients will just receive a placebo treatment in addition to the standardized care.

One of the medical trial professionals has said that they will probably inject some of the study participants with progesterone shortly after they’ve had a CAT scan done — yet before they undergo any necessary operations. (It’s believed that new TBI patient need to receive their first progesterone treatment within four hours of their injury to be included within the study). These special treatments will continue for four days in a row and then all of the patients will be followed for six months after their injuries to document their overall recovery levels.

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

According to a recent New York Times article, 75 veteran players of the National Football League have filed a lawsuit against the league, claiming that it failed to properly treat their concussions and reveal its knowledge that their injuries might cause long-term brain damage. This case is the first of its kind to specifically claim that the NFL failed to timely provide concussion warnings long ago.

The extensive suffering brought on by repeated blows to the head was sadly demonstrated earlier this year when Dave Duerson, formerly of the Chicago Bears, committed suicide. Prior to taking his life, Duerson repeatedly sought help with his troubling mental struggles. After his death, Duerson’s brain was carefully examined. Authorities have now disclosed that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (C.T.E.), a condition brought on by repetitive head injuries. Many know this diagnosis best as either “boxer’s dementia” or dementia pugilista.

Both NFL and high school football players have long fought to receive better care for their concussions. Unfortunately, many of these traumatic brain injuries can’t even be properly seen or imaged, even shortly after they occur. Although parents of younger players have long tried to raise awareness of football’s many dangers, the general public is only just now starting to fully grasp the widespread nature of these problems.

Specific Health Problems Referenced by the Plaintiffs

Many of the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are claiming that during their playing days, their concussions were not always accurately diagnosed, thereby causing them to suffer memory loss, serious headaches, vision problems and other disabilities.

Although the NFL may try to point out its recent efforts to increase player awareness of concussion dangers, the plaintiffs’ lawyers will surely reference the many medical journal articles published during recent decades that have clearly documented the serious, long-term consequences of numerous concussions.

Possible Outcome of this Lawsuit

Although it’s much too early to guess what the outcome may be of this concussion-related lawsuit, it should at least wind up providing critically needed funds to cover the past players’ future healthcare needs. Hopefully, the NFL will also be directed to draft new safety procedures and rules addressing (1) specific training exercises, (2) types of mandatory safety equipment to be used during all practice workouts and competitive games, and (3) the number of games that players must sit out after incurring multiple concussions over short periods of time.

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

After suffering traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), patients must be closely monitored since further complications like strokes and seizures may develop. A stroke often occurs after the vascular system carrying blood to the brain tissues is damaged. If the blood loss to the brain occurs over an extended period of time, brain cells can permanently die. Seizures, on the other hand, generally involve the abnormal firing of the brain’s nerve cells, frequently causing patients to suffer muscle spasms, convulsions or changes in consciousness.

Dr. Robert S. Fisher, a Stanford Medical School Neurology Professor, has noted that while seizures symptoms make look more dramatic, strokes are “medically much more serious because in stroke[s] brain cells die.” Given the long-lasting effect of strokes, they are the central focus of this article.

How A Stroke Can Complicate A TBI Patient’s Recovery

Although some scientists are hoping that stem cell research may one day offer new healing opportunities for stroke victims and other patients, no one currently knows how to rejuvenate dead brain cells. For this reason, neurologists and rehabilitation treatment specialists must carefully factor in a TBI patient’s stroke complications into any long-term treatment plans.

Great care must be taken when determining exactly which specific areas of the brain have stopped receiving blood flow due to the death of brain cells. Medical professionals can help many patients try to regain some lost skills and learn to cope with any permanent losses.

Fortunately, some strokes are less damaging than others. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or “mini-strokes,” usually don’t cause permanent brain damage. However, people who experience stroke-like symptoms should always seek out immediate emergency medical care to be sure their conditions are properly diagnosed and treated.

Internet Resources for TBI Patients and Others Coping with Stroke Complications

Stroke survivors can find a number of helpful resources on the National Stroke Association’s (NSA’s) Web pages.  In addition to the general resource directory page, readers can also find links to local supports groups. Special information is also available concerning the unique stroke challenges often faced by women, African Americans and children. Other materials are geared to helping the families and caregivers of stroke survivors.

