Making Headway

Domestic violence survivors are a unique subset of brain injury.  Many have experienced several types of brain injury from blunt force trauma and strangulation inflicted on them by their abusers.  They commonly experience several types of trauma and mental health struggles.  Substance use and limited social support can also play a role.  Getting survivors the services they need to address all the challenges they face requires a unique set of interventions.  The Ohio State University’s health equity intervention scientist, Julianna Nehmeth, is working on just this.  Her research focuses on developing, providing, and evaluating sets of interventions that are used by lay people to guide conversations with survivors, identify their needs, and connect them with services to best meet the survivor where she is at.  You won’t want to miss hearing about this transformative work!In this episode:Julianna’s research focuses on how DV survivors with brain injuries can get better access to servicesOne in three women are affected by domestic violence (DV): some groups have even higher incidences.  It is a widespread public health issueJulianna started doing community based action research to better understand the needs of the survivors and centers that help them.  Her research focuses on modifying interventions to better meet all their needs.  Many DV survivors develop BI because blunt force head trauma and strangulation are common types of abuse.  Ohio Domestic Violence Network received a federal grant focused on developing interventions for domestic violence service organizations to better meet the mental health needs of DV survivors with brain injuryJulianna did a needs assessment.  What she found was that the advocates who help DV survivors were unaware of brain injury as being an issueThey also interviewed survivors and found  that over 8 in 10 had been hit in the head or had their head hit into something.  Over half of the survivors had this happen so many times that they couldn’t report a numberOver 8 in 10 survivors also reported strangulationMany survivors do not realize they have brain injuriesIn the DV population, many survivors experience TBI from blunt force trauma combined with an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury from strangulation. This is a unique population as many brain injury studies do not focus on brain injury due to multiple causesThese survivors suffer from trauma, ongoing stress, mental health struggles, racial trauma, and sociocultural trauma.The DV brain injury population is highly complex and suffers from a type of brain injury that hasn’t been studied at all. Her team reached out to The Ohio State University's CBI mouse research program to shine a light on this gap Current interventions to help this population were not effective to support the DV BI population.  Julianna’s work focuses on bridging this gap. There are also many unmet mental health needs in this populationCheck out the work of Cecilia Mengo to learn moreJulianna’s work made interventions for advocates in community based organizations to better meet the needs of the DV BI populationThey made Care Tools to help advocates directly communicate with survivors about brain injury and mental healthTheir tools are free on the Ohio Domestic...

We're off for the July 4th holiday but wanted to re-air an oldie but a goodie- one of our very first interviews with our friend Chris Dittrich! He has been an inspiration to us since we met! Hope you all enjoy.Eryn and Mariah interview fellow survivor, Chris Dittrich, who suffered from a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car crash during his senior year of high school. Early on, his family used a white board posted in his rehab room to post basic reminders (where you are, what happened, goal for day, etc) when memory is poor. The most important message on that whiteboard: KEEP MOVING FORWARD! Chris credits his brain injury with teaching him to be open with everyone around him and comfortable approaching others for help. Chris teaches us that setting manageable goals and achieving them builds confidence. He uses videos on social media to be able to look back and see achievement. Chris believes strongly in being an inspiration to others through actions- showing others that they too can make incredible progress and be a positive influence on others and the world.

