Brain injury is confusing to people who don’t have one. It’s natural to want to say something, to voice an opinion or offer advice, even when we don’t understand. And when you care for a loved one with a brain injury, it’s easy to get burnt out and say things out of frustration. Here are a few things you might find yourself saying that are probably not helpful: "You seem fine." The invisible signs of a brain injury — memory and concentration problems, fatigue, insomnia, chronic pain, depression, or anxiety — these are sometimes more difficult to live with than visible disabili

The number of people with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is difficult to assess accurately but is much larger than most people would expect.  According to the CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), there are approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. who suffer from a traumatic brain injury each year.  50,000 people die from TBI each year and 85,000 people suffer long term disabilities.  In the U.S., more than 5.3 million people live with disabilities caused by TBI.  Patients admitted to a hospital for TBI are included in this count, while those treated in

Here's some great information this week from Brainline.org about what brain injury survivors want you to know:   I need a lot more rest than I used to. I’m not being lazy. I get physical fatigue as well as a “brain fatigue.” It is very difficult and tiring for my brain to think, process, and organize. Fatigue makes it even harder to think. My stamina fluctuates, even though I may look good or “all better” on the outside. Cognition is a fragile function for a brain injury survivor. Some days are better than others. Pushing too hard usually leads to setbacks, sometimes to illness.

If your child was involved in trauma, he or she may seem OK.  Post-concussive symptoms in kids show up differently than with adults, however.  If in doubt, always consult a medical professsional for your child. With babies, it can be difficult to recognize that a brain injury has occurred. The most obvious symptom is loss of consciousness but other signs include crying inconsolably and not being able to be comforted, vomiting, or excessive sleepiness. Refusing to eat, prolonged irritability, or unusual or prolonged periods of quietness or inactivity may also be signs of a concussion or more

This morning, one of our attorneys was in court with a parent whose child suffered a TBI, Traumatic Brian Injury.  TBI is a serious problem in our country.  Recently, well-known football players have been speaking out about TBI.  Thomas Jones, a retired running back who played for five teams in 12 NFL seasons, has decided to donate his brain upon his death to the Sports Legacy Institute to be studied for evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Jones said he has no idea how many concussions he sustained, but that he's concerned with what they could mean for his future.  "Honestl