As widely publicized in the media, rock musician Bret Michaels–who reinvented himself as a reality TV star on The Celebrity Apprentice and other unscripted shows–was rushed to the hospital last week with an excruciating headache. It turns out he apparently suffered a massive brain hemorrhage.
In the case of Michaels, we still don’t know what exactly caused his brain injury, but we do know doctors discovered bleeding at the base of his brain stem when he was admitted to the hospital on Thursday. Further tests were planned for Monday to help pinpoint the exact source, according to the 47-year-old rocker’s Web site. For now, he remains in intensive care, where [neurosurgeon Nicholas) Bambakidis said he could stay for the next several weeks.
Michaels is no stranger to health issues. He is a Type-1 diabetic and also had an emergency appendectomy on April 12. Michaels fell off the stage while performing at the Tony Awards in June 2009, but there is no indication whether last week’s incident was related to what is sometimes called called “second-impact syndrome.”
According to Merck.com, “About 35% of people die when they have a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to an aneurysm because it results in extensive brain damage. Another 15% die within a few weeks because of bleeding from a second rupture.”
Although he is still listed in critical condition, latest word is, however, that Michaels plans to resume touring in late May.
For everyday people in Virginia and in other states who are outside of the entertainment world, traumatic brain injuries usually result from auto crashes, slip-and-fall accidents, or any jolt or shock to the head, neck, or brain. Victims may require life-long care which often places a financial burden along with an emotional toll upon the injured party along with family and loved ones. The Virginia brain injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have the experience needed, and the requisite contacts with the best doctors in the area, to ensure you and your loved ones have the best representation possible. Call Toll Free 877-544–5323 for a no-obligation consultation.
Drinking and driving is a combination that can spell disaster on Virginia roads, especially for new drivers. Accidents caused by impaired motorists can lead to devastating injuries, including brain damage. But a Connecticut school psychologist seems to suggest that binge drinking, a so-called rite of passage for young adults, can in and of itself be equivalent to a brain injury, without the physical component.
According to an article posted at StratfordStar.com, Dr. Chris Brown says that one of the greatest threats to the still-developing adolescent brain (i.e., generally the teenage years) is alcohol abuse. He maintains that during adolescence, “the brain has difficulty handling emotions, seeks high excitement/low effort activities, and has poor planning and judgment skills. That combination leads to a cycle in which impulsive decisions to consume [alcohol] reduce inhibitions more and lead to increased impulsiveness and risk taking.” He adds that the chance of alcohol dependency decreases by 14% with each year a person waits to start drinking. He asks rhetorically, “Which part of your brain do you want to sacrifice to alcohol or drugs?” Browns adds that the brain receptors begin to shut down the earlier in life someone starts drinking, “meaning more and more alcohol is needed to cause the desired effect.”
On the other hand, the chance of alcohol dependency decreases by 14% with each year a person waits to start drinking, Brown notes. He also says that parents can do more to convince their kids to stay away from alchol. “All it takes is sending a clear message that it’s not acceptable to drink,” he said.
While accidents caused by drunk drivers in all age groups do capture the headlines, most Virgina motorists drive responsibly. However, if you–or a loved one–-have been injured in a Virginia automobile accident brought about by an intoxicated driver (regardless of the driver’s age), or you have sustained a traumatic brain injury owing to the negligence of another party, you need to know your legal rights. Contact the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C., Toll Free 877-544-5323, for a no-obligation consultation.
A Virginia judge has sentenced a Franconia daycare provider to more than 10 years in prison for shaking a toddler and allegedly causing permanent brain damage.
In January, a jury convicted the woman of felony child abuse and child cruelty and sentenced her to 10 years and six months in jail. On April 9, a Fairfax Circuit Court judge upheld the prison term contained in the jury’s verdict.
The case revolved around conflicting testimony from experts about “shaken baby syndrome.” According to the Washington Post…
The medical dispute turned on whether a baby can be shaken hard enough to cause the brain to bleed and create eye hemorrhaging while not leaving signs of other trauma — to the neck or back, for example…Her lawyers said the appearance of hemorrhages in the back of his eyes was from a chronic condition.
The woman denied on the stand that the she had ever shaken the four-month old boy. Her lawyers plan to appeal. The boy, now 13 months old, apparently remains partially blind and continues to have seizures.
