Concussion

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Corwin DJ, Grady MF, Joffe MD, Zonfrillo MR. Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Acute Setting. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2017 Sep;33(9):643-649. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000001252 The search for answers would change Omalu’s life forever and put him in the crosshairs of one of the most powerful corporations in the National Football League. What Omalu discovered in Webster’s brain—proof that Iron Mike’s mental deterioration was no accident but a disease caused by blows to the head that could affect everyone playing the game—was the one truth the NFL wanted to ignore.

Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion. The amnesia usually involves forgetting the event that caused the concussion. The course of Dr. Omalu's life changed when he performed an autopsy on Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive lineman Mike Webster. After learning of Webster's unusual behavior in the years before his death, Dr. Omalu examined the brain suspecting brain trauma, but surprisingly everything appeared normal. Deciding to go against protocol, Dr. Omalu requests permission to save the brain. Upon reviewing cross sections of the brain under the microscope, he discovers "clumps" of tau, a naturally occurring protein in the brain. These tau tangles were even worse than the tangles found in patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Omalu named the condition CTE, "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy." He continued to find the same results in subsequent autopsies of former NFL players. Dr. Omalu must confront resistance from the NFL and faces prejudices against his work because of his race and national origin. With dead people what you see is what you get and you can keep looking and looking and get more, and once you look inside the brain you find the story is beautiful in the way all things infinite are beautiful. There are significant risks in returning to the field of play after sustaining a concussion. If a player sustains another blow to the head before the brain has had a chance to recover from the initial concussion, the damage can be exacerbated to the point that it can be – on rare occasions – fatal. This is known as Second Impact Syndrome and it is believed to be most common among children and young adults. Thompson said he has experienced "massive guilt for what I've put my family through" since being diagnosed and that he has "massive downers and massive ups".Collins MW, et al. Concussion is treatable: Statements of agreement from the targeted evaluation and active management (TEAM) approaches to treating concussion meeting held in Pittsburgh, October 15-16, 2015. Neurosurgery. 2017; doi:10.1227/NEU.0000000000001447. Making your home safe. Keep your home well lit and your floors free of anything that might cause you to trip and fall. Falls around the home are a leading cause of head injury. We learn a lot about concussions. Repeated concussions can cause cumulative injury in individuals over months or years. And once you got one concussion, you're more likely to get another. One of the most feared and concerning complications of a concussion, although rare, is a second-impact syndrome. Second-impact syndrome (SIS) involves a repeat blow or injury to the head before the complete resolution of the initial concussion, resulting in usually rapid, severe swelling of the brain. [24] SIS has the potential for dangerous neurologic complications, including brain herniation and death, though much of the existing data and research on the condition is anecdotal. [24] [25]

You may have some symptoms of concussions immediately, and some can occur for days after the injury, such as: Treatment of a concussion is primarily supportive. Supportive care of concussion centers around the initial limitation of physical and cognitive activity,followed by a gradual return to previous activity levels. There is no longer a role for extended, strict cognitive and physical rest. [9] While reasonable to encourage rest during the acute post-injury period (i.e., the initial 24 to 48 hours), the patient should then undergo a gradual return to activity. However, there is no known optimal amount of time forthe initial rest period. [2]The patient should proceed with a stepwise return to activity with careful monitoring for the return or worsening of symptoms. [2] Recurrence of symptoms warrants a reduction in activity level until symptoms improve. Each increase in activity should generallytake at least 24 hours, but again there is no definitive evidence for the optimal timing of a return-to-activity protocol. [2]An athlete diagnosed with a concussion should be forbidden to return to play until cleared by a medical provider. After 25 years of caring for children, first as a nurse, then as a pediatrician, Carolyn Roy-Bornstein finds herself on the other side of the stretcher when her 17-year-old son, Neil, is hit by a teenage drunk driver while walking his girlfriend, Trista, home after a study date. Trista did not survive her injuries. Neil carries his with him to this day.

Learn specific brain exercises and brain games that can alleviate problems with focus and concentration The Concussion Legacy Project is a new brain bank formed by the Concussion Legacy Foundation UK (CLF) and the Jeff Astle Foundation, named after the former England and West Brom striker who died in 2002. A re-examination of Astle's brain in 2014 found he had died from CTE. We've just got to be proud of these little victories to make the game of rugby a lot safer and for everyone to keep enjoying it.

Now we know and we're talking to specialists, we understand what the symptoms are and we're working round that," he added. See our booklet Mild head injury and concussion (PDF) for more details, and our factsheet Mild head injury discharge advice (PDF) for important information after sustaining a head injury. Concussion Rescue" explains what to do after a person has had a mild to severe concussion. Amen Clinics has studied the best way to deal with brain injuries, and this book explains what they do and what you can do. The author started by explaining the different tests they do on a client, how they would treat problems that are found (from traditional pills to herbs and more alternative methods), and the scientific studies behind why they do these things. Today there is a legal case against World Rugby, the RFU and the Welsh Rugby Union, with more than 300 ex-players involved, alleging that they suffered brain injuries sustained during their careers. One study showed that almost one third of people with a mild head injury were not working full-time three months after receiving the injury, although other studies have been much more optimistic. Difficulties are certainly made much worse if the person has a mentally demanding job where there is a low margin for error.He was one of the few to voice concerns for the players. He read about concussions and their link to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Peters began noticing parallels between professional rugby and the NFL, which in 2013, settled a class-action lawsuit brought by 4,500 ex-football players, who said they were misled about the long-term effects of head injuries. But the sport’s top organisations were firm on their stance that there was no issue. According to them, no such link between repeated head trauma and CTE was proven. Jersey Hatch can't remember if he rammed the car into his parents' house. He can't remember why his best friend won't speak to him. He can't remember the right words to have a real conversation. And he can't remember why he tried to shoot his own head off. The human brain is one key item in our body that is vital to our behavior and survival. Thinking of the phrase "out of sight, out of mind," our brain is covered by our skull and doesn't get as much sympathy from anyone as it should when it gets bumped or hurt. Dr. Kabran Chapek, a doctor for the Amen Clinics who specializes in traumatic brain injuries, has written "Concussion Rescue" for people such as parents, teachers, and coaches to gain more knowledge when it comes to brain injuries. To show that this is a real problem, Dr. Chapek gives many examples throughout the chapters of real people who took a fall, didn't think anything of it, and then either died shortly after or began experiencing neurological symptoms. These injuries affect brain function, usually for a brief period, resulting in signs and symptoms of concussion.