In what must be one of the most ironic stories of the year,  Police say a motorcyclist participating in a protest ride against helmet laws died after he flipped over the bike’s handlebars and hit his head on the pavement. 55-year-old Philip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson with a group of bikers who were protesting helmet laws by not wearing helmets. He hit his brakes and toppled over the handlebars. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Troopers say Contos would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet.  We are saddened for Mr. Contos’ family.  However, this story is a teaching moment.  Helmets prevent more serious injuries.  Helmets are comfortable.  Helmets should be worn at all times.

I often wonder if the same folks who do not want to be told by the government to wear a helmet, have any objection to receiving social security and Medicare for the rest of their lives after a severe brain injury in a motorcycle accident.  After all, for the rest of their lives the Government they did not want telling them what to do, will be telling them what to do for the rest of the lives.

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Lets talk for a moment about concussion.  A Concussion is a medical condition caused by a blow to the head.  The symptoms of concussion vary widely but generally the symptoms include  either unconsciousness or a period of altered awareness, followed by dizziness and headaches. There may be long term consequences caused by a concussion and multiple concussions can cause serious complications.  These complications include depression, poor memory, and the inability to focus on work tasks both in the workplace and in the class room. If you remember nothing else about concussion remember that it is, by definition, an injury to the brain. Medical science, and public awareness campaigns by such organizations such as the Brain Injury Association of Indiana, have been successful in education the general public about the dangers of concussion and how contact sports are contributing to cause concussions.

The good news is that medical science has come a long way in helping people with concussion with better treatments and recovery. Unfortunately we still have a long way to go.  Persons with brain injury may, especially students, return to the activity which caused the concussion too early .  This places them at high risk for another concussion which can lead to very serious complications, even wrongful death.  For student athletes, the legislature is getting involved. Senate Bill 93 deals with the issue of brain injury and concussion in three ways.  S.B. 93 mandates education of coaches, teachers and trainers, as well as students about the dangers of concussion. This educational effort is designed to help identify student athletes suffering concussion.  Finally it mandates that students who have been identified with concussion not return to competition until the student is medically cleared for participation.  This bill has the support of the Indiana medical community.  We ask that you support it as well.

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Another way to avoid brain injury, for children and young adults is to avoid using Energy drinks.   A recent study has linked the use of energy drinks such as Red Bull, NOS and others, to strokes.  A stroke is brain injury caused by bleeding in the brain.  The bleed can be caused by increased blood pressure caused by the use of energy drinks. The study was recently published in the medical Journal Pediatrics.  There is no final consensus on the use of energy drinks and their safety.  However, given that your brain is so vital to the quality of your life, we recommend that people err on the side of caution.  Please take the doctor’s advice, prevent brain injury by avoiding energy drinks until their safety can be thoroughly reviewed.  Heck, it saves you money and may protect the quality of your life.

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In this month’s copy of National Geographic Magazine further evidence is discussed that places even more emphasis on protecting the brain. A study being conducted at the University of North Carolina is pointing out that a lot of small hits may be just as bad as a few large hits.  The scientist are quick to point out that it is too early to draw conclusions from the study, but some theories are emerging. It has long been known that repeated blows to the head causes brain injury.  In boxers it was called being punch drunk. Now we know this as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The study is attempting to determine the effect of repeated smaller blows to the head with the idea of trying to prevent injury to future athletes.  For now, we encourage all athletes to wear their helmets, including when skiing and biking. Be careful, the best way to treat brain injury is to prevent brain injury.

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Stepping back, brain injury is caused when the brain itself is injured.  The injuries can be from car accidents, drunk driving accidents, falls, being hit by an object, illness (such as a stroke), bicycle accidents, falls down stairs, and other incidents. Usually the head is struck by something, or the head is forced forward and then back very rapidly.  When the head is forced back and forth very rapidly, the brain hits first the front of the skull and then the back of the skull.  This can cause bruising and bleeding in the brain.  The injured person may lose consciousness, but not losing consciousness does not mean there is no brain injury.  Sometimes the person has altered awareness.  This altered awareness has been described as having the bell rung or knocked goofy.