Recovery is a journey. It is not an event with a defined end-point. The road can be hella hard! Fortunately, there is help out there! Lea Damata joins us in this episode to talk with us about her experience with post concussive symptoms. She shines a light on all the different types of therapy that have helped her.  Riding on this twisting path is filled with ups and downs. Self-compassion, mindfulness, self-awareness, and perspective make it more bearable. Better is better no matter how it looks; join us to celebrate all our wins!! Topics covered:Lea’s PCS journeyConcussion with PCS after a whack on the base of the head and neck,  coming up from the floor where she was cleaning (should this be our warning to not clean?!?!?)Initial symptoms were dizziness and an out of this world feelingTried to just push through for several days until she got really sleepy, had loss of energy, struggles with driving, and experienced headaches, sound sensitivity, and irritabilityLea went to her PCP who advised rest.  Lea couldn’t tolerate any stimulation or physical activity, and needed darkness and rest for days (she did not have a knowledgeable provider that was able to guide on the detriments of this approach)Even as a healthcare practitioner, Lea struggled to find providers who knew how to handle post concussive symptomsShe struggled with insurance and return to work guidelines having to constantly prove that there was something wrongFighting with insurance can be enough to make you feel crazyGetting helpNot having the connections with the right provider giving the right care in the first two weeks set Lea backShe eventually found providers to help get her on the right path.  She still has symptoms 2 years outThe hard daysYou go through a grieving process of your old selfThe hard days can lead you to comparing yourself to others.  It takes self-love and compassion, being ok with you, setting boundaries, saying no, and celebrating what you have achieved Better is better regardless of how better it is (11:50)It's a journey, not a recovery.  Everyday is a new day.  It is never a linear trajectory.  The downs are hella crappy but you have to remember where you started, how far you have come and all the little winsNeuropsychology really helped Lea--it provided tools for reframing and grounding.  It required a lot of work and wasn’t easy but crucial to her journeyRemember, not everything does suck, even if it feels that way.  Helpful therapiesPhysiotherapy (physical therapy) trained in PCS Lea had to find qualified providers, navigating the system and finding people who know how to treat PCS was hardNeuropsychology: really helped to validate what Lea was going through.  It gave visibility to the invisible injury.  Validation from a provider gave back hope Neuro-optometry: eye exercises and glasses. The exercises can trigger symptoms but build pathways to help you overcome it.Vestibular therapy (through physio)Occupational Therapy for return to driving and return to work. They broke down the tasks into manageable, bite sized piecesReturn to work: a gradual desensitization process.  Very short exposures to work with long rests.  She had to keep a log to figure out

Our brains are truly remarkable organs!! They are what make us unique! It provides the connections needed to support all our body functions, thoughts, personality, and well-being. Their complexity and highly individualized nature are what make it the most misunderstood organ. There is no medicine or one size fits all approach to treatment which makes it a poor fit for traditional medicine. Today, we learn all about functional neurology, a field that truly explores each individual’s unique neuronal responses to provide personalized treatment. Dr. Angela Gabella DC, DACNB, FABBIR gives us an introduction to the field and how it can help you. She gives us hope by reminding us that symptoms like anxiety, depression, confusion, inattention, insomnia, and more are treatable; even if it was something you struggled with pre-injury!! You cannot miss this one!!!!  It is one of our most fascinating episodes yet!Topics covered in this episode:What is Functional Neurology (FN)?A treatment of the whole personA functional neurologists goes in depth doing a complete physical exam to see how your neurons were affected by your brain injuryThey dig to find what the symptoms are and where they originate fromSo many of us have scans that look normal but still have symptoms. They look beyond the scansNeuroplasticity: concept has been around but not commonly accepted until recently and remains controversialEarly 1900s: Santiago Ramon y Cajal, the father of neuroscience-coined the neuron doctrine, Nobel Prize winner, his ideas weren’t accepted2016: Michael Merzenich, a neuroscientist out University of California San Francisco won a prize related to neuroplasticity which made the idea of the brain being able to change more commonly acceptedThis is a new field with many clinical applications yet to be foundThe field of neuroplasticity gives hope to those of us with brain injuryWhy is neuroplasticity hard for the science community to accept? The brain is still a highly unknown organ with many complexities.The science is ongoing.  It’s behind other organ systems.  Clinical applications are still being developedIt is really difficult to be specific with medication.  There is no easy fix.  POTS: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndromeIncreased heart rate with standing up that causes you to pass outPeople get stuck in bed with this not being treated.  Greatly limits mobilitySeen in some brain injury patients.  Covid is correlated with an increased risk of POTSDr. Gabella explains a normal autonomic response to position changesMore common in young healthy females.It can be idiopathic meaning there is no easy answer for what caused itNeed to consider what is going on in the blood and crossing the blood brain barrier. For example when you are sick, is something crossing into the brain that shouldn’t be?What is treatment like?Tilt table: diagnostic test but can also be used as therapyThroughout the different degrees of tilt, the FN measures your BP and heart rate responses and either activates your...

