Concussions: An Overlooked Epidemic
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-09-12/concussions-overlooked-epidemic
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates between two and four million people suffer from concussions every year. Brain injuries are vastly under-reported and diagnosis is difficult because the damage is invisible to brain scanners. Concussion victims often fail to link headaches, fatigue and memory loss to what seems like a minor injury. While most concussions are sports-related, a sizable number affect victims of car accidents or falls. The science and symptoms of brain injuries and why they’ve become an overlooked epidemic.
Guests
Linda Carroll
health writer for MSNBC.com and the science section of The New York Times
David Rosner
sports writer and former managing editor of a national magazine for neurology patients.
Dr. Gerard Gioia
director, Pediatric Neuropsychology Program at Children's National Medical Center; director of Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program
Jon Almquist
administrator, Athletic Training Program, Fairfax County Public Schools
Comments
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Shame on these physicians for not knowing about ARNICA, it is a herbal remedy for swelling that has been around for hundreds of years.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/arnica-000222.htm
Shame on these physicians for not knowing about ARNICA, it is a herbal remedy for swelling that has been around for hundreds of years.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/arnica-000222.htm
Shame on these physicians for not knowing about ARNICA, it is a herbal remedy for swelling that has been around for hundreds of years.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/arnica-000222.htm
I am a British trained RN and registered in Texas too. Arnica is a very well known homeopathic medication used certainly in Europe. It is recommended for severe bruising. I am not sure how it actually affects cells but believe it acts directly upon the capillaries to slow the bleeding and ultimately is anti inflammatory. There is not much scientific evidence to support its use and should be presribed by a licensed homeopath for safe efficacy. A discussion on the use of homeopathic adjuncts to medications I am sure would please your listeners.
Arnica gel is a homeopathic topical ointment that was introduced to me by a German friend. It has been used extensively in Europe for years. It is an anti-inflammatory that may be used for traumatic injury, bruises, strained joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, tensive backache, concussion, stroke, heart strain and reduces pain and bleeding after surgery. Arnicare Gel is non-greasy, non-sticky gel quickly absorbed by the skin. Arnica Montana 30C is to relieve trauma, bruises and muscle soreness.
I have used it for years with great result for muscle tension, bruising, and inflammation after a hard workout. A nurse friend of mine who used it after shoulder surgery highly endorses its effectiveness as does her therapist at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
I would encourage you and your doctor panelists to familiarize yourselves with this wonderful NATURAL ointment.
Shame on these physicians for not knowing about ARNICA, it is a herbal remedy for swelling that has been around for hundreds of years.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/arnica-000222.htm
FYI...
ARNICA Montana mentioned by a previous caller is a homeopathic medecine prescribed to eliminate or reduce the effects of traumaic injuries.
MC
K.J> Great citation, however, if you read further the suggestion for use is topical. The internal use can be fatal if not used carefully. the suggestion is use with the guidance of a doctor. I wouldn't not be putting that in my child's backpack for use whenever.
K.J> Great citation, however, if you read further the suggestion for use is topical. The internal use can be fatal if not used carefully. the suggestion is use with the guidance of a doctor. I wouldn't not be putting that in my child's backpack for use whenever.
I can't believe none of your guests knew what anrica was. Incredible. Arnica is an herbal remedy usually in gel form that relieves swelling and mild bruising. My kids are teens now and I've always had a tube of it in the medicine chest. It works great.
Arnica is well known in Europe. Like many other kids, I grew up with it and when I had my own kids I bought a tube from them. The cream is made from a plant and helps reduce swelling.
I am perplexed by the caller who feels teachers should be responsibile to diagnose or observe brain injury symptoms. They are not doctors. A good pediatrician would have referred her son to a neuropsychiatrist wher he would have been properly diagnosed at an earlier age. With this diagnosis her son would have been elligible for numerous extra hep through the school systems. Teachers should not be asked to be doctors. If you think there is a problem with your child pursue it through the pediatrician and specialists. I also have issues that the school system paid for all the extensive testing. Though they cover basic testing, extensive testing should be paid through other avenues, not school system money.