The patient may seek medical treatment, and they may not, depending on the severity of the injury.  Fortunately, awareness is increasing about the problem associated with brain injury and people are more likely to seek treatment these days.  The medical treatment will include being asked questions about your medical history, how you were hurt, and examination of your body and tests.   These tests may include x-rays and CT scans or MRIs.  These tests may be negative as they are not capable of fully “seeing” all of the potential injury, in other words they are good tests, just not perfect tests.  The patient may be sent home and told to be on the lookout for unusual symptoms.  It is essential that the injured person be watched by another person for these symptoms because they may not be obvious to the injured person.

These symptoms may include changes in personality (Like crying easily when the person never was a crier in the past), easily angered, changes in sleep patterns, memory issues, speech issues (such as not being able to identify and use certain words, changes in energy level, changes in former hobbies or interests, changes in friends (such as not being interested in seeing friends), being a little off, not completing tasks that ordinarily would always be completed, headaches, changes in senses such a vision, hearing and smell. 

If you have had a brain injury (or a loved one has had a brain injury) be on the lookout for these signs and symptoms.  They may be subtle, and may not appear for days or weeks.   If they do appear, and or do not go away, seek medical attention as soon as possible from your primary care physician or neurologist.  You may need further medical care and treatment to help you deal with these medical issues.

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If you or a loved one is dealing with brain injury, take comfort in the fact that medicine has come a long way in just the last few decades.  We still have a long way to go, and it is the rule of brain injury that the best way to deal with brain injury is to prevent it, but we are moving in the right direction. Research is opening new avenues of detecting and treating brain injury.  No doubt, if you are dealing with brain injury, you have been to either one of Indianapolis’ two level five trauma centers, Wishard or Methodist.  You may have progressed through this first phase of recovery and are now familiar with either of Indianapolis’ two top flight rehabilitation facilities, The Rehabilitation Hospital and Hook Rehabilitation.  No doubt, at all of these facilities you were told about the Brain Injury Association of Indiana.  You can visit the BIAI website at http://www.biausa.org/Indiana/index.htm.  BIAI is trying hard to be the point of entry for survivors, families and care providers in the care and treatment of brain injury.   BIAI does not provide medical care, but does provide information about resources for care and treatment of brain injury.  BIAI was founded by a group of families in the 1970’s who were dealing with brain injury but finding no support, no resources and no answers.  These families knew that education and support were essential to treating brain injury, supporting the brain injured and the families of the brain injured.

At Young & Young, we are proud of our affiliation with the Brain Injury Association of Indiana.  We are proud corporate sponsors.  After all, BIAI , through its seminars and educations initiatives have helped us meet the finest care providers in the world for brain injury.  At Young & Young, we can help if you or a loved one have been brain injured by the negligence of another.  We also represent our client before the Social Security Administration for their social security disability benefits. Call us today, toll free at 1/888-639-5161.

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Concussion has slowly become recognized as a real threat because it is a real brain injury.  It can have passing effect on the injured, but it can also have a devastating effect on the person’s ability to function and cope.  Especially troublesome is the fact that in the past it was difficult to diagnose a concussion.  As a result people were misdiagnosed and mistreated as having a psychological problem.   Even worse is the person who is misdiagnosed and allowed to continue with the activity in which they were first injured, causing further  injury to that person.  Concussion is caused by either a direct blow to the head, causing the brain to be injured.  A concussion can also be caused by a violent shaking of the head, such as in a quick movement in any direction followed by an immediate stopping of the head.  This causes the brain, floating inside the skull, to hit the inside of the skull in two different places, injuring the brain.   Concussions are common in sporting events, including basketball, lacrosse, and football.  Concussion can also be caused by car accidents, semi tractor-trailer accidents, drunk driving accidents, falls, motorcycle accidents, and any accident where the head is either hit or accelerates and stops rapidly.

