The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. With the ice we’ve seen this year we are acutely aware of how quickly a life-changing injury can occur. The first thought is often broken bones, but have you ever considered how quickly your brain health can change?

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 5.3 million Americans are living with a permanent brain-injury related disability. There are at least 2.8 million people in America who suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) every year. A TBI is any alteration in brain function, caused by external force or trauma. Falls are one of the common causes of traumatic brain injury. Assault, car accidents, sports injuries, gunshot wounds, abuse, and blast injury are all other causes. Four-wheeler, motorcycle, snowmobile accidents and/or horse accidents are something we see around here often. Concussion is the most common TBI, but injuries caused by whiplash are also common.

Brain injury isn’t always the cause of a traumatic event though. Sometimes problems like stroke or seizure cause injury to the brain. Infectious processes like meningitis, poisoning, or tumors can also be to blame. Finally, there is poison (carbon monoxide and lead exposure) and drug and alcohol overdose causing brain injury.

Brain injury is unique in healthcare in that there are no two injuries that are the same. Long-term effects of stroke are dependent on what kind of stroke was sustained and where the injury occurred in the brain. For example, a clot that was in the left side of the brain will cause deficits on the right side of the body. If it is in the back part of the brain, it can cause deficits in a person’s vision. Sometimes the brain can create new pathways to relearn how to function as well as prior to the injury, sometimes there is too much damage for that to occur. Either way, recovery from brain injury is a long road that requires a team of professionals to have the best recovery outcome.

How do you know if you have sustained a brain injury? Vision changes, loss of consciousness, weakness, paralysis, balance problems, dizziness, headaches, problems thinking clearly, vomiting, difficulty speaking, loss of bowel and bladder control, and any numbness and tingling can all be symptoms. If you have any kind of trauma and experience these symptoms it is best to be evaluated by your local health care team at BSMC. Of course, any time you have concerns you should be evaluated, but specifically for any loss of consciousness, or any signs of stroke. Some strokes can be treated if caught within the first few hours of symptom onset, so it is vital to be evaluated sooner rather than later.

BSMC is patiently awaiting the spring thaw to get started on the new clinic building. After the clinic has moved, we can begin work on the remodel to prepare for the CT machine. This is a huge step forward in diagnosing brain injuries. For the time being, after you are assessed by a provider, we will help to arrange transportation to a facility with the appropriate diagnostic equipment and treatment teams. Anyone who suffers long term effects from a brain injury is welcome to live here at the Big Sandy Medical Center. Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and 24 hour nursing care is available. We wouldn’t be us without you, thank you for being the heart of BSMC.