The following clinics and institutes also offer useful information on strokes on their Web pages: the Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Elizabeth Smith, J.D., M.A., is a freelance writer who has successfully written about general health, safety, legal, medical and business topics for over twenty years. She has also served as the author and co-author of two professional legal texts.

by Elizabeth Smith, J.D., M.A.

After suffering traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), patients must be closely monitored since further complications like strokes and seizures may develop.  A stroke often occurs after the vascular system carrying blood to the brain tissues is damaged. If the blood loss to the brain occurs over an extended period of time, brain cells can permanently die. Seizures, on the other hand, generally involve the abnormal firing of the brain’s nerve cells, frequently causing patients to suffer muscle spasms, convulsions or changes in consciousness.

Dr. Robert S. Fisher, a Stanford Medical School Neurology Professor, has noted that while seizures symptoms make look more dramatic, strokes are “medically much more serious because in stroke[s] brain cells die.” Given the long-lasting effect of strokes, they are the central focus of this article.

How A Stroke Can Complicate A TBI Patient’s Recovery

Although some scientists are hoping that stem cell research may one day offer new healing opportunities for stroke victims and other patients, no one currently knows how to rejuvenate dead brain cells. For this reason, neurologists and rehabilitation treatment specialists must carefully factor in a TBI patient’s stroke complications into any long-term treatment plans.

Great care must be taken when determining exactly which specific areas of the brain have stopped receiving blood flow due to the death of brain cells. Medical professionals can help many patients try to regain some lost skills and learn to cope with any permanent losses.

Fortunately, some strokes are less damaging than others. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or “mini-strokes,” usually don’t cause permanent brain damage. However, people who experience stroke-like symptoms should always seek out immediate emergency medical care to be sure their conditions are properly diagnosed and treated.

Internet Resources for TBI Patients and Others Coping with Stroke Complications

Stroke survivors can find a number of helpful resources on the National Stroke Association’s (NSA’s) Web pages.  In addition to the general resource directory page, readers can also find links to local supports groups. Special information is also available concerning the unique stroke challenges often faced by women, African Americans and children. Other materials are geared to helping the families and caregivers of stroke survivors.

The following clinics and institutes also offer useful information on strokes on their Web pages: the Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Elizabeth Smith, J.D., M.A., is a freelance writer who has successfully written about general health, safety, legal, medical and business topics for over twenty years. She has also served as the author and co-author of two professional legal texts.

A recent study performed on mice offers hope that future traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients may experience faster healing if prescribed antidepressant medications like Tofranil (Imipramine). During this particular study, one group of brain-injured mice was treated with Tofranil while a control group of similar mice was not given the drug. The mice given the Tofranil “had 70% more brain cells” in the hippocampus region of the brain (the area responsible for memory) just four weeks after treatment began. According to Dr. Jason Huang who worked on this new study, all of the mice had to undergo behavioral tests to check the quality of their memory skills.

At present, close to one-half of all TBI patients take antidepressants during their rehabilitation to help them cope with depression. As a result of this new study and other future ones, antidepressants may become routine prescriptions for all recently afflicted TBI patients.  A vast number of Americans and their families may be affected by this change since the Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1.7 million Americans suffer TBIs each year.  While traffic accidents cause a great many of these injuries, others are the result of such everyday activities as playing sports or just walking around outdoors and suffering a bad fall.

Additional Information About the Tests Run on the Mice

One of the most interesting facts about the recent study is that the scientists were able to design sophisticated tests to help them try and measure how the Tofranil may have  improved the memories of the mice following their injuries. What they basically did was test how long it took the mice to recognize new objects placed in front of them. The researchers believed that when the mice spent extra time looking at specific objects, it was because they realized they had not previously seen them. The scientists were able to show that the mice that received the antidepressant drug spent about 15% more time looking at the new objects shown to them than the untreated mice.

As promising as these test results are, the scientists noted that the mice treated with antidepressants shortly after suffering their traumatic brain injuries did not show any signs of improved motor and mobility functions. Obviously, new types of tests will have to be developed to adequately determine if recently injured human TBI patients are likely to benefit enough to warrant immediate prescriptions for antidepressants.