The United States Army has announced the discovery of a simple blood test that can diagnose brain injury.  This was initially developed to assist in the diagnosis of brain injury in combat troops.  However, the benefits of this test will help anyone who is at risk for having developed a concussion from any source.  We have not yet received a full description of the test, but apparently the test looks for unique proteins that spill into the blood from damaged brain cells. We are not certain when the testing will be available to the public, and we have not yet reviewed the data on the effectiveness of the test.  The U.S. Army is touting the accuracy of the test, so we are very hopeful.  Imagine an accurate diagnosis allowing for immediate treatment and therapy, without the stigma attached to the person who looks “normal” of whether they are faking or overstating their issues.  Hooray!!!

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Hoosiers dealing with Brain Injury should all become associated with the Brain Injury Association of Indiana.  You can find BIAI on the web at http://www.biausa.org/Indiana.  BIAI work to be the point of entry for those coping with brain injury and learning to help those afflicted with brain injury.    BIAI is now seeking registrants for their fall conference.  Registrations are now being taken – click the appropriate link below to register via mail or online. 

Click here to register for the conference ONLINE. 

Click here to register for the conference via mail. 

Clock To register online for the Fall Conference Golf Outing. 

Parents should take note that brain injury does not just happen to Hoosiers in car accidents, truck accidents, drunk driving accidents, etc.  It happens to young athletes with increasing frequency.  It is not clear if there is an increasing intensity in kids sports or if there is an increasing awareness about the signs and symptoms of brain injury.  Whatever the case may be, parents must be informed about brain injury.  A concussion is a brain injury.  It is wise to have the child medically assessed because the affects of concussion can be very serious.  The days of “how soon can we get Johnny back in the game” should be over.  Concussion symptoms are not always obvious. A loss of consciousness is not a prerequisite for a concussion, and in fact, most concussions do not cause a loss of consciousness.  Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, and trouble concentrating. It can takes months to recover from concussion. 

If you think you, or your child may have had a concussion, please, seek medical attention as soon as is reasonably possible.  It could make a huge difference in your recovery.

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Prevention starts off with knowing the major causes of brain injury.  Brain injury is caused by trauma to the head.  Therefore, protecting the head is a great way to prevent brain injury.  If you ride a bike or a motorcycle, snow ski, or participate in any sport where your head may be injured, wear your helmet.  Helmets are not expensive.  They are more and more stylish and lightweight.  Helmets are highly effective at preventing brain injury.

Many brain injuries occur from falls.  A very common cause of these falls involves the use of alcohol.  Moderation in the use of alcohol is a great way to avoid brain injury.

Auto accidents cause brain injury.  Although a seatbelt cannot by itself prevent brain injury, it does help in keeping the passenger in the seat, which helps reduce the chances of them hitting their head.

Brain injuries can occur in fights or are the result of other forms of violence.  Removing yourself from dangerous situations where violence might erupt is a good idea.  Anger management and dispute resolution training is also helpful.

For more ideas about prevention visit the web site of the Brain Injury Association of Indiana.  Young & Young is a proud supporter and Corporate Sponsor of the Brain Injury Association of Indiana.  If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury as a result of another person’s negligence, call us toll free at 1-888-639-5161 or contact Mr. Young on the web at john @youngandyoungin.com.  There is never a fee unless we recover compensation for you.

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John P. Young has served the Brain Injury Association of Indiana in various leadership roles over the last 15 years. Mr. Young has served on the Board of Directors, as Chair of the Board of Directors, and as Emeritus member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Young has been in attendance at multiple fund raisers and educational seminars. Mr. Young has represented Hoosiers dealing with brain injury for the entire 22 years he has been practicing law. Through his experience, he knows what is necessary to support and assist families to lead enriching lives after brain injury.

Young & Young is proud to partner with the Brain Injury Association of Indiana.

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