Recent Blog Posts
EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNS OF A SPINAL CORD INJURY
Posted on January 26, 2017 in Library
One of the first things people do after a car accident is to check their fingers, arms and legs for proper movement response. This might seem like common sense, but what you may not know is that checking yourself for signs of paralysis is actually checking for a spinal cord injury.Spinal cord injuries are the result of compression or bruising of the back, head and neck. They are most commonly caused by car accidents, but they can also be a result of sports injuries, falls, or personal violence. As experienced Fairfax personal injury lawyers, we are aware that these injuries are especially traumatic because they often involve loss of sensation, movement, and motor control. We also know that the key to survival and recovery is immediate treatment following the accident.
Common Signs of a Spinal Cord Injury
If you have recently experienced an accident and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should be examined by a medical professional for spinal cord injury immediately:
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Common Behavioral Problems Following Brain Injuries
Posted on January 23, 2017 in Brain Injuries
When someone suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or even multiple concussions, the outcome can be a noticeable change in his or her behavior and emotions. The reason this happens is that there is a part of the brain-the frontal lobe-that can negatively affect a person's behavior when damaged.
There are many ways someone's behavior can change after a brain injury. Here are some common behavioral changes that brain injury survivors and their families deal with:
- Anger and irritability. Many people with TBIs have uncontrollable bouts of anger. They can get fired up at the littlest things and become irritable for no reason at all. They may act aggressively and combatively.
- Mood swings. Having emotional swings is part of the behavioral changes that occur following a brain injury. Even someone who wasn't moody or emotional before a brain injury can have obvious changes in mood and attitude.
- Anxiety and stress. It is only normal for brain injury survivors to experience stress and anxiety. For some people, anxiety and stress can occur when they are in a crowded place or when there is too much quiet. They may suffer from panic attacks, shortness of breath, and endless worry.
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Living With A Spinal Cord Injury: Expectations And Recovery
Posted on January 21, 2017 in Library
A spinal cord injury, or SCI, is usually caused by a violent blow to the head, back or spine. When vertebrae are fractured, the shattered bone fragments can tear the spinal cord. The spinal cord is usually not severed completely, but the damage disrupts the nerve cells that carry commands from the brain to the body. Virginia car accidents are a common cause of spinal cord injury, but disease, falls and other violence can also result in SCI. Depending on the extent of the damage, a victim of a spinal cord injury in DC can experience anywhere from complete recovery to total paralysis.
Measuring Functional Ability Following A Car Accident
To determine a patient's functional ability after SCI, doctors and therapists may use the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). This measures physical response in 6 different categories:
- Self-care: This includes bathing, dressing, and day-to-day tasks.
- Home mobility: SCI patients may have trouble getting out of bed, walking, or sitting.
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Why Do Brain Injuries Negatively Affect Families And Personal Relationships?
Posted on January 14, 2017 in Brain Injuries
Relationships and family dynamics following brain injuries are often negatively affected. This is because many things change for brain injury survivors-even the way they relate to others. Some of the reasons relationships change after brain injuries include the following:
Difficulty relating to others. Because many brain injury survivors feel like they can't relate to people like they used to, they often find it easier to be alone. This is also the case for survivors who feel like others don't understand them or what they are going through. Because of these feelings and thoughts, many brain injury survivors pull away and prefer to be by themselves.Feeling depressed. Because traumatic brain injuries can leave survivors with physical disabilities, mental issues, and behavioral and personality changes, many brain injury survivors suffer from depression and emotional issues due to these overwhelming changes. As a result, they may feel nervous, worried, and self-conscious to be around people for fear of rejection.Continue Reading ››
Bigger Means Deadlier: How To Pass Trucks Safely
Posted on January 12, 2017 in Library
You'll never forget the day when you and your family almost wound up under a semi-truck. It was rush hour on SR-236 and you were surrounded by two different truck convoys. You hate driving near trucks, so you decided to pass the three ahead of you.
You took your chance and quickly swerved to the left lane. You managed to pass the first truck without an issue, but as you approached the second truck, it put on its blinker-its driver also wished to pass the lead truck. Since you were already in the left lane and didn't want to get stuck behind another truck, you ignored his signal and continued your course.
Bad move. You were driving parallel to the second truck, matching his speed, so you lingered next to his back tires. At that point, you suddenly noticed his front tires veering into your lane, and his back tires closing in toward your wife and children.