*   *   *

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and

accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for

almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in obtaining

the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

The month of March is annually celebrated as America’s National Brain Injury Awareness Month. One day of this month is set aside on Capitol Hill so that the Brain Injury Association of America can present its annual “Brain Injury Awareness Day.” March 16^th has been set aside for this important event in 2011.  Two separate activities are currently planned for that day. From 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., there will be a Brain Injury Awareness Fair hosted in the First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn Office Building.

Another program immediately follows the first one from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. This latter event is entitled, “Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Re-Entry: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead.” This afternoon program will focus on the many challenges traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients must face during their often lengthy periods of rehabilitation. All of the March 16th activities are being planned by The Brain Injury Association of America, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force and other interested parties.

General Statistics on TBIs in America

According to statistics published in its first newsletter, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force estimates that about 1.4 million Americans incur TBIs each year. Furthermore, roughly three to five million Americans currently live with some form of this challenging disability. Equally striking is the fact that TBIs are the number one cause of disabilities and deaths among our country’s youth. At present, America spends about $60 billion dollars a year treating those suffering from this serious medical condition.

Important Role Played by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force

Founded in 2001 by New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell (and co-chaired by  Rep. Todd Platts of Pennsylvania), the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force was basically designed to educate the general public and Congress about the serious research needs tied to this medical condition. At present, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force continues to pursue full funding for the TBI Act (H.R. 1418) that was signed into law back in April 2008.  That act reauthorized several TBI programs that were being run under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services through 2011. [One program is run by the CDC, another by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the third is run by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)].

The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force continues to provide federal agencies with critical information required for adopting important policies and laws that will benefit the TBI population at large.

*   *   *

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and

accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for

almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in obtaining

the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Approximately 1.7 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) each year. Children aged four and under, along with teens between 15 and 19 years of age, are the two groups most likely to incur such injuries. Young children frequently suffer their TBIs while exploring their immediate surroundings.

Since children’s brains are still developing, their TBIs can be much more difficult to properly assess and they often suffer more serious injuries than adults.

Signs A Small Child May Have Suffered a TBI

Fortunately, most parents manage to keep their young children under close supervision. However, children at play frequently fall and it’s up to their caregivers to determine if they just need to be comforted or require immediate visits to their pediatricians (or nearby emergency rooms) for possible diagnostic tests.

Once your child starts crying, particularly if she’s lying on the ground or floor, immediately run to her and see if she can either describe what hurts or at least point to it. If there’s not a noticeable bump or sign of broken skin on her head, observe her carefully. Be on the lookout for one or more of the following signs of a TBI:

• An increase in irritability;
• A loss of interest in toys that recently held her interest;
• A sudden loss of recently learned toilet training skills;
• A marked change in her eating habits or sleeping patterns;
• Changes in her school behavior or interactions with others;
• An unusual increase in fatigue or sleepiness;
• An increase in complaints about headaches;
• Unexplained vomiting unrelated to any illness; and
• An increase in balance issues causing additional falls

When deciding whether or not to take your child in for medical attention, keep in mind that most concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness. Should a doctor examine your child and not find any noticeable deficits, you’ll probably be told to keep her at home under extra close supervision for a day or two to see if any of the symptoms listed above start to appear. If they do, you’ll probably be sent to have one or more diagnostic tests run.

Hopefully, your children will never suffer a bad fall. To minimize that risk, you may want to review the following safety tips for preventing young children from suffering falls at home.

Simple Steps for Preventing Children from Falling at Home

• Once a child can walk and run, make it clear that you will not tolerate any running in the house;
• Never use any throw rugs on the floors;
• Avoid using extension cords or any long wires that might cross areas your children are likely to walk over while playing;
• If they’re tall enough, show your children how to hold on to the side of the bathtub while you help dry them off;
• Have your children hold onto your shoulder as you dress them each day;
• Never allow your children to walk around with plates or glasses in their hands;
• After every play period, help your child put all toys back where they belong so no one can trip on them;
• Provide your child with appropriate slip-on shoes (or those with Velcro straps — if they’re too young to keep shoelaces tied);
• Keep all floor areas clear so that no one will trip over books, newspapers or other items that should be put away.