On this video, a physician explains in general what shaken baby syndrome is all about:
Seizing upon a loophole in California law, about 700 National Football League ex-players have filed workers’ compensation claims for orthopedic injuries (such as shoulder or knee injuries) even if they never played for California teams. Successful claimants can get six-figure paydays. Questions have arisen as reported in local media as to whether these ex-players might be “gaming” the system.
That aside, one former player, Ralph Wenzel, 67, is apparently the first to file a potentially precedent-setting workers’ comp claim relating to brain trauma. According to the New York Times, Wenzel’s claim (which could be worth $1 million if he is successful) sets up a test case for determining whether the NFL can be held liable to former players for the growing problem of post-career dementia.
Worker’s comp was set up in each state to provide benefits for on-the-job injuries without requiring the worker to go through a personal injury lawsuit against the employer. But California workers’ compensation regulations are different, the Times reports…
Players need not have played for California teams or be residents of the state; they had to participate in just one game in the state to be eligible to receive lifetime medical care for their injuries from the teams and their insurance carriers.
Moreover, California’s statute of limitations on these claims doesn’t begin to run until the employer (in this case, the NFL or one of its teams) formally advises the injured person of the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits, allowing long-retired players to seek compensation for decades-old injuries or alleged injuries.
Wenzel played in the NFL from 1966 to 1973 and lives in a Maryland assisted living facility. As we have discussed in the blog previously, the NFL only relatively recently became pro-active in addressing the danger of repeated on-field concussions, including providing certain medical benefits for retirees.
Here is an informative video about the Wenzel case and football-related dementia in general:
Although considered somewhat controversial, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (i.e., breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber) has been used to address various health issues, and now the U.S. military will test it out to help Iraq and Afghan combat vets with traumatic brain injury.
About 300 service members with mild to moderate damage will participate in the trials of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help determine whether it can help them heal, or at least ease the headaches, mood swings or other symptoms linked to brain injury.
Some will spend a total of 40 hours over 10 weeks breathing pure oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber, where the atmospheric pressure is increased to a level similar to what they would experience about 20 feet under water.
The clinical trial will begin early next year at five military bases around the country. The premise behind this form of treatment is that oxygen will dissolve more readily in the blood if the body is under pressure, and that if the blood delivers more oxygen to the body, it can help in the healing of damaged brain tissue.
According to the Pentagon, at least 134,000 soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries from 2003 through 2009.
Here is a video that discusses the basics of this therapy:
This video discusses its potential application to traumatic brain injury:
A new traumatic brain injury protocol is coming soon from the Pentagon to provide early detection and treatment for combat veterans. The military says it is switching from a symptom-based approach to an incident-based approach in theater. And under the new protocols, soldiers who have been involved in incidents such as being close to explosions or blasts must be checked out by medical staff on a mandatory basis.
To roll out the incident-based protocols, the American Forces Press Service reports, Defense Department officials will follow an “educate, train, track and treat” sequence:
Ensuring awareness at all levels in recognizing symptoms brain injuries;
Training health care providers in evidence-based treatments;
Treating incidents early; and
Tracking progress to yield metrics that would show where improvements are needed.
“Our real message to send out to everyone is, ‘Protect your greatest weapon — your brain,’” said Kathy Helmick, interim senior executive director for traumatic brain injury and director of TBI clinical standards of care at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. “The cornerstone is early detection and early treatment, and that these are recoverable injuries.”
DOD officials will also be sharing information with the National Football League about traumatic brain injury research, including prevention and treatment. “So the groups are working on creating a change in attitude so that servicemembers, like athletes, don’t discount symptoms but get early treatment, which will lead to early recovery,” Helmick added.
Various public events nationwide will mark Brain Injury Awareness month, which occurs each March to shine a spotlight on traumatic brain conditions and research into treatment methodologies. And starting this month, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and its nationwide network of 44 Chartered State Affiliates is launching a year-long, nationwide education and advocacy campaign: “A concussion is a brain injury. Get the facts.”
When it come to sports injuries, which are of course not the only concussion risks, BiAA says that “coaches of every school athletic team and every extracurricular athletic activity should be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of brain injury, including concussions and second impact syndrome.”
