Macomb Twp Chiropractic Chiropractor Chris McNeil

Ferndale and Macomb Township Chiropractors Chris McNeil, Frank Norton and Peter Anderson Diagnose and Treat Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Auto Accident Patients

When people are involved in an auto accident there are a lot of different injuries that can happen.  The most common injuries that are treated at Metro Detroit Chiropractors auto injury clinics in Macomb Twp and Ferndale MI are: neck pain, back pain, disc injuries, sciatica, headaches and numbness.  However, there is a common injury that is often undetected and undiagnosed for many injured in an accident, and it can have devastating effects on a person’s life.  This injury is called traumatic brain injury or TBI.

During an auto accident there can be a rapid acceleration and deceleration. A rapid acceleration can occur when you are sitting at a red light or stop sign and you suddenly get rear ended. This causes your body to rapidly accelerate in milliseconds.  A rapid deceleration happens when you are driving and suddenly the traffic in front of you stops and you come to a crashing halt.  During a rapid acceleration or deceleration the forces on a body are extreme. “Not only can these forces cause ligament sprains, muscle strains, disc bulges and herniations, but they can also cause damage to one’s delicate brain tissues,” said Dr. Frank Norton at Macomb Twp Chiropractic.

As the body and head whip around during the impact the brain bounces around inside of the skull.  The delicate brain tissue is easily damaged which can cause a multitude of symptoms. Some of the common symptoms associated with a traumatic brain injury are: memory loss, headaches, dizziness, balance problems, vision disturbances, speech problems, ringing in the ears, sleep disturbances, problems focusing or concentrating, anger, anxiety and depression.

“After an initial diagnosis of TBI our doctors can refer the patient to a specialist for further diagnostic testing and treatment” says Chris McNeil, Chiropractor and Macomb Twp and Ferndale Chiropractic clinic director.  A neurologist can perform an EEG or order an MRI to determine if a brain injury occurred. The neurologist may also prescribe medications to help relieve some of the symptoms the patient may be experiencing.  A neuro-psychologist can perform a cognitive assessment to find deficits in brain and cognitive function.  Physical or Occupational therapy can be prescribed to perform cognitive, speech and balance therapy.  Neuro Quant MRI performs volumetric analysis and can be ordered to determine if any brain atrophy has occurred over time as a result of the TBI. Lastly, chiropractic treatments can help reduce headaches and other symptoms.

“Patients suffering from a TBI can have different levels of severity, from simple forgetfulness to stabbing headaches and disorientation” said Dr. Peter Anderson of Metro Detroit Chiropractors in Ferndale MI.  From lost sleep to inability to work and care for themselves or their family members, the many symptoms associated with TBI take a hearty toll on ones life.  Often time’s people with traumatic brain injury are need of a medical case manager to assist the patient in scheduling transportation and doctor’s appointments. The case manager can also gather records from different doctors and provide them to the insurance adjuster or to the patients attorney. In severe cases of TBI the patient may even need to live and an assisted living facility staffed with nurses and occupational therapist to assist with rehabilitation and the activities of daily living.

Traumatic brain injury is very common and should be taken very seriously. Unfortunately, going to the wrong doctors can cause a missed diagnosis which could lead to a permanent brain injury.  

Contact the nearest www.MetroDetroitChiropractors.com  clinic to schedule an appointment if you believe you or a family member has a TBI that  is not getting the proper testing and care.

 

Direct download: TBI_traumatic_brain_injury.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 5:54pm EDT

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