Nordstrand Black - January 2020

CONCUSSIONS/TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

What To Do About These Invisible Injuries

As this newsletter was going to press, an accident befell Doug Black, whom you met on the cover this month. While putting up Christmas decorations for his family, Doug suffered a bad fall, hitting his head in the process. Thankfully, Renee got him to the hospital where he was able to receive the care and rehabilitation he needed. Thankfully, he fully recovered. One injury that was immediately apparent to Renee was Doug’s concussion/brain injury. Any accident involving head trauma can cause this dangerous and often hard-to- detect condition, meaning it often goes undiagnosed. Renee and Doug have both had clients who have gone significant lengths of time without knowing they were suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Luckily, they caught it early, knew to consider it at the outset of Doug’s treatment, and were able to get him immediate and effective treatment. With this event fresh on our minds, we want to share our knowledge on concussions and brain injuries to help you identify them

if you or a loved one are ever in a similar situation. SIGNS Keep an eye out for the following symptoms after an accident: • Confusion/memory loss • Dizziness, nausea, and head aches • Ringing in the ears • Mood swings • Impulse control issues • Slurred speech • Loss of consciousness • Slow mental processing, difficulty multitasking • Loss of sense of smell/taste Not every concussion/brain injury is the same, but if one or more of these symptoms manifest after a head injury, seek medical attention. DIAGNOSIS Neuropsychological testing can help determine whether you are suffering symptoms of a head injury. The use of high-tech scanners such as a 3 Tesla MRI machine can also

detect the presence of a traumatic brain injury. TREATMENT After a diagnosis, the best thing you can do is treat your symptoms and wait for the injury to heal. Limit your exposure to bright lights, loud noises, and situations where a sudden loss of consciousness would put you in danger. Ideally, a rehabilitation center like the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital in Santa Barbara can provide an ideal setting for this recovery, giving patients access to doctors who specialize in rehabilitation and staff who specialize in occupational, speech, and physical therapy. LEGAL HELP We were lucky in Doug’s case. Not only could his injuries have been so much worse, but he and Renee knew to consider a concussion and traumatic brain injury at the outset and where to get treatment for it. It just goes to show these kinds of injuries can happen to anyone, but having experienced legal and medical help on your side can make all the difference.

WORDSEARCH

SIMPLE PANCAKESFROM SCRATCH

Everyone should be able to make pancakes without a boxed mix. This recipe is no-frills fantastic and can probably be made without so much as a trip to the grocery store.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

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1 3/4 cups milk

1/4 tsp salt

Unsalted butter or canola oil, to grease

1 tbsp sugar, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a griddle or skillet to medium-low. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (including sugar if you like a sweeter pancake). In a separate bowl, beat eggs into milk. Gently stir the liquid ingredients into the dry ones. Mix only until flour is moistened. Clumps are fine. 3. Add some butter or oil to the skillet. If the butter foams or oil shimmers, the temperature is correct. Pour in a pancake of any size, cooking until bubbles form, about 2–4 minutes. 4. Flip and cook other side for 2–4 minutes. Serve warm.

AQUARIUS CAPRICORN CELEBRATE CHAMPAGNE

FIREWORKS FREEZING JANUARY MIDNIGHT

PARTY RESOLUTION SNOW WINTER

Inspired by The New York Times

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