As we reported previously, legislation is currently pending in Virginia to mandate certain increased protections for players on high school teams who suffer concussions.
The U.S. military will also be participating in the Brain Injury Awareness month. Traumatic brain injury in considered a “signature injury” for Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans.
On an everyday basis, however, a serious blow to the head is most likely to occur in a slip-and-fall accident or in a car crash than in competitive sports or in a military conflict. Some 1.4 million traumatic brain injuries are said to occur each year in the U.S., which amounts to one every 21 seconds.
According to the BIAA, symptoms include nausea, dizziness or balance problems, double or fuzzy vision, sensitivity to light or noise, headache, feeling sluggish or tired, feeling foggy or groggy, confusion, or trouble concentrating/trouble remembering. If you or a family member have any of these symptoms, see a healthcare professional immediately.
Brainline.org released this video to further publicize Brain Injury Awareness Month:
A bill sponsored by a Norfolk legislator that would provide added health protections for high school athletes with head injuries is on its way to Governor McDonnell’s desk. Under the measure that passed the General Assembly, high school coaches would be required to sideline any player with concussion symptoms until the student is cleared to return to action by a licensed health professional.
The bill’s sponsor, Norfolk State Senator Ralph S. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, told the Washington Post that…
“The common scenario is that they come to my office on a Monday or Tuesday after they’ve sustained their concussion in Friday’s game,” he said. “They’re trying to get cleared to play on the next Friday. I tell them, ‘You have many more games to play, but you only have one brain.’” Northam said his bill requires that athletes who show signs of head injury be taken immediately out of a game or practice…Northam said he hopes [the] law will prevent coaches, parents and students from putting players back on the field before it is medically safe.
Players who go back on the field prematurely risk second-impact syndrome and/or post-concussion syndrome in which the initial injury leads to even greater brain injury problems, possibly fatal.
Governor McDonnell is reviewing the bill, his spokesperson said. The governor’s signature is necessary for it to become law.
The New Jersey Star Ledger recently released this video report on the risk of long-term brain damage in high school football:
On an everyday basis, most Virginia residents are more likely to suffer a blow to the head in a slip-and-fall accident or in a car crash than in a sports-related injury. However, if you believe that you (or a love one) have sustained a traumatic brain injury regardless of how or where it occurred, it is important to hire experienced legal counsel. The Virginia brain injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have the experience needed, and the requisite contacts with the best doctors in the area, to ensure you and your loved ones have the best representation possible in the event. Call Toll Free 877-544–5323 for a no-obligation consultation.
The ongoing recession apparently has had minimal effect on money damage awards for traumatic brain injuries, according to a story posted at Finance&Commerce.com. One attorney quoted in the article says that “catastrophic injuries are particularly invulnerable to the ups and downs of the economy.”
The article explains that brain injury cases continue to generate high out-of-court settlements or jury awards because of several factors:
skyrocketing costs of medical treatment, including home care
brain injuries can be demonstrated through medical evidence and by changes in the injured person’s behavior and moods
brain injuries are very compelling to jurors
The article also notes that high-tech medical protocols such as neuropsychometric testing can evaluate memory and brain functioning, show exactly where the brain is damaged, and the test results can be matched to the patient’s symptoms. This data can provide convincing evidence to sometimes skeptical insurance companies and/or juries.
Another lawyer quoted in the story explains that “all personal injury cases with real objective damages that strike a chord with jurors still have the potential for high damage awards.” Even a so-called mild blow to the head can have life-changing consequences.
Leaving aside the ups and downs of the economy in the U.S. and in Virginia, if you believe that you (or a love one) have sustained a traumatic brain injury, it is always important to hire experienced legal counsel. The Virginia brain injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have the experience needed, and the requisite contacts with the best doctors in the area, to ensure you and your loved ones have the best representation possible. Call Toll Free 877-544–5323 for a no-obligation consultation.
The tragic death of the Georgian luger in a practice run was sadly not the only serious injury affecting the Winter Olympics. Injured U.S. snowboarder Kevin Pearce, who never made it to Vancouver, may be out of competition permanently.