Arnica is a basic element in a homeopathic medicine chest and in Europe most compenent doctors use homeopathic treatments. I know it is common for US doctors to be not using homeopathic treatments, but to not know about Arnica and be and expert on concussions seems irresponsible. I am certain he is a well meaning individual, but all professionals are responsible for opening up to what is happening globally, not just locally. I have used arnica as a mother very effectively and for exactly the reason your caller mentioned. Please know I listen to you every day I can and am a big fan of your work, that is why I felt compelled to chime in. Ignorance in medicine is deadly. Arnica has been used for centuries and both my doctor parents approve as do generations back in my family who used it as well. It's like saying Aspirin is a mystery. Geez.
What a surprise, the panel of AMA people do not know anything about homeopathic remedies!
Medicine, in the modern methods accepted by the AMA is not healing, it is to make a person comfortable with their symptoms - or cut out the offending organ - a bit difficult to do in the case of brain injury or illness.
Homeopathic treatments, on the other hand, are healing of the injury/illness.
The two don't mix and knowledge does not flow between the two. In fact, the majority of AMA refuses to accept any evidence that any homeopathic treatments heal, usually AMA can find a way to refute any studies or personal testimony as even proof that a treatment has any benefit.
We would have better and cheaper health care if homeopathic treatments were covered the same as AMA treatments. For many people these types of treatments continue to make life easier and much more healthy than the awful drugs the AMA and their drug company cohorts are inflicting on us to maintain illness and keep the drug money flowing.
A little over 20 years ago my Dad who applied for a grant from the NIH to work on concussions. The only real research at the time was mainly from defense department studies. I wonder if there has been any new studies or research funded from the defense dept at the time given the current state of concussions affecting veterans.
My dad's research was not funded at the time, but it was meant to focus in understanding the neuro-transmitter response to injury particularly since this response in other areas other than the brain might actually prove detrimental in brain injuries (clotting factors for instance) .
Enjoyed the show, however I was astonished that your panel did not know what Arnica is! It's one of the most helpful Homeopathic remedies available, and has been used worldwide and in the US for over 100 years. The fact that this was not known gives me concern that we are not researching alternative medical options within our Western medical model.
I totally agree, see my comment below! It's a not the teacher's job to diagnose anything. Whydidn't she go to a pediatrician who would have referred her to the specialist? She is blaming teachers for something she should have been responsible for, especially since she said she knew something wasn't right.
Wonderful show. Truly an issue that is not addressed adequately in our society. Thank you.
I am astounded, that no one on your panel has heard of Arnica. From personal experience over the years, with four young children falling, sustaining serious injuries, as well as, my having under gone medical procedures where (an American doctor prescribed Arnica prior to surgery to minimize swelling), I can confirm your caller's observation of Arnica's effectiveness. In Europe, it is common knowledge and used readily. This homeopathic alternative can be found at Whole Foods. The gel form is equally effective. We use it in combination with oral Arnica. I keep both forms in my car and the oral version in my purse at all times. It truly works. In Europe, pharmacies carry it along with an array of other homeopathic remedies.
I am not sure a whole hour could be dedicated to Arnica, but worth getting the word out to a society, that is so over prescribed on prescriptions from doctors and pharmaceutical companies.
Arnica (a.k.a. arnica montana) is a plant derived substance that is indeed a miracle. As the caller stated, it prevents and reduces swelling, bruising, and trauma from blows and surgeries. Accordingly, it speeds healing. It is routinely ignored by the medical establishment, witness Dr. Joya. It is worthy of a program because of its remarkable effectiveness. Taken immediately after a blow (four of the 30 x pellets at a time for the next 12 hours), it will greatly reduce the intensity and swelling of something like a black eye. Taken before surgery in large quantities ( 1 M strength four times a day) beginning four days before the surgery and through two days after will greatly reduce trauma and speed healing. For example, I have had rotator cuff repair surgeries on both shoulders and was told to expect a week of pain requiring hydrocodone. However, I took large quantities of 1M strength arnica (Boiron brand, available at the Apothecary on Cedar Lane) and required only one tablet of the post-op prescription pain reliever provided by the hospital in the case of the right shoulder procedure and none for the left shoulder procedure a year later. It is available in 30 x strength at Whole Foods and the Bethesda Co-op and from mail-order vitamin suppliers like Swanson's in North Dakota.
