Virginia Beach Personal Injury Legal Blog

Concussion rehabilitation may be important to your recovery

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in brain injury on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

If you suffer a concussion, it's important to work closely with your medical team during the recovery phase. Doing so puts you on track to making a full recovery, returning to your normal life as soon as possible.

The severity of your concussion determines the type of treatment you receive. For example, your doctor may want to keep you overnight in the hospital for observation. Also, it's likely that you'll be told to minimize physical and mental exertion for a period of several weeks.

Only a doctor can accurately diagnose a concussion

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in brain injury on Friday, March 1, 2019.

A concussion is a serious brain injury that requires immediate treatment by a qualified medical professional. If you attempt to diagnose and treat your condition without medical help, additional damage could occur that complicates your recovery.

A doctor can quickly and accurately diagnose a concussion to insure that you receive the proper treatment at the right time. Here are the steps most doctors take if they suspect a concussion:

Neurological exam. This typically includes checking your reflexes, coordination, balance, hearing, vision, sensation and strength.
Cognitive testing. These tests are meant to evaluate your thinking processes and focus on your ability to concentrate, your memory and your ability to recall past information from your past.
Imaging tests. While neurological exams and cognitive testing are important, your doctor will use imaging tests to get a clear view of your brain. These tests typically include a CT scan and MRI.

What to do if you suspect nursing home neglect

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC on Friday, February 15, 2019.

Watching elderly parents lose the ability to care for themselves can be unbelievably heartbreaking. Often, moving your mother or father to a nursing home is the best way to ensure your loved one receives necessary care. Unfortunately, though, healthcare professionals sometimes neglect the needs of their patients.

You should be able to trust a nursing home to take good care of your parent. If the facility’s staff does not do an effective job, you may need to explore legal options to protect your mother or father. Before you file a lawsuit, though, you may want to take some other steps to deal with nursing home neglect.

There are many ways to prevent bedsores

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in nursing home abuse and neglect on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

When a person spends too much time in the same position, such as lying down in bed, it impacts the ability of blood to flow freely to the skin. Consequently, the skin is deprived of oxygen and essential nutrients, which can result in a breakdown of its integrity and bedsores.

Some of the ways to prevent bedsores include the following:

Change positions regularly: It's important to never stay in the same position for too long, as this insures that excessive pressure is not put on one part of the body.
Keep skin dry and clean: Dry and clean skin is less likely to develop bedsores. Even if you can't shower, it's important to use warm water and soap and clean your skin with a washcloth.
Use pillows: The use of pillows can help keep your body parts from touching for an extended period of time. For example, when lying on your side, a pillow between your ankles or knees can prevent bedsores.
Don't stop exercising: It's not always easy to exercise when on bed rest, but it's essential to promoting blood flow and maintaining your overall level of health.

Rehab is important after a traumatic brain injury

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in brain injury on Monday, January 28, 2019.

If you or a loved one suffers a traumatic brain injury, it's imperative to receive the proper medical care from day one. Doing so increases the likelihood of making a full or near full recovery.

Fortunately, there are many steps you can take after a traumatic brain injury to inch closer toward feeling like your old self. One of the best things you can do is partake in rehab, as directed by your medical team.

What are the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome?

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in brain injury on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

A concussion is a serious injury associated with a variety of symptoms that range from headaches to sensitivity to light. While rest is typically the best way to overcome these symptoms in a timely manner, many people suffer from post-concussion syndrome.

Post-concussion syndrome is a disorder in which symptoms last longer than expected, often for many months or years after the injury occurred.

You simply cannot ignore a traumatic brain injury

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Your body uses a network of nerves and synapses to function. Without your brain and spinal column, you would not be able to perform tasks necessary for everyday survival. Still, you may not realize how serious your traumatic brain injury is until you have sustained further injury.

The Mayo Clinic defines a traumatic brain injury as damage to the brain. The cause of these injuries can either be a blow to the head or trauma that pierces brain tissue. If you think you have sustained a traumatic brain injury in an accident, you must act quickly to contain the damage to your central nervous system. Here are three steps you should take following a traumatic brain injury.

What are the top signs of malnutrition?

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in nursing home abuse and neglect on Monday, December 31, 2018.

Good nutrition is essential to living a happy and healthy life. Unfortunately, there are times when malnutrition can cause a variety of health concerns. This can occur in people of all ages, with many older adults running into this problem.

If a loved one resides in a nursing home facility, it's important to ensure that they're eating a healthy and balanced diet. If they're not, the following signs of malnutrition could come to light:

Weight loss: This is the primary sign of malnutrition. You may notice it if your loved one's clothes have become too big for them or you can more easily see their bones through their skin.
Poor healing: Malnutrition often increases healing time, which is more noticeable in older individuals.
A lack of appetite: As malnutrition advances, it's easy to believe that a person will have a bigger appetite. However, the exact opposite often happens.

There are many things that can cause a coma

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in brain injury on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

When a person is in a coma, they're unresponsive to their environment. While it appears that they're doing nothing more than sleeping, a coma is actually a state of unconsciousness.

Many things can cause a coma; however, they all have something in common: injury to the brain. Here is a short list of some problems that can lead to a coma:

Head trauma: For example, if you're part of a motor vehicle accident, it could result in swelling in the brain. If the damage is severe, a comatose state is possible.
Bleeding in the brain: Bleeding can lead to compression and swelling of the brain, both of which can cause a coma.
Stroke: Since a stroke eliminates blood flow to a particular part of the brain, a coma can occur.
Infection: Some types of infections that impact the central nervous system, such as meningitis, have the potential to cause a coma.
Toxins: If too many toxins build up in the body, such as carbon dioxide or ammonia, it can disrupt brain function.

How to recognize amnesia in a loved one

On behalf of Bennett & Sharp, PLLC posted in brain injury on Friday, December 7, 2018.

If your loved one has recently been involved in a car accident in the state of Virginia, it is likely that they were subject to a check-up with a medical professional after the accident. If they were eventually discharged, they may feel relieved in the knowledge that everything turned out to be ok.

However, if you, as a close relative, have started to recognize changes in their behavior after the accident occurred, it is important to remember that some brain injuries can take some time to become apparent. If you are concerned that your loved one may have amnesia, you should learn about the symptoms and take action in seeking medical attention right away.