You slammed on the brakes just in time. As the truck driver finished his merge-the back end scraping your front bumper-he apparently saw your car and attempted to readjust. However, surrounded by other trucks, he panicked and overcorrected, causing the truck's carriage to start to lean. The tilt grew steeper, and the truck tipped over on its side. Other vehicles maneuvered desperately to avoid the overturned truck; you could hear the cars behind you crunching into one another.
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When Doctors Delay A Diagnosis Or Misdiagnose Stomach Cancer
Posted on January 11, 2017 in Library
Stomach cancer is one of the top causes of cancer deaths in the world. An estimated 28,000 new cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, and 10,960 people are expected to die from the disease in 2017, according recent data from the American Cancer Society. Sadly, many of these deaths are the result of a misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis.
Understanding Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is one of the most common types of cancer. It occurs as a result of abnormal cells growing uncontrollably in the lining of the stomach. It can be life-threatening if it is not caught early on and treated in a timely manner. Unfortunately, stomach cancer is sometimes difficult to detect in its early stages because the signs of stomach cancer are also symptoms of other illnesses. These can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased appetite or the feeling of fullness
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Was Medical Negligence Behind A Botched Cosmetic Procedure?
Posted on January 06, 2017 in Library
Almost two million Americans had cosmetic procedures in 2016, and over $15 billion was spent on aesthetic cosmetic procedures according to new statistics from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Although people are supposed to come out of a cosmetic surgery with an improved appearance, not all cosmetic procedures have the results patients want.
Sometimes things go wrong and an elective surgery can result in deformities, serious health complications, and even death. When a cosmetic surgeon makes a critical mistake that leaves a patient injured, a medical malpractice lawsuit may be pursued. This is especially the case when a cosmetic surgeon fails to warn a patient of the risks associated with the specific cosmetic procedure. If a surgeon fails to do so and a patient is harmed, the patient may be entitled to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit. Other instances of cosmetic surgery malpractice may include:
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Sideswipe Accidents: Common Wrecks Involving Semi-Trucks
Posted on January 05, 2017 in Library
Any type of accident involving a large truck and smaller vehicle can be serious to say the least, but a sideswipe accident involving a truck such as a delivery truck, tractor-trailer, or tanker truck can be catastrophic-sending the smaller vehicle off the road. Sadly, these types of accidents are usually preventable but often occur due to reckless driving, drowsy driving, distracted driving, driver inexperience, or pure negligence.
Two Types of Sideswipe Accidents
Two types of sideswipe accidents commonly seen on the road include the following:
- Same-direction sideswipes. When two vehicles are traveling in the same direction and one vehicle moves over into the other vehicle's lane, it can result in a sideswipe. A same-direction sideswipe can also happen when the driver of one vehicle makes an illegal maneuver or turn from an outside lane, overreacts to a road hazard, or attempts to swerve around a collision.
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Holding Down A Job May Be Difficult After A Brain Injury
Posted on January 03, 2017 in Brain Injuries
Many people living with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) experience long-term difficulties due to their new impairments. As a result, there are many things people with TBIs can't do that they used to be able to do. One such thing that many people living with brain injuries have difficulties with is finding a job they can do or keeping a job for the long-term.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, past studies reveal that physical impairments, behavioral issues, and cognitive problems are some of the reasons why people with traumatic brain injuries have difficulties with getting or keeping a job. This article will take a deeper look at why working and staying employed is often challenging for those with brain injuries.
Some long-term difficulties that can prevent someone with a TBI from getting or keeping a job can include:
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What's Involved When Treating Brain Injuries With Rehabilitation?
Posted on December 29, 2016 in Brain Injuries
People who suffer moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries will require some sort of rehabilitation because serious brain injuries affect cognitive function, speech, and bodily functions. Following emergency treatment of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a patient will generally stay in the hospital for some time and then get transferred to a specialized treatment facility for additional medical care and rehabilitation. If a brain injury is less severe, outpatient rehabilitation may be an option.
Although most people with severe brain injuries will never be the same as they were prior to their injuries due to their impairments, rehabilitation is designed to help people living with TBIs restore some bodily functions and regain some of their abilities, such as eating, walking, talking, dressing, and going to the bathroom. Another goal of rehabilitation is helping people with traumatic brain injuries learn how to face long-term challenges.
Here Are Some of the Rehabilitation Services Brain Injury Victims May Need
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