Acupuncture for Central Pain Affecting the Ribcage following Traumatic Brain Injury and Rib Fractures – a Case Report

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare P Donnellan

This case report describes the use of acupuncture in the management of chronic central pain in a 51 year old man following severe traumatic brain injury and multiple injuries including rib fractures. The patient reported rapid and significant improvements in pain and mood during a course of acupuncture treatment. Chronic pain following traumatic brain injury is a significant problem. Chronic pain after rib fractures is also commonly reported. Acupuncture is widely used in the management of pain but its use has been reported rarely in the traumatic brain injury literature. This case report suggests that acupuncture may be a useful option to consider in these patients. Outcome was assessed formally using a 0 10 verbal numerical rating scale for pain, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for psychological status before and after the course of treatment. These scales are widely used in clinical practice as well as in research involving patients with traumatic brain injury, although they have not been validated in this population. The changes in this patient's outcome scores were not consistent with the benefits he reported. Treatment of this patient highlighted the difficulties of using standardised self rating scales for patients with cognitive impairment. The report also discusses the effects of acupuncture on this patient's mood.

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 344-360
Author(s):  
Rosanna Scott ◽  
Megan Sherod

Chronic pain and cognitive difficulties are common secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, given the vast heterogeneity in TBI presentation, no empirically supported treatments specific to TBI exist. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of an empirically informed multimodal treatment, in which treatment components were selected based on the patient’s individual symptoms and delivered in a manner cognizant of the patient’s cognitive profile. Treatment incorporated components of cognitive behavioral therapy, physical intervention, mindfulness, sleep hygiene, distress tolerance, and cognitive rehabilitation. Pain, sleep, and therapy-related activities were logged daily. Treatment progress was further measured with the Beck Depression Inventory–II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Satisfaction With Life Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index. The patient reported a significant reduction in pain (average pain rating reduced from 8.5-9 to 6.90 on the numerical rating scale [NRS]) and reported experiencing his least painful day in “years” (i.e., pain rating of 3). The patient reported improvements in mood and sleep, increased engagement in physical/other pleasant activities, and improved academic performance. The patient is currently not pursuing opioids or surgical intervention for pain. This case demonstrates the importance of utilization of neuropsychological data in the identification of treatment goals, appropriate treatment selection, and implementation of suitable techniques. This approach can provide neurologically atypical individuals with interventions that better address their symptom presentation and maximize prognosis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giordano F. Cittolin-Santos ◽  
Jesse C. Fredeen ◽  
Robert O. Cotes

Background. There are few published pharmacologic trials for the treatment of acute mania following traumatic brain injury (TBI). To our knowledge, we present the first case report of an individual being treated and stabilized with olanzapine monotherapy for this condition. Case Presentation. We describe the case of a 53-year-old African American male admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital with one month of behavioral changes including irritability, decreased need for sleep, hyperverbal speech, hypergraphia, and paranoia five months after TBI. Using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder due to traumatic brain injury, with manic features. He was serially evaluated with clinical rating scales to measure symptom severity. The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score upon admission was 31, and the Clinician-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity (CRDPSS) score was initially 9. After eight days of milieu treatment and gradual titration of olanzapine to 15 mg nightly, his symptoms completely abated, with YMRS and CRDPSS scores at zero on the day of discharge. Conclusion. Olanzapine was effective and well tolerated for the treatment of mania following TBI.


F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1024
Author(s):  
Dejan Javorac ◽  
Valdemar Stajer ◽  
Sergej M. Ostojic

Background: Sport-related mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious trauma that could impair brain function of an injured athlete. Treatment solutions for mild TBI typically concentrate on complete rest, while non-traditional therapeutic options remain largely ineffective. Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an innovative neuroprotective agent that can easily reach the brain, yet no data are available concerning its value as a first-aid intervention after a mild TBI. Case report: This case report demonstrates the efficacy and safety of a hydrogen-producing dissolving tablet administered buccally during the first 24 hours post-injury in a professional soccer player who suffered a mild TBI. The patient received a formulated dosage of hydrogen every 2 hours, with the first intervention given immediately after an initial examination (~ 15 min after the injury). The overall score for Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2), a standardized method of evaluating injured athletes for concussion, increased from 68 points (severe disruption) at baseline to 84 points (mild disruption) at 24-h follow-up. The patient reported no side effects of hydrogen intervention. Conclusions: This case has demonstrated that intensive consecutive therapy with oral transmucosal hydrogen formulation is a beneficial strategy with regard to the reduction of presence and severity of symptoms of sport-related mild TBI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2090701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin E Caldera

Opioid medication–related deaths have increased to epidemic proportions in the last decade. This report describes a case of 43-year-old female with a traumatic brain injury who developed chronic pain and opioid dependence. The patient expressed concerns and wanted weaning off opioids. Recent legalization of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania allows us to try it as an alternative to opioids for chronic pain. Medical cannibus has risks associated with administration but is safer than opioids. Our patient was successfully weaned off her opioid medications with the help of medical cannibus and pain remained well controlled. More studies need to be done on using medical cannibus as an alternative to opioids.


2015 ◽  
pp. 280-289

Background: It is known that traumatic brain injury (TBI), even of the mild variety, can cause diffuse multisystem neurological damage. Coordination of sensory input from the visual, vestibular and somatosensory pathways is important to obtain proper balance and stabilization in the visual environment. This coordination of systems is potentially disrupted in TBI leading to visual symptoms and complaints of dizziness and imbalance. The Center of Balance (COB) at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) is an interprofessional clinic specifically designed for patients with such complaints. An evaluation entails examination by an optometrist, audiologist and physical therapist and is concluded with a comprehensive rehabilitative treatment plan. The clinical construct will be described and a case report will be presented to demonstrate this unique model. Case Report: A combat veteran with a history of a gunshot wound to the skull, blunt force head trauma and exposure to multiple explosions presented with complaints of difficulty reading and recent onset dizziness. After thorough evaluation in the COB, the patient was diagnosed with and treated for severe oculomotor dysfunction and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Conclusion: Vision therapy was able to provide a successful outcome via improvement of oculomotor efficiency and control. Physical therapy intervention was able to address the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The specific evaluation and management as pertains to the aforementioned diagnoses, as well as the importance of an interprofessional rehabilitative approach, will be outlined.


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