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Spanish Language Neurology Web Site
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) recently launched a Spanish language web site with excellent information on many neurological disorders.
The web site has a wealth of information about specific disorders as well as publications and information on clinical studies. In addition to links to non-profit organizations and resources, NINDS also has a contact form for submitting questions. The web site is here. NINDS is part of the National Institutes of Health.
Coaching the Comeback
The New York Times published an inspiring story this month focused on occupational therapist, Jody Levin. She works every day to help heal brain-injured patients and this story reminds us how dedicated, caring health care workers encourage recovery miracles. Read the story here.
UCLA Research Finds Nervous Systems Can Rewire Itself
A recent UCLA study with mice shows that the central nervous system can reorganize itself after spinal injury by finding new pathways to restore the cellular communication required for movement. The study is shedding new light for doctors who believed that the only way for injured patients to walk again was to regrow the long nerves that link the brain and base of the spinal cord. The discovery could lead to new therapies for the estimated 250,000 Americans who suffer spinal injuries each year.
Interactive Memory Mapping: Learning About the Brain
National Geographic Magazine has an interactive feature on their web site explaining memory mapping.
It shows through beautifully design graphics how the brain works in
forming memories, storing them, and forgetting our memories due to age,
injury or illness. Learn more about how our brain works here.
Researchers Link Some Social Problems With Undetected Brain Injury
The Wall Street Journal reports that brain researchers are linking some common social problems, such as alcoholism, certain learning disabilities, and chronic homelessness to brain injury - a long-forgotten blow to the head.
Researchers have found high rates of head trauma among various populations in New York schools, addiction programs and in the general population. The research is being conducted by the Brain Injury Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The findings are offering new hope to adults coping with the “hidden” effects of brain injury. Read the full article here.
Easter Seals Launches Brain Fitness Program for TBI Vets
Easter Seals is launching a new nationwide program to help returning veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Nationwide, health care professionals estimate at least 30% of troops who have been engaged in active combat for four months or more are at risk for some brain injury due to exposure to the percussive effectives of explosive devices.
Easter Seal’s new Brain Fitness Program is a pilot program based on an in-home computer-based software program that helps people who have sustained some types of brain injury think faster, focus better and remember more. TBI is characterized by memory loss, difficulty in concentrating, slowness in thinking, and mood and personality changes. Beyond the computer software, the program includes phone and email support and referral to community resources.
Service members and veterans can enroll now by calling 866.423.4981 or emailing: veterans@easterseals.com to participate.
Five hundred thousand Americans will suffer brain injury this year. Yet, there are many misconceptions surrounding traumatic brain injury. Below we’re tackling a few common myths and hope this proves to reveal a little bit about TBI.
Myth 1: TBI occurs through external trauma to the head.
It is true that accidents and blows to the head cause a large percentage of traumatic brain injuries, but TBI can also stem from a stoke, tumor, post-surgical complication or aneurysm. TBI is an umbrella term for any insult to the brain – internal or external.
Myth 2: Traumatic brain injury always causes loss of consciousness.
Actually, simple concussions are types of TBI. The person may only be dazed for a brief period. The brain inside the skull is jarred enough however to cause an injury to the brain.
Mild TBI should not be construed as “insignificant.” Any injury to the brain can cause some kind of functional disability.
Myth 3: Brain injury is manifested through specific physical symptoms
Traumatic brain injury is sometimes called the “silent epidemic” because the injury is quite often unseen. Physical symptoms are not always present – sometimes the symptoms are emotional, cognitive or behavioral. Of course there are a variety of physical impairments that stem from TBI such as impaired speech, hearing, vision, lack of motor function, or paralysis. But TBI may also manifest itself with cognitive symptoms including memory deficits, inability to concentrate, perceptual difficulties, impaired judgment or confusion.
Or victims of TBI may have behavioral symptoms, such as mood swings, depression, lack of emotional control, inability to cope, agitation or difficulty in relating to others.
The various types of symptoms of TBI are not mutually exclusive, and often patients with TBI have a combination of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms.
Myth 4: Effects of TBI are immediately obvious
People with” mild” to “moderate” TBI may, in fact, not exhibit symptoms for days or weeks after the initial injury event. They may begin to have trouble concentrating or working; or they may develop personality changes or other emotional symptoms.
Many symptoms begin to manifest up to 6 to 12 hours after an injury, and others become obvious only after the person attempts to resume their daily activities. Only with the demands of their daily environment do certain symptoms become obvious or more pronounced.
Myth 5: TBI patients with injuries categorized as ‘minor’ recover completely and quickly.
