Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

You often hear of people that are paralyzed in car accidents or those that have suffered a brain injury. But, does the injury actually have to involve the brain, or can the brain stem simulate a traumatic brain injury? What is the difference between a traumatic brain injury and a brain stem injury?

The brain stem is a part of the brain located beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. It connects the spinal cord to the rest of the brain. The brain stem controls involuntary muscles such as the stomach and the heart. The brain stem also acts as a relay station between the brain and the rest of the body. Consider the brain stem to be the train station of your body. It holds the train (brain) and controls the people (body).

Since the brain stem controls several functions, it is rarely the only part of the brain that is affected when it is injured. The symptoms of such an injury are similar to a normal brain injury and the effect it has is about the same. Examples are memory problems, difficulty concentrating, difficulty staying focused, and physical defects including the inability to walk, remain balanced, and a loss of strength.

Paralysis may occur when the brain stem is damaged since it is directly linked to the spiral cord. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to properly identify lesions on the brain stem that lead to paralysis. Recovery is possible in some cases but is dependent on the severity of brain damage the patient endured.

The brain stem is especially vulnerable to injury caused by rear impact to the head. Although it is very small, this part of the body is vital to proper body functions and can cause severe disabilities if it is damaged. It is important for people exhibiting the symptoms of a brain injury to seek medical help. In some cases, the brain injury can be treated and the patient can resume a normal life.

Most people that suffer a brain stem injury can end up a paraplegic or quadraplegic depending on the severity of the brain stem injury. In worst case scenarios, death can result from a brain stem injury if either the brain is severed from the stem or the stem is severed from the spine. These people are often in need of a brain injury attorney to help them receive compensation for their injuries as the long term care they are going to need is not affordable.

Many people that have brain stem injuries, although paralyzed, maintain full function of their brain as is nothing has happened to them. This is one key difference between brain stem injuries and traumatic brain injury.