My husband was diagnosed with dementia 2 years ago, at 54 years old. He was an Orthopedic Surgeon who had to stop working immediately. He played football in college (running back) and played for the New Orleans Saints. Many 'dingers', not 'knocked out' but so much head trauma during his football career turned into Dementia 35 years later.
I am against football for children, no matter how they improve helmets and change some small rules for helmet to helmet contact. I don't agree with the NFL and their new rules about pulling a player out of a game after a concussion and then putting him right back in. Dementia isn't going to show up for another 30-40 years. Many NFL retirees have dementia, some commiting suicide.
There IS an epidemic, there needs to be MANY changes in football, starting at the high school level.
Our children are not being protected.
I profoundly agree that school teachers cannot replace physicians diagnosing a medical condition.
I also believe it is imprudent to self-medicate with any drugs, natural or synthetic, that may affect the brain after a concussion without consulting a physician first.
Concussions may impact the brain in numerous subtle ways, the effects of which need to be examined by experienced professionals. One severe effect may consist of axonal shear. That is, the impact of the blow may disconnect nerve cells without noticeable damage to the brain tissue. However, nerve cells are able to reestablish connections. For this brain plasticity to work, the nerve cells must be stimulated consistently, but not excessively. Carefully planned sensory, motor and mental therapies similar to those successfully applied in the recovery from traumatic brain injury may help stimulate nerve cell connection repair in such cases.
You may wish to read more about the concepts here:
http://brainmindinst.blogspot.com/2007/12/about-value-of-exercise-after-...
Hi Diane:
Arnica is a homeopathic mediciation used to treat traumatic injury.
Craig Runbeck, ND
You really should have a discussion on Arnica. It is amazing for trauma, swelling and bruising. Here is a recent experience,
My husband fell 8 feet onto cement, onto his knees and tops of his feet. He looked and acted like he was in shock. I gave him Arnica 200C immediately.
His "shock' behaviour left in a minute. He had no swelling or pain whatever. A day or two later he did get very dark black and blue at the injured area, but that was gone in three days.
The sooner you administer it, the better the result. So understanding how to use it and having it on hand is important.
Homeopathy may seem "woo-woo" and knowing when/ how to treat other problems homeopathically is complex and not always. successful. But Arnica is different. There are thousands of stories like this about Arnica. People should know about it. It would make a great show and be of enormous help.
Linda3848 wrote:
K.J> Great citation, however, if you read further the suggestion for use is topical. The internal use can be fatal if not used carefully. the suggestion is use with the guidance of a doctor. I wouldn't not be putting that in my child's backpack for use whenever
K.J : I don't think you realize that in the homeopathic pills there is little or none of the actual substance. It has been diluted down and the higher the potency the more dilute. .....so not at all like taking the leaf itself and therefor not dangerous. No side effect or interactions with other substances. And strange as it may seem, it does work. Even on little children or animals so the placebo response is not what is going on here either.
I am a traumatic brain injury rehabilitation specialist and thought the discussion on concussion was fairly well organized. Good points were made about how helmets do not prevent concussions, a highly misconceived notion. Regarding education, I can say from experience, is that even physicians are not aware of concussion diagnoses. Some will even state and believe that it is a psychological condition. Education is and always will be the only way of preventing future injuries and identifying those injuries that have gone undiagnosed. It is time for all communities, healthcare and educational systems, to unite to educate those who are most likely to see such injuries. In regards to the Arnica, I was shocked to hear that none of the panelists had heard of it. It is a homeopathic remedy and not much research (controlled studies) have been conducted. Its use in acute brain injury needs to be evaluated further.
If you have questions, you can follow me on Twitter or Facebook @Brain Injury Doc.
My child had concussion two years ago at the age of 15 after a bad soccer header and we treated her with natural medicine and she was fine in 3 days.
I was appalled that no one on the panel knew about Arnica. As well as your apparent lack of insight that this might be a great remeady for injuries. We need more health study advocates of intergrative medicine to speak on your show.