Many patients with mild brain injury do recover completely. But, it may not always be quick. Through proper acute care and rehabilitation the odds for recovery are favorable. But, even mild TBI can cause long-lasting effects, and should not be dismissed. Research indicates the importance of early treatment in the long-term prospects for recovery.
We know quite a bit about the brain, as well as its needs and willingness for recovery after injury. But medicine is learning more everyday about how the brain works and how it is repaired after injury or trauma.
Along with the “miracles” of medicine and therapy that we are able to shape, the truth is the brain holds some of its own miracles – and those we can only support.
From time to time we like to share our own joyful testimonials of such miracles.
This summer fifteen-year old Stephanie suffered a hematoma after hitting her head in a diving board accident. She was given little hope of recovering from her brain injuries by the neurology team at the pediatric intensive care unit where she was initially treated.
But that wasn’t the only challenge Stephanie faced in her young life – or for her recovery. At birth she was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome, a congenital heart condition, and digestive disorders.
She was admitted to CareMeridian’s Oxnard facility in July of this year, shortly after her traumatic head injury. Stephanie captured our hearts the first time we laid eyes on her in spite of the fact that when she came to us she was totally unresponsive to any stimuli and in a coma. We just knew she would defy all odds. And she amazed us indeed.
Just a little over three months later, with the diligent efforts of Stephanie and her team of therapists at CareMeridian, she left our care walking and needing only minimal assistance with typical daily living activities. She is currently able to communicate with sign language and is completing puzzles in a matter of seconds.
Although Stephanie has left us to continue her recovery with further rehabilitation, she will always be part of the CareMeridian family and an inspiration to us. We visited her recently at Santa Barbara Rehabilitation Institute where, with her dedicated Mom at her side, she was up and walking and trying her best – as always.
Two stories were in the news recently highlighting the hope and reality surrounding brain injury recovery. We thought you might appreciate the inspiration they provide.
Chris Cook in the UK, tells his story about a head-first fall from a cherry-picker doing minor household maintenance outside his home this summer. Despite the fact doctors did not expect him to survive or even emerge from his 3-week coma, he returned home last week – after 12 weeks of hospitalization and therapy – and is well on the road to a full recovery.
Read Chris’s story in an article in The Press (UK) here and view a video of Chris telling his own amazing recovery story here.
Closer to home in Austin, Texas, 29-year old Ryan is taking lessons in comedy at the famous Improv and doing karate two years after a boating accident that nearly killed him. Although Ryan is still recovering, this is his take on how he’s doing: "I'm glad to be better," Ryan Reitmeyer said. "It only took me two years to do it, but I'm in good shape now. I have a great life ahead of me."
Ryan’s story is here in the Austin American-Statesman.
Ryan’s family was blessed with financial resources many people do not have when faced with traumatic brain injury. But one senator is tackling that issue to bring resources to bear for more people.
State Senator Flanagan of Vermont, himself a survivor of TBI, held a press conference recently specifically to address brain injury and the wide-ranging severity and symptoms of it. He announced that he has initiated a legislative study committee with the goal of highlighting issues that face brain injury survivors – including the need for insurance companies to significantly lengthen the payment period for brain injury rehabilitation. Senator Flanagan said, "I'd like to see insurance companies look at brain injury the same way they look at other chronic care.”
We are watching with interest the results of this initiative because we know here at CareMeridian, some miracles just take a little longer than others.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting on an intriguing – and exciting – quest to heal brain injury.
After decades of laboratory research, Dr. Drew Stein of Emory University School of Medicine has arrived at a rather unexpected hypothesis: that the female hormone, progesterone may protect and heal injured brains.
In 2002, The National Institutes of Health found Dr. Stein’s laboratory results promising enough to grant him and Emory University $2.2 million dollars for an initial clinical study on 100 head injury patients. After three years of study the initial findings showed so much promise that the NIH has now pledged $229,000 to begin planning a 1000-patient study.
The research is far from conclusive, but Gregory O’Shanick, the national medical director of the Brain Injury Association of America, said to the WSJ, "This is probably the most promising breakthrough in improving outcomes for traumatic brain injury.”
Scientists involved in this study are finding that progesterone may play a key role in actually healing traumatic brain injury. Progesterone naturally occurs in high levels in pregnant women and it serves, in part, to protect the growing fetus. Dr. Stein believes it is the protective quality of this hormone that contributes to decreasing swelling of the brain after injury and to the further healing of brain injury.
Dr. Stein has persevered in his unique research since the late 1960’s. He has taken an often-lonely road to bring his research to light. Read his story in the Wall Street Journal article at this link.
