Dr. Gordon, working with professional boxers, mixed martial artists, retired football players, motocross racers, and now veterans suffering with “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” has found the majority are suffering with one or more hormonal insufficiency or deficiencies noting that each had experienced at least a minimal traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

In 2006, after giving a lecture on mTBI, Dr. Gordon was approached by ESPN: Outside the Lines to provide the framework for a program looking at Sports and TBI. On January 21, 2007, Dr. Dan Kelly, a neurosurgeon and expert on TBI, and Dr. Mark Gordon provided the science and clinical aspects of hormonal dysfunction arising out of TBI.

A number of well-known sports celebrities, each with documented TBI and under Dr. Gordon’s care, shared their experiences before and after hormone replenishment.

Whether the trauma was mild, moderate, or severe it still altered the brain’s ability to regulate the patient’s hormones leading to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, emotional instability, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, mood swings, memory loss, fatigue, confusion, amnesia, poor cognition, learning disabilities, decreased communication skills, poor healing, frequent infections, poor fracture healing, poor skin quality, increased body fat, decreased muscle strength and size, infertility, and loss of sex drive.

Also in 2007, Dr. Gordon’s book The Clinical Application of Interventional Endocrinology was published, offering medical documentation to support the causes, clinical findings, laboratory testing, specific hormone replacement strategies, and the outcomes for Traumatic Brain Injury associated with hormonal dysfunction.

Recently, Dr. Gordon was featured on the cover of Life Extension Magazine (Jan. 2012) with an interview article on “Using Hormones to Heal Traumatic Brain Injury.” In this piece, Dr. Gordon shares his views on how the medical community is presently addressing patients with TBI and presents one of many cases where a young man was being treated with three anti-depressants that did not control his depression. When he was found to be significantly deficient in one of the major hormones, replacement allowed him to be weaned off his traditional medication by his psychiatrist (within 6 months). Two years after the fact, he is living a quality of life that was previously unobtainable.

This paradigm shift from treating hormonally deficient individuals experiencing both cognitive and behavioral problems with medications that mask the symptoms to a treatment protocol that focuses on replenishing the missing hormone(s) is starting to catch on. The relationship between behavior and hormones is indelibly connected, answering why many of the traditional medications fail.

Over the last decade, we have sent 2.5 million men and women to Iraq or Afghanistan, about 62% of the number that participated in army operations in World War II.  Today, as many as 750,000 of the 2.5 million who have served, or 33%, may be suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) known as the ‘signature injury of this war’ or PTSD, including 219,200 of the active Army force (40%).  Many have experienced great personal tragedy from effects of the TBI, including disability, major unemployment, loss of relationships, substance abuse and suicide.

There are solutions to TBI and PTSD and the International Hyperbaric Medical Association (IHMA) is dedicated to providing both the evidence and the access to therapies that work.  One of the most promising solutions for TBI or PTSD is FDA-approved Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).  This treatment was first established in 1937 for neurological injury.  A dosage of 1.5 atmospheres of pressure is shown to help TBI and PTSD.  While FDA approved, HBOT treatment is not currently reimbursed system wide for injured veterans and active duty military members.

In H.R. 396, the TBI Treatment Act, introduced by Congressman Pete Sessions directs the military to pay for treatments for TBI or PTSD that do more than mask symptoms. This allows “physician-driven research” to determine if a treatment should be adopted by scientifically tracking treatments that work for individual patients.  Sadly many veterans want access to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) or other treatments but have trouble getting them reimbursed even when they work!  H.R. 396 has been endorsed by the Brain Injury Caucus and organizations serving those with brain injury. The IHMA is asking that veterans and military families across the nation call upon their legislators to see this bill becomes law. It is close!

The prestigious peer-reviewed Journal of Neurotrauma has just published the latest study reinforcing the historical safety and feasibility of the HBOT 1.5 ATA (atmospheres absolute) protocol.   The article entitled, “A Phase I Study of Low-Pressure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Blast-Induced Post-Concussion Syndrome and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” demonstrated that, on average, study participants recovered nearly 15 IQ points!  This was coupled with improved memory scores, and executive function.  Over half were able to return to duty, work or school.  In addition symptoms like headaches, post-concussion symptoms, abnormal neurological exam findings, cognition, PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, quality of life improved.  Imaging showed brain blood flow was significantly improved after just 40 HBOT treatments (1/2 of the recommended protocol).  This study was conducted by leading HBOT expert, Dr. Paul Harch, LSU School of Medicine and his colleagues from Georgetown, UC Irvine, and University of North Dakota.

House Bill 1459 – The bill amends the Act of June 23, 1931 (P.L. 932, No. 317) known as the Third Class City Code, to further provide clarification for promotion procedures for Civil Service employees.

House Bill 1460 – The bill amends the Act of June 24, 1931 (P.L. 1206, No. 331) known as the First Class Township Code, to further provide that a background investigation of an applicant for examination for an original position in the police force or fire department may be restricted to those candidates on an eligibility list or those certified to the township commissioners for appointment.

Senate Bill 200 – The bill establishes standards for managing concussions and traumatic brain injuries to student athletes.

Senate Bill 566 –  The bill designates the bridge carrying the C. Vance DeiCas Memorial Highway (State Route 1077) over the Monongahela River in Washington and Westmoreland counties as the “Stan the Man” Musial Bridge.