Perhaps before vetting the experts, your producers need to research the mutiple modalities of treatment available on a given subject. Intergrative medicine challenges all of us to look outside of what we were taught in the last 50 years of medical schools and to intergrate that with the teachings of the past ways medicine has been used to heal for centuries. Arnica (Arnica montana) has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1500s and remains popular today. Applied topically as a cream, ointment, liniment, salve, or tincture, Europeans and Native Americans have used arnica to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation, and heal wounds. It is often the first remedy used for injuries such as sprains and bruises. Arnica in herbal form is primarily restricted to topical (external) use because it can cause serious side effects when taken internally. Arnica is often used in homeopathy.
I see you've been educated about arnica by others, but I'd like to add that arnica is the number one remedy that turns people on to homeopathy - because of its effectiveness. A show on homeopathy I think would be of tremendous interest and value. The fact that it's safe (no side effects), cheap and works make it something folks can try before running up big doctor bills. The Royal Family uses it regularly. I wasn't surprised the panel were unaware of it since it is not from the pharmaceutical industry. Dana Ullman, MPH has written some great articles on the Huffington Post about it.
Craniosacral therapy is another safe and effective tool for treating concussions. I have treated professional football players many times using this technique. Once my niece was in a car accident and was suffering projectile vomiting from her concussion. I treated her while still on the stretcher in the emergency room and it worked immediately to stop her throwing up. I wish I could have called to ask the panel if they had ever heard of it. Dr. John Upledger has done a great deal of research in this area.
Diane,
Arnica is a homeopathic remedy for trauma, bruising etc.
It does come from a plant and has been around for years. Your caller was referring to the arnica that can be purchased at whole foods and other stores. It is in homeopathic form, it is natural and will not have any negative side effects. Homeopathic medicines stimulate the body to heal itself. The theory is that was causes a problem in the body can also cure the body of the same problem if given in minute amounts. It was developed in the mid 1800's by Dr. Hahman(sp?)
It has worked for me on several occasions and I go to a homeopathic doctor. It is something you might want to explore. It can be very helpful. I always use it in conjunction with conventional medicine. It can be purchased over the counter at health food stores. There are several books out on Homeopathic medicine. There are remedies for the eyes and throat that have worked for me. You may what to explore this and perhaps even see a Homeopathic doctor.
Dr. Chase and Dr. Wember are in the Washington area.
I have used Homeopathy for years. At one time there were Homeopathic Hospitals in the Washington area. It can be effective and is not harmful. But again I always work with conventional medicine first if I have a serious concern. It would certainly be a good topic for a show on alternative medicine.
Thanks for your work.
Linda Rose Larochelle
Diane,
Arnica is a homeopathic remedy for trauma, bruising etc.
It does come from a plant and has been around for years. Your caller was referring to the arnica that can be purchased at whole foods and other stores. It is in homeopathic form, it is natural and will not have any negative side effects. Homeopathic medicines stimulate the body to heal itself. The theory is that was causes a problem in the body can also cure the body of the same problem if given in minute amounts. It was developed in the mid 1800's by Dr. Hahman(sp?)
It has worked for me on several occasions and I go to a homeopathic doctor. It is something you might want to explore. It can be very helpful. I always use it in conjunction with conventional medicine. It can be purchased over the counter at health food stores. There are several books out on Homeopathic medicine. There are remedies for the eyes and throat that have worked for me. You may what to explore this and perhaps even see a Homeopathic doctor.
Dr. Chase and Dr. Wember are in the Washington area.
I have used Homeopathy for years. At one time there were Homeopathic Hospitals in the Washington area. It can be effective and is not harmful. But again I always work with conventional medicine first if I have a serious concern. It would certainly be a good topic for a show on alternative medicine.
Thanks for your work.
Linda Rose Larochelle
Diane,
I too was shocked that neither you nor your guests today had heard of Arnica. I find it hard to believe there have been no scientific studies as to its effectiveness, but even if not, my wife and I can attest to its amazing results for bruises on ourselves and our daughter.
A complete show on Arnica may be a bit much, but I think you may have hit on an interesting topic here: widely-used and effective herbal and homeopathic remedies that are too often ignored by the mainstream medical profession. Could be show-worthy. . .