If you have been listening to us for a little while you’ve probably figured out that sometimes, Mariah and Eryn just talk. Are we the smartest people in the room? Maybe if we are by ourselves (hehe)!&nbsp; But seriously, sometimes we just want to get real and talk about what we’re going through. In this episode we broach fear, fitness, cookies, selfishness, self care, and ego. Check it out and let us know if it resonates (or not) with you!In this episode:We talk.“Just because you are able to do something doesn’t mean that you are the person for the job” (3:56)Fear keeps you stuckParalysis comes from fear of failureYou need to do for youTatoos! (again!)&nbsp; Taking bets on if Mariah will go through with it.&nbsp;Fitness- do what you can, when you can, however it feels good to youSara Howe--amazing at fitness, amazing at life, listen to her episode hereLet the facade go, no one really cares. Do what feels good to you and your body.Comparisons don’t matterCat Faulk, personal trainerYou deserve the cookie!It’s all about moderationRestriction- more proof that black and white doesn’t workYour healthy habits are contagious&nbsp;Be healthy for youDepression and being sedentary--the tie is tight.Brain fog and fatigueSometimes you don’t have the luxury of dropping everything and taking a rest.&nbsp; Find the places where you can take a break.&nbsp;Be comfortable with getting to know yourself.&nbsp; Know your boundaries and what you need. Sometimes it means rocking the boat.Leading by example- sometimes it means not shutting up about something that bothers you.&nbsp; Don’t silence yourself because it is the “nicer” thing to do.&nbsp;It is important to question how you function and your natural defaults.&nbsp; Are you doing something out of fear of what will happen if you don’t or is it because it is actually something that is serving you?&nbsp;Finding the line between being selfish and self-care.&nbsp;Ego and intuition, learn more on Joanne Susi’s episode here.&nbsp; If you need a life coach, check her out!If what you are doing benefits the greater good and makes an impact towards the greater good than it is not selfishThe ego keeps you where you are and doesn’t want you to move forward.&nbsp; The ego is trying to protect you and keep you in what you know.&nbsp; Anxiety and fear keep you from listening to your intuition.&nbsp;&nbsp;Susan Gorman, Intuition 101-- daily email on how to tap into your intuition and meditate&nbsp;Ride the waves, don’t let it detract from your positivity.&nbsp; Keep yourself out of the mire and from getting pulled under.&nbsp;&nbsp;Links to any resources mentioned:&nbsp;Sara Howe--amazing at fitness, amazing at life, listen to her episode hereCat Faulk, personal trainerJoanne Susi, life coach, <a...

Are you looking to regain movement and independence days or years after your stroke? Take a listen, this rehab approach may be for you! Our last episode introduced everyone to Motus Nova, a company that uses technology and video games to regain movement post stroke or neurologic injury. We were so fascinated by this pairing of technology and recovery that we wanted to learn more about how it works.Dr. Nick Housley, Director of Clinical Research at Motus Nova, joins us in this episode to talk about how incorporating fine motor skills into rehab gets huge results! We are not endorsed by this company but love what they are doing so much that we just had to share. Have you given Motus Nova a shot? Let us know what you think!&nbsp;Covered in this episode:Nick’s Survivor Story: Turning Trauma Upside DownProfessional cyclist who was the victim of unsportsmanlike conduct resulting in a crashNick suffered facial fractures, jaw fractures, and a brain bleed resulting in hospitalization, reconstructive surgery, and rehabHe was a student in genetics/pre-med prior to the crash but his experience with rehab helped him to change career paths to physical therapy school at Georgia State UniversityHe became very interested in neuro-recovery and became connected with the neuroplasticity lab where he met David Wu. This was where the Motus Nova company was bornHe became involved in researching how the technology could increase access to rehab by providing remote rehab through trials with the VAHe also got a Ph. D in neuroscience to better understand neural recoveryDr. Nick is the Director of Clinical Research at Motus NovaHe is responsible for maintaining a high standard of safe careThey are constantly tweaking the technology so you can get the best gainsHe makes sure that the assistance the Motus hand and foot provides is appropriately tuned so that it does not induce spasticity and painHe makes sure they have the scientific evidence to back up the device and works to put the science on the front line making it applicable to survivorsWhat is the current research telling them? How do they take all the data that is collected by the device to make your rehab better?Movement based rehab is the gold standard for physical stroke recoveryMore quality rehab= better results and recoveryThe technology collecting data helps scientists to understand what the most important parameters are in movement recoveryThe device makes subtle changes based on how you as an individual are doing.&nbsp; It detects what your body needs to get the best result.&nbsp; It can detect more than a human therapist can.The Motus hand and foot couples a therapist and technology together to get the best results and designs a program that is optimal for you.&nbsp; It helps to take some of the guesswork out of what you need to recoverMotus evaluates you and gives truly individualized careMotus looks at a person’s abilities to best use what you can do to improve&nbsp; what you can’tCurrent research is working on engaging stroke survivors who have little to no functional movement as they have the least amount of ongoing rehab available to themWhy does Motus Nova focus on the hand or foot rather than the whole limb in people with hemiparesis?When you focus on the fine motor skills it has a carryover effect to the larger muscle groups. Fine movements lead to whole limb recovery.<li...

