January 19, 2009
The Pentagon's Need to See Blood
Just as predicted, opponents to the classification of PTSD as a secondary condition of war rather than a war wound have started to make their feelings known, and not all of the opponents are sufferers from PTSD!
Just take a look at these two letters from the New York Times - one from a medical doctor and the other from The Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:52 AM | Permalink
January 18, 2009
Pentagon Says PTSD is Not a War Wound
It is finally official: according to the Pentagon, "PTSD is not a wound intentionally caused by the enemy from an outside force or agent, but a secondary effect caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event." Therefore, it does not warrant the award of a Purple Heart.
This decision, which was apparently made back in November 2008, has only just been made public and it is certain to inflame anger in the thousands of Vets who suffer from PTSD.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 76,000 veterans of the current wars received a provisional diagnosis of PTSD between 2002 and mid-2008. In another measure, the military diagnosed a total of 39,366 soldiers with PTSD between 2003 and 2007.
While some veterans and military experts are angered by the ruling, many also welcome the decision to draw a clear line between an injury and a condition. However, there is a valid argument that cites PTSD as a consequence of traumatic brain injury - which is, of course, a war injury. With, perhaps, this in mind, the Pentagon left open the possibility of a reassessment at some point.
Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:11 AM | Permalink
January 15, 2009
Therapeutic Cooling Reduces Brain Injury
On January 3 this year, Bernie Phillips suffered a cardiac arrest. Tragic but not unusual. Emergency responders established an airway, got his heart beating again and rushed him to Albany Medical Center Hospital.
A short while later, when medics reduced the temperature of his body to a near hypothermic state in an attempt to prevent or reduce brain damage, Phillips' case became a little less unusual.
Dr. Gary Bernardini, professor and director of stroke and neuro-critical care at Albany Medical Center, said much of the brain damage that occurs after a stroke or heart attack is not the result of the injury or condition itself, but happens when a patient is resuscitated. Oxygen-rich blood flows back into the cells, setting off a series of chemical reactions.
These chemical reactions cause the production of free radicals and release of other substances, which cause swelling and inflammation in the brain and reduce oxygen delivery to brain cells, leading to cell death.
Cooling the body to very low temperatures arrests the production of free radicals, slows the injurious process and allows the brain to recover. When the body's temperature is reduced, vessels constrict and cell metabolism is reduced. Since the body requires less oxygen, the harmful chemical activity is reduced. Most patients are cooled for 24 hours before the re-warming starts.
Studies have shown that with careful monitoring, therapeutic cooling can significantly reduce the amount of neurological damage that can result from traumatic conditions such as cardiac arrest, stroke and brain injury.
And as for Phillips - he awoke three days after admission. He remembers nothing at all of the experience that nearly ended his life. In fact, he said, "I don't remember anything from Saturday through Tuesday. I feel OK now. I'm thinking of buying some lottery tickets because I've beaten some pretty long odds."
Schenectady Daily Gazette
Posted by Dianne Sandland at 01:26 PM | Permalink
January 14, 2009
Brain Map
It occurred to me recently that I write with gay abandon about the cerebral cortex, the parietal lobes, and the occipital lobes, but that not all of you will completely understand my wittering. To right this wrong, I went in search of easy to understand information about the anatomy and physiology of the brain; the result of that search is this excellent explanation of how the geography of the brain relates to traumatic brain injury.
I think it's good enough to bookmark...
Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:35 AM | Permalink
January 13, 2009
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Sixth-graders at a Boston high school recently undertook a two-day study program on living with traumatic brain injury. This wasn't just a theoretical course, however. Although some theory was taught, in several classrooms, stations were set up where they were asked to perform dressing and eating activities, with limitations and with adaptive equipment.
When asked to pick small matching objects from gift bags without looking and with mittens on, to simulate decreased sensation in the hands and fingers, student responses ranged from 'frustrating' through to 'impossible.'
The study days were presented by the Krempels Brain Injury Foundation of Portsmouth, N.H. and presented in conjunction with a schoolwide yearlong campaign titled We Can Make a Difference. Students learned about the causes and physical, emotional, and social implications of brain injury; how to recognize and respond to someone who is brain-injured; and injury prevention, such as wearing a helmet while riding a bike and skateboarding.
Read about the journey of David Krempel, the founder of the foundation and a survivor of TBI.
Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:01 AM | Permalink