Medical Issues
Below are descriptions of Samantha’s major medical issues stemming from her injury. These are also common problems that accompany TBI.
Seizure Disorder/Epilepsy
A brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. Neurons normally generate electrochemical impulses that act on other neurons, glands, and muscles to produce human thoughts, feelings, and actions. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior, or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. During a seizure, neurons may fire as many as 500 times a second, much faster than normal. In some people, this happens only occasionally; for others, it may happen up to hundreds of times a day. (From medicinenet.com)
Speech, including: Dysarthria
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder. The muscles of the mouth, face, and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly, or not move at all after a stroke or other brain injury. The type and severity of dysarthria depend on which area of the nervous system is affected. (From asha.org)
Aphasia
Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to the parts of the brain that contain language. Aphasia causes problems with any or all of the following: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Damage to the left side of the brain causes aphasia for most right-handers and about half of left-handers. Individuals who experience damage to the right side of the brain may have additional difficulties beyond speech and language. (From asha.org)
Hydrocephalus
The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning head. As the name implies, it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as "water on the brain," the "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain. (From ninds.nih.gov)
Gait and Balance Issues
Gait and balance problems exist when a disease process, trauma, or aging result in the inability to control one's center of gravity (COG) over the base of support (BOS) in static or dynamic tasks and environments. (From healthline.com)
Spasticity
Spasticity is stiff or rigid muscles. It may also be called unusual "tightness" or increased muscle tone. Reflexes (for example, a knee-jerk reflex) are stronger or exaggerated. The condition can interfere with walking, movement, or speech.Spasticity is usually caused by damage to the part of the brain that is involved in movements under your control. It may also occur from damage to the nerves that go from the brain to the spinal cord. (From nlm.nih.gov)
Hemiparesis
Hemiparesis is muscle weakness on only one side of the body. When hemiparesis happens as a result of a stroke, it commonly involves muscles in the face, arm, and leg. (From stroke.about.com)
In Samantha’s case: Right-sided hemiparesis involves injury to the left side of the person's brain. The left side of a person's brain controls speaking and language. People who have this type of hemiparesis can also experience difficulty with talking and understanding what others say, as well as determining left from right. (From disabled-world.com)
Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism is a rare disorder in which your pituitary gland either fails to produce one or more of its hormones or doesn't produce enough of them. This deficiency can affect any number of your body's routine functions, such as growth, blood pressure and reproduction. (From mayoclinic.com)
Seizure Disorder/Epilepsy
A brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. Neurons normally generate electrochemical impulses that act on other neurons, glands, and muscles to produce human thoughts, feelings, and actions. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior, or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. During a seizure, neurons may fire as many as 500 times a second, much faster than normal. In some people, this happens only occasionally; for others, it may happen up to hundreds of times a day. (From medicinenet.com)
Speech, including: Dysarthria
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder. The muscles of the mouth, face, and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly, or not move at all after a stroke or other brain injury. The type and severity of dysarthria depend on which area of the nervous system is affected. (From asha.org)
Aphasia
Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to the parts of the brain that contain language. Aphasia causes problems with any or all of the following: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Damage to the left side of the brain causes aphasia for most right-handers and about half of left-handers. Individuals who experience damage to the right side of the brain may have additional difficulties beyond speech and language. (From asha.org)
Hydrocephalus
The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning head. As the name implies, it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as "water on the brain," the "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain. (From ninds.nih.gov)
Gait and Balance Issues
Gait and balance problems exist when a disease process, trauma, or aging result in the inability to control one's center of gravity (COG) over the base of support (BOS) in static or dynamic tasks and environments. (From healthline.com)
Spasticity
Spasticity is stiff or rigid muscles. It may also be called unusual "tightness" or increased muscle tone. Reflexes (for example, a knee-jerk reflex) are stronger or exaggerated. The condition can interfere with walking, movement, or speech.Spasticity is usually caused by damage to the part of the brain that is involved in movements under your control. It may also occur from damage to the nerves that go from the brain to the spinal cord. (From nlm.nih.gov)
Hemiparesis
Hemiparesis is muscle weakness on only one side of the body. When hemiparesis happens as a result of a stroke, it commonly involves muscles in the face, arm, and leg. (From stroke.about.com)
In Samantha’s case: Right-sided hemiparesis involves injury to the left side of the person's brain. The left side of a person's brain controls speaking and language. People who have this type of hemiparesis can also experience difficulty with talking and understanding what others say, as well as determining left from right. (From disabled-world.com)
Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism is a rare disorder in which your pituitary gland either fails to produce one or more of its hormones or doesn't produce enough of them. This deficiency can affect any number of your body's routine functions, such as growth, blood pressure and reproduction. (From mayoclinic.com)