*   *   *

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a component of the National Institutes of Health overseen by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). A key mission assigned to NINDS is to conduct research designed to improve the quality of life of those afflicted with various neurological disorders, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

The following descriptions of NINDS’ research studies can be best understood by remembering that people’s brains are composed of billions of cells that regularly connect and communicate with one another. Furthermore, according to the NINDS Web site, “The neuron is the main functional cell of the brain and nervous system, consisting of a cell body (soma), a tail or long nerve fiber (axon) and projections of the cell body called dendrites.” The axons are designed to travel “in tracts or clusters throughout the brain,” promoting beneficial connections between various brain areas. Specific Projects Currently Being Run

• One research project is looking at how calcium ion influx into one of the brain’s damaged neurons causes cell death and swelling of brain tissue. Prior studies have shown that this problem can sometimes be alleviated by introducing specialized chemicals;
• Another study is looking at the brain’s plasticity after being injured. Plasticity is a trait involving the brain’s ability to try and repair itself and take over the functioning of its disabled parts. Researchers are always searching for new ways to help the brain repair itself;
• Others researchers keep trying to devise more competent ways to design rehabilitation programs for TBI patients;
• One current study is trying to find new ways to immediately treat TBI patients after they suffer their injuries in hopes of minimizing any long-term deficits;
• Additional research is being run to determine if there are new ways to use hypothermia (keeping the injured patient’s body at a low temperature) when treating children with severe TBIs;
• Another study is looking at ways to use magnesium sulfate to protect nerve cells following a TBI injury; and
• Research is also being conducted on how a TBI patient’s brain might be affected by lowering its intracranial pressure and increasing its overall blood flow.

Those interested in taking part in some of the NINDS clinical research trials in the United States or Canada may want to visit the following link:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/clinicaltrials_us.htm

(This regularly updated Web page lets you choose the neurological disorder that interests you the most.)

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and
accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for
for almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in
obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to each client.

Healthcare experts continue searching for positive new ways to help traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients heal emotionally from their injuries. Towards this end, Dr. Glen Johnson (clinical neuropsychologist and author of The Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide) has outlined steps that TBI patients can take while trying to secure a greater sense of inner peace.

Common Responses to Traumatic Brain Injuries

No one wants to regain consciousness after a serious car accident or other mishap to find that their physical and mental functioning has been permanently (or even temporarily) altered  Yet when this happens, many traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients feel angry, depressed and helpless. Some of them also feel betrayed by their own bodies. In order to successfully reintegrate into jobs, schools or regular family life, many TBI patients will require extensive psychological help in addition to various physical rehabilitation programs.

Habits for Regaining Emotional Wholeness

Various healthcare providers believe that TBI patients can most successfully accept their injuries by developing some of the following habits:

• Interacting with other TBI support group members who are also trying to make sense of their new challenges and limitations;
• Returning to a job that still hold meaning for them or beginning some type of volunteer work that will let them help others;
• Regularly inquiring about their current physical health status and the realistic goals they can keep setting for themselves;
• Finding a way to talk about their health in a truthful yet upbeat manner. Of course, it’s fine for TBI patients to have close friends and relatives who will regularly talk with them about all of their most difficult feelings. However, when speaking with those outside that inner circle, it’s wise to realize that many people simply can’t cope with the reality of permanent or long-term suffering. Therefore, when talking with new acquaintances, it’s a good idea (for those with serious health problems) to not initially overload others with too much reality;
• Pursuing every promising form of rehabilitation, whether that means working with a speech therapist or a physical rehabilitation specialist. Progress in these other areas can help TBI patients gain a more positive outlook on their futures. Should short-term goals not be met, patients should just remember that they’re one day closer to succeeding at other goals;
• Respecting their doctors’ and caregivers’ time, recognizing that those who help them need to also take care of their own needs;
• Making sure to share all gains and accomplishments (even if they’re just feeling greater optimism about their health) with those who care about them – this will not only help keep others motivated to stay in the picture, it can also help improve the way the injured patients see their own lives;
• Pursuing new dreams or looking for new ways to realize some of their older ones. Even when dreams may seem unattainable to others, people can still realistically experience true joy when trying to develop new skills or talents.

*   *   *

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and
accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for
almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in
obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to each client.