In less than five minutes, coaches and parents can recognize whether an individual is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of a suspected concussion. The app also features home symptom monitoring that can be e-mailed to a health care provider following a concussion; a return-to-play guide that protects children from further injury by easing their reintroduction to play; as well as home and school instructions that can be e-mailed to parents, teachers, or caregivers to share important information about how to recognize and respond to head injuries. The CRR app can help coaches to comply with state laws that mandate education, documentation, and progress monitoring in athletes with concussions.

The following companies and organizations have shown their commitment to concussion research and education by becoming PARtners: The Children’s National Medical Center, the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, Safe Kids USA, MomsTeam, Xenith, Sports Legacy Institute, the Youth Football Coaches Association, and the Brain Injury Association of Maryland.

Xenith plans to use the CRR as part of their Xenith Academy, where they teach coaches and athletes proper football techniques, focusing on risk reduction. The Youth Football Coaches Association has added information about the app to their Tackling Academy DVD, as well as promoting it to their coaches on the YFBCA Web site. SafeKids USA, Sports Legacy Institute, and the Brain Injury Association of Maryland will be promoting the app as an important tool to their members and clients through their respective Web sites, while MomsTeam will be adding information about the CRR app to their Web site concussion center. Each of the PARtners will be featured within the app as recognition of their commitment to concussion safety and education.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the app support concussion research at the Children’s National Medical Center and the Matthew A. Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center. Deidentified incident data from users who opt-in will be used to further concussion research and treatment.

Each winter, hundreds of thousands of young athletes head out to ice and ski slopes to enjoy, practice, and compete in a wide variety of winter sports. There’s no doubt that these sports are a great way for kids and teens to stay healthy, as well as learn important leadership and team-building skills. But there are risks to pushing the limits of speed, strength and endurance. And athletes who push the limits sometimes don’t recognize their own limitations—especially when they’ve had a concussion.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain.

While most athletes with a concussion recover quickly and fully, some will have symptoms that last for days, or even weeks. A more serious concussion can last for months or longer.

That’s why, CDC and the NFL teamed up with USA Hockey, the US Ski and Snowboarding Association, and twelve other national governing bodies for sports to develop a poster for young athletes. This poster lets athletes know that all concussions are serious and emphasizes the importance of reporting their injury. The poster also provides athletes with a list of concussion signs, symptoms and steps they should take if they think they have a concussion.

The poster was created through CDC’s “Heads Up” educational campaign that includes resources for high school and youth sports coaches, school professionals, and health care professionals. These initiatives include materials and information to help identify concussions and take immediate steps to respond when one is suspected.

Prevention and Preparation: On and Off the Ice and Ski Slopes

Insist that safety comes first. No one technique or safety equipment is 100 percent effective in preventing concussion, but there are things you can do to help minimize the risks for concussion and other injuries.

For example, to help prevent injuries:

• Make sure to wear approved and properly-fitted protective equipment. Protective equipment should be well-maintained and be worn consistently and correctly.
• In hockey and other sports, enforce no hits to the head or other types of dangerous play.
• Practice safe playing techniques and encourage athletes to follow the rules of play.

Learn about concussion. Before strapping on your skates, skis or snowboard, learn concussion symptoms and dangers signs, as well as the potential long-term consequences of concussion. Parents and coaches should keep the four-step action plan with them at practices, competitions, or just when having fun with winter sports.

Order and display the concussion poster. CDC and the NFL encourage parents, coaches, and school professionals to display this poster in team locker rooms, competition and tournament sites, gymnasiums, ice rinks, and schools nationwide.

According to Burden’s attorney, they had turned down CSX’s offer to settle the case for $600,000 to avoid trial.  The jury in the case saw it differently and awarded Mr. Burden $10 million.  The amount was later reduced by 10% (to $9 million) for contributory negligence.

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a traumatic brain injury (also known as TBI) is an affliction that 1.4 million Americans sustain each year, 50,000 of which don’t survive. While TBI’s have differing levels of severity (ranging from mild to severe), they are usually acquired from a simple injury to the head and/or neck. Falls are the leading cause accounting for 28% of TBI’s, while motor vehicle accidents account for 20%. However, motor vehicle accidents have a higher frequency when it comes to TBI hospitalizations, which studies have shown effect over 280,000 people each year. The causes of the injury are wide in variety and can occur from open or closed head injuries to deceleration injuries (also known as a diffuse axonal injuries), but its complexities delve much deeper.

A traumatic brain injury can have life-altering effects on a victim’s emotional and physical well-being, but can also do severe damage to the physical nature of the brain. The injury may require years, if not decades, of special care and rehabilitation from care facilities like CareMeridian, Las Vegas Nursing Home. The impairments from a brain injury can affect speech, vision, coordination, the short term and long term memory, and may even result in mood swings and behavioral changes in personality. Considering that every brain injury is different, rehabilitation depends on the individual case and injury; yet, prevention is possible.

For an injury as debilitating as TBI, prevention is essential. Luckily, prevention is not difficult. When driving, the best way to avert a TBI is by wearing a seatbelt and not being under the influence of alcohol. In fact, according to the Brain Injury Association of America more than 50% of people with a brain injury were intoxicated at the time of their injury. It’s also smart to always wear a helmet when riding a bike, thus reducing the risk of a head injury by almost 90%. If the right precautions are taken, the severity of TBI’s can be reduced if not prevented.

There is a lot that is still unknown about the inner workings of the human brain. However, one thing known for certain is the life changing affects that a TBI can have on its victims as a result of irreversible damage to its function.