Trauma is defined as a wound, hurt, or injury to the body. Trauma can also be mental such as when a person feels great stress. Each year, about 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury, of which 75% are mild concussions. Mild brain trauma can cause temporary confusion and headache; a serious injury can cause death. A traumatic spinal cord injury can occur from a sudden blow to the spine that harms one or more of the vertebrae. Common causes of spinal cord injury in the U.S. include motor vehicle accidents, acts of violence, falls, sports or recreation injuries, and diseases.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of a sudden, violent blow to the head. Causes of brain trauma include motor vehicle accidents, gunshots, falls, and other injuries. Most of the symptoms of brain injury appear right after or shortly after a blow to the head. Symptoms of mild brain trauma include a brief period of unconsciousness, headache, confusion, dizziness, sensory problems, mood changes, and memory or concentration problems. If the brain injury is moderate to severe, the symptoms include persistent headache, repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions, inability to awaken from sleep, and slurred speech, among others.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: None
Off-Label Prescription Drugs Breakthrough Options: Donepezil, Gabapentin, Methylphenidate, Modafinil, Rivastigmine
The spinal cord and brain comprise the central nervous system (CNS), which controls most of the body’s functions. The most common causes of spinal cord injury in the United States are motor vehicle accidents, acts of violence, falls, sports or recreation injuries, and diseases. The signs and symptoms of acute spinal cord injury depend upon the location and severity of the injury. Signs and symptoms include pain or intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in the spinal cord, loss of movement, loss of sensation, loss of bowel or bladder control, and difficulty breathing, among others.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: None
Off-Label Prescription Drugs Breakthrough Options: Heparin, Methylprednisolone, Phenytoin
Immobilization of the spinal cord after injury can result in bone changes, including decreases in bone mass and osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). Bone loss is greatest in the first three to four months after the initial injury, and usually stabilizes by 16 months. Loss of bone initially affects the entire body, but is then isolated to the paralyzed areas. The mechanisms by which bone loss occurs are not fully understood. A group of drugs known as bisphosphonates may be used to reduce bone loss.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: None
Off-Label Prescription Drugs Breakthrough Options: Alendronate, Etidronate, Pamidronate, Tiludronate
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