CareMeridian continues to follow the latest breakthroughs in traumatic brain injury treatments and therapies. We’re watching this development and other promising research, looking forward to additional options for our patients and their families.
The summer has flown by and here we are moving into September! Besides the hint of Fall that creeps into the air, September is a month in which various organizations focus on awareness and education related to spinal cord injury; and the support and recognition of those living with spinal injuries. And, SCI is a subject that we here at CareMeridian are especially concerned with.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association there are 10,000 new spinal injuries each year. An injury results from a trauma to the spinal cord that either damages the cells within the spinal cord or, if the trauma is severe enough, the nerve tracts that send signals up and down the spinal cord are severed. Such injuries can inhibit movement, sensation or body function.
In the spirit of September’s month-long campaign, we thought we’d share just a few of many events and resources going on around the country surrounding SCI:
Inspiring is just one word to describe the ambassadors of Life Rolls On. The ambassadors are living with spinal cord injuries and “through individual extensions of courage, whether it be surfing, motocross, wakeboarding, skateboarding or dance, Life Rolls On Ambassadors are living life to the fullest, shifting paradigms, and leaving a path of change wherever they go.” See Jessie’s story – his journey from professional athlete to surviving spinal cord injury to motivational speaker keeps him rolling on.
On Tuesday August 28th the NSCIA held a live webcast in their “Patient Power” series. Dr. David Chen, medical director of Spinal Cord Injury Acute Care and Rehabilitation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago discusses how spinal cord injuries affect the individual and the current research efforts on future treatments for spinal cord injuries. Listen to the webcast online at this link.
The National Spinal Cord Injury Association holds it’s Spinal Cord Hall of Fame gala on November 6th at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The gala celebrates and honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to quality of life and advancements toward a better future for all individuals with spinal cord injury. If you’d like to nominate someone this month, there are 14 categories of achievement.
And here are few resources to round out our Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month notes:
Disability Info.gov: An informational collaborative effort of 22 federal agencies.
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=500
Spinal Cord Injury Information Pages: “The ‘best-of-the-web’ site or SCI health and caregiver information.”
http://www.sci-info-pages.com/
The SCI Information Pages News weblog: A great up-to-date resources for SCI news.
http://www.sci-info-pages.com/spinal-blog.html
The Care Community: Over 70 online forums covering every aspect of living with SCI and for care givers.
http://sci.rutgers.edu/
The Ragged Edge Magazine: A rich archive of articles
http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/
New Mobility Magazine: A magazine for active wheel chair users.
http://www.newmobility.com/
And, on a personal note, we salute all of our very talented, dedicated professionals and staff members at CareMeridian who do so much to heal and help those touched by spinal cord injury!
CareMeridian integrates family and loved ones into our patients’ recovery from brain injury, spinal cord injury, or numerous other traumatic or neuromuscular conditions. We also recognize that those loved ones who support the recovering need a support system of their own to celebrate the good days and to help through the sometimes long and frustrating ones.
Support systems for families extend well beyond our facilities, to be sure, and some of these are new ways to connect with those affected by long-term injury recovery.
Personal online journals called weblogs are both a way to communicate and an important emotional outlet. Josh’s mom started a personal weblog to chronicle Josh’s recovery from brain injury from a drug overdose. It is her way of keeping friends and family involved and informed – and a way to share her ever-changing thoughts and feelings along the journey.
Karen’s mom is also periodically updating her online journal called Blessings For Karen. Friends stop by to leave comments and messages of support.
The Paralysis Community is a new online social network gathering together all those who are touched by spinal cord injury and paralysis. The goal is to bring together experts, families, friends and those living with paralysis to share their stories and experiences. There are discussions, weblogs and message boards as ways for all community members to meet and share.
Carepages offers free personal, private web pages to help loved ones stay connected and emotionally supported. There are special areas for Mom and Dads, as well as inspiring stories – and places to meet others experiencing similar life and injury circumstances. The brain injury support center at Carepages offers a newsletter as well.
Apparelyzed is an online peer support site for those with spinal cord injuries. In addition to discussion forums, it has a wealth of information and links on everything from adaptive equipment to health conditions, from sexuality and parenting to statistics and news. Apparelyzed was created and is maintained by UK resident Simon, who is medically classed as a quadriplegic.
Family caregivers are often time-challenged. Connected communities such as these are a lifeline of support that is as close as – and as immediately accessible as – the keyboard.
