Does Brain Injury Trigger Other Disorders?
Accompanying Injuries
When you have been injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, or other serious personal injury matter, quite often brain trauma is only part of the injuries suffered. Spinal cord injury is often related to brain injury, particularly in car crashes. While our practice is concerned with traumatic brain injury, we are also able to address other injuries suffered in brain injury accidents.
Disorders and Conditions Triggered by TBI
Ongoing research concerning the long-term effects of suffering a traumatic brain injury suggests that certain disorders or conditions are significantly more likely to occur in a person with TBI. These conditions include:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Alcoholism
- Drug dependency
- Epileptic disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have been injured by blasts often face compounded physical issues following injury. In addition to the symptoms of traumatic brain injury, a returning soldier may also suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder. It was thought at one time that one could not suffer from both TBI and PTSD, but that theory has since been debunked. There are believed to be 1000 suicide attempts by veterans each month. Our lawyers recognize the issues faced by returning soldiers who live with these conditions and provide resources and support that are caring and personalized.
Secondary TBI
Secondary Traumatic Brain Injuries are caused by complications arising from the initial injury. Among the secondary injuries from TBI are increased intracranial pressure, hemorrhages outside the brain, hypoxic injuries, ischemic injuries, and excitotoxicity injuries. These injuries occur after the initial brain injury. Many of these injuries relate to swelling in the brain that occurs after the injury.
For example, excitotoxicity injuries relate to the release of neurotransmitters from injured brain cells. When the brain suffers an injury, there is a release of neurotransmitters and ions used in the brain cells and in the area of the synapse between the axon and the dendrite. There is a resulting increase of sodium and the loss of potassium in the neurons. This causes a swelling of the cell and leads ultimately to the cell’s death. Neurotransmitters may not kill brain cells for days after an injury. This may be why some injured people appear to be fine initially, but have symptoms of TBU days after the injury.
Lastly, seizures may develop after TBI, and can worsen over time. Some epileptic symptoms may be subtle at first, but over time can develop into fall scale status epilepticus, which is defined as a condition where the brain experiences frequent seizures.
To find out more information about the relationship between brain injury and other disorders, contact the Brain Injury Law Center of New Mexico.
