The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries May Last Longer than Previously Expected

February 22, 2013 (Press-News.org) The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries May Last Longer than Previously Expected

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Although many people may not realize it, traumatic brain injuries are emerging as a major health problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.7 million people in the U.S. suffer a TBI each year. Most of these injuries are concussions or other mild forms of TBI. Experts estimate that the costs of these sorts of injuries - including both medical expenses and lost productivity - total in the tens of billions of dollars each year.

Up until recently, doctors believed that the effects of TBIs, including headaches, dizziness, depression, changes in mood and cognitive difficulty, would dissipate over time as patients received rest and proper treatment. New research indicates, however, that the effects of traumatic brain injuries - even concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries - may last longer than expected.

University of Oklahoma Study

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma recently presented the results of a study they conducted on 500 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each patient had suffered a TBI during deployment and was being treated in the special headache clinic at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Hospital. Researchers asked the patients to describe the incidence and severity of common TBI symptoms and divided the data according to whether they had suffered a TBI within four years or five to eight years of the study.

Among those that had suffered a TBI within four years of the study, approximately half reported mild headaches, while 46 percent reported severe headaches. Among those who had suffered a TBI five to eight years before the study, 45 percent reported mild headaches and 51 percent reported severe headaches. The numbers were similar for all other TBI symptoms.

Though more research is needed, the findings of this study seem to indicate that the effects of TBIs do not dissipate, even after eight years. Doctors are hopeful that further study will allow them to better understand the mechanisms of TBIs and to design more effective treatments.

A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or other catastrophic injury, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can assess your case and help you get the fair and adequate compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. For more information about what a personal injury attorney can do for you, contact a lawyer today.