Life in our facilities follows the rhythms of every busy and growing family. It seems we’re always celebrating the seasons, honoring wedding anniversaries, and hailing birthdays. Sharing them makes them all the merrier:
Santiago Canyon Facility
On May 8th we celebrated Linda’s birthday. She is the beloved-by-all wife of resident Joe. For two years she has been a regular presence at the Santiago facility visiting with and participating in therapy with her husband. She always has comforting and encouraging words for Joe as well as with other families and residents. She is kind, loving, patient, helpful and in addition to all of that, she is a wonderful baker! She spoils all of us at the Santiago facility with delicious cakes and treats on a regular basis!
Oxnard Facility
On June 1, we celebrated the summer season with a beach outing! Here are a few photos we took along the way:
Cowen Heights Facility
Along with the Spring came family and friends to celebrate the season and join in on the performance of the Golden Celtic Dancers, who visited us for the 10th year!
And we had an extremely special visit from former patient, Amanda, who brought her new baby to visit us!
Sacramento
Our Easter egg hunting tradition is always fun. Patients, family, friends and staff all had a good time in our big backyard hunting for real eggs and chocolate, of course!
Patient Michael H celebrated a very special birthday - his 16th.
Las Vegas
Not something that happens everyday, but when it does it is quite the affair! We had a prom for resident Sherril M!
Fresno
Patients and staff are excited to celebrate moving into our remodeled Fresno facility. Here’s a peek:
La Habra Heights
CareMeridian La Habra has turned into a hub for grooving grandmas. Three of our staff members are all expectant first-time grandmothers this summer. The new arrivals will bring numbers to five grandmas and one great-grandma! We have certainly shattered the image of gray haired grannies in rocking chairs!
While our residents are working every day to recover from traumatic brain injury, serious spinal cord injury or other catastrophic illness, the joys and celebrations of life still accompany them and are a very integral part of their life and care here at CareMeridian.
We just must share a joyful update on “our little CJ.” She’s now at home with her family. We at CareMeridian had the great privilege of helping her get back there, where she belongs.
You see CJ was just 10 years old when she suffered a stroke. Such a very rare catastrophic injury in one so young.
CJ was in a coma, only very minimally responsive to any stimuli. Treating doctors at the hospital gave the family virtually no hope for CJ’s recovery.
CJ’s insurance case manager requested that Children’s’ Hospital Central California contact CareMeridian to evaluate CJ and make recommendations. CareMeridian staff evaluated her while she was in the hospital, and she was soon transferred to our San Martin facility for rehabilitation and home-like care.
During the 2 months CJ was with us we all worked hard; CJ, Mom, family and the entire San Martin team. With expert care, specialized therapies, dedicated staff and loving support, CJ went from almost no response and no ability to eat, walk or talk, to awareness, managing self care tasks and becoming mobile.
It was a happy day at Care Meridian when we saw CJ headed back to Children’s’ Hospital Central California Acute Rehabilitation Center. She still had work to do, but she was ready to continue her recovery outside the enveloping shelter of CareMeridian.
Today, her Mom told us she is growing and continuing to improve. She is now going to a specialized school and able to feed and dress herself and walk with the help of a brace.
CJ’s mom shared words we love to hear: that she knows the care she received here at CareMeridian was the best anywhere and she credits us with CJ’s recovery.
We couldn’t be prouder of “our little CJ.” And, no matter where she goes, she will always be a member of the CareMeridian family.
Here at CareMeridian we experience everyday the small and progressive miracles the body can produce with proper care and rehabilitation. Our job is to integrate proven therapies that encourage and support the body’s ability to heal and overcome illness or injury.
The research community is continually informing our mission as it progresses with medical understanding of the healing process. Almost every day some new piece of the human-body puzzle is discovered; and research is constantly underscoring the hope there is for anyone struck with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or other medically complex condition.
New research for example, shows promise in evolving surgical and pharmacological therapies for spinal cord injury. Studies indicate that if undertaken immediately after injury, certain therapies may help damaged nervous systems to regenerate. A recent grant from the National Institutes of Health is funding a study on the brain’s natural response to injury, which will help to expand medical knowledge about enhancing the body’s own healing response. And, Carnegie Mellon scientists are showing in the laboratory that certain parts of the brain are extremely adaptive - even when sensory input has been severely damaged (sight or touch) - and that the brain is flexible in compensating for damage to it.
With more than 12,000 spinal cord injuries every year in the United States and Canada, and an estimated 5.3 million people surviving with traumatic brain injuries, some of the world’s most brilliant minds are committed to finding therapies and designing rehabilitation regimes for improving the outcomes for our patients and your loved ones.
CareMeridian is on the forefront in keeping abreast of the latest medical findings. We treat the whole patient, physically, psychologically, and personally. Experience matters, knowledge matters, and hope is an important part of the equation - for the patient and for family members,
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