The 22-year-old native of Norwich, Vt., suffered severe brain trauma after slamming his head on the edge of the halfpipe attempting his version of the spectacular — but dangerous — double cork in Park City, Utah, on New Year’s Eve. Unconscious, he had to be airlifted to an area hospital, where he remained in a coma for weeks and spent the better part of a month in critical condition. He’s since been upgraded to serious condition and now lives full-time at a facility that specializes in brain and spinal-cord injuries.
Imagine, going from a favorite at the Olympics to watching it on television from a hospital bed in the time it takes to strap on a board. Pearce only just started speaking, needs assistance to learn how to walk and has problems with his vision as a result of the impact of skull and the halfpipe’s icy lip.
ABC’s Good Morning America aired this report shortly after Pearce’s injury:
On a day-to-day basis, most Virginia residents are more likely to suffer a severe brain injury in a slip-and-fall accident or in a car crash than in extreme sports. If you believe that you (or a love one) have sustained a traumatic brain injury, it is important to hire experienced legal counsel. The Virginia brain injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have the experience needed, and the requisite contacts with the best doctors in the area, to ensure you and your loved ones have the best representation possible in the event. Call Toll Free 877-544–5323 for a no-obligation consultation.
Emory University researchers in Atlanta will launch a Phase III clinical trial in March to determine if the female sex hormone progesterone can be an effective treatment for brain injuries. Some 1,000 patients in 17 trauma centers across the control will take part. Progesterone is an ingredient in birth control pills.
Speaking to the BBC, lead researcher Dr. David Wright expressed optimism about the treatment”
Traumatic brain injury is a complex condition – there’s swelling, and neuronal death and damage occurring all at the same time.”The beauty of progesterone is that it seems to work on all of those things.”
During the study, patients presenting to emergency rooms within 11 hours of ahead injury will receive over several days either a course of natural progesterone (extracted from yams) or a placebo. The FDA has given researchers the okay to administer the drug without patient consent.
According to SportandHealthnews.com, doctors apparently identified progesterone as a potential treatment after noticing that women responded more strongly to therapy and recovered better after brain injury or stroke than did men. Apparently, progesterone protects cells and tissues just as it does during the early stages of pregnancy.
Dr. Wright added that progesterone could become the first drug treatment in 30 years to be approved specifically for severe traumatic brain injury. If proved effective, the treatment could save lives and reduce brain damage.
As a result of the potentially devastating nature of head trauma, representation by the best possible attorney is crucial for a fair recovery. The Virginia brain injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have the experience needed, and the requisite contacts with the best doctors in the area, to ensure you and your loved ones have the best representation possible. Call Toll Free 877-544–5323 for a no-obligation consultation.
A Virginia woman has filed suit in Richmond City Court charging that Botox injections caused brain injuries, movement disorders and dementia. The lawsuit against Botox manufacturer Allergan, Inc. alleges that the company failed to warn consumers about serious side effects of the treatment.
Personal injury clearinghouse AboutLawsuits.com summarizes the allegations as follows:
[The plaintiff] indicates that she was given Botox injections to treat a head tremor. As a side effect of Botox, [she] alleges that she suffered a variety of serious and permanent injuries caused by the injections. She experienced rashes, fever, vomiting, severe pain and confusion shortly after being given the injections. Eventually, she developed autoimmune encephalitis movement disorder, lost some of her cognitive functions and now trouble walking. As a result of the Botox injury, the lawsuit claims that she requires care and help from others to conduct a number of daily activities.
Extremely minute quantities of Botulinum Toxin A are contained in Botox, which is the bacteria associated with the muscle paralyzing condition Botulism.
[The plaintiff] says Allergan should have warned users of the chance that Botox toxin, which the lawsuit describes as being 100 times stronger than cyanide, would migrate outside of the injection area and could cause significant injury.
While Botox is known primarily for its cosmetic applications, it is also used to treat various non-cosmetic medical conditions.
The lawsuit seeks $10 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages on grounds of product liability, negligence, and breach of warranty.
On a day-to-day basis, most Virginia residents are more likely to suffer a severe brain injury in a slip-and-fall accident or in a car crash than in any other circumstance. If you believe that you (or a love one) have sustained a traumatic brain injury, it is important to hire experienced legal counsel. The Virginia brain injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have the experience needed, and the requisite contacts with the best doctors in the area, to ensure you and your loved ones have the best representation possible in the event. Call Toll Free 877-544–5323 for a no-obligation consultation.