Looking for new ways to regain movement after stroke or brain injury? Does your recovery feel stalled? Are you tired of the limited amount of time and number of rehab session insurance will cover? Do you feel like the healthcare system just isn’t giving you enough to regain movement? Look no further, Motus Nova may be a solution for you! In this episode, we interview David Wu, CEO of Motus Nova. This company is responsible for providing a robotic hand or foot that uses fun video games to create neural pathways that will get you moving again! When conventional rehabilitation is too slow, Motus is the answer for stroke recovery: a home based program revolutionizing stroke rehabilitation whether you are ten days or ten years after brain injury.Covered in this episode:What is Motus NovaA robotic exoskeleton that helps people move againA sleeve or a boot that you wear around your hand or footIt is capable of moving on its on providing resistance or assistanceRecreastes the in-clinic rehab experienceMission is to increase access to rehab for stroke or brain injury survivorsThey work on the concept of neuroplasticityThey have found that people don’t get enough rehab.&nbsp; This allows a higher dosage of rehabHow can you access it?In-clinic initially but they realized this didn’t increase accessInsurance only allows for a limited number of visits per weekScience says the brain needs 100s-1000s of hours of therapy to make neuroplastic changesThey re-engineered the Motus Hand and Motus Foot to go directly into the home.&nbsp; Each user has a personal device they can use at their convenience in their home. Go to MotusNova.com to learn more on how you can access it!Some users are treating rehab as their full time job doing 6-7 hours of therapy a day which allows them to achieve tremendous resultsFor the proactive survivor tackling recovery this is an amazing solution!Motivation aspect of recoveryThey make rehab more fun and more engaging so people want to use itThe exercises and movements of therapy are hidden in video gamesI.e. you are controlling a spaceship and have to dodge objects being launched at you.&nbsp; The game requires you to do certain movements needed for your recovery in a fun wayGames resemble Pong, Galaga, Space Invaders, fishing, cards--they have many games that make recovery fun and less monotonousThe goal is to make this enjoyable so that it is something you look forward to and want to do at any time.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a social element too--high scores, group sessions, competitionThis type of therapy takes away the need to schedule appointments, hit insurance stipulations, find transportation, etc..Learning from clinical trials&nbsp; impacted how they provide their servicesMotus Nova with the VA--VA was having difficulty getting rehab to rural brain injury survivors.&nbsp; Motus Nova brought devices to the survivor and would check up with them on a weekly basis.&nbsp; What they found beyond physical recovery was this addressed the social isolation aspect of rehab.Survivors were calling not to troubleshoot the technology but to talk and share their experiencesThis learning inspired Motus Nova to start weekly sessions for users to join

How can we say this without shocking anyone?? We are not the only podcast looking to connect survivors together!!! Today we talked with our friend, Joe Borges, host of the podcast NeuroNerds. He suffered a hemorrhagic stroke from high blood pressure in 2016. He was feeling lonely and like no one understood him post-injury. It wasn’t until he met his future co-host, Lauren, who also suffered a brain injury that he felt heard. The support they gave each other gave birth to putting out a NeuroNerds in an effort to connect others so no one feels alone. Join us in this episode for all the feels! We laugh, we cry, we turn into butterflies, and make plans to get tattoos!Covered in this episode:Joe Borges co-host of The NeuroNerds tells his storyHe had a raging migraine, felt a pop in his head, and for a split second the most intense pain in his head disappeared but then another second later his body went to jelly.&nbsp; He felt like he was learning to walk again. The pop in his head was his right basal ganglia (blood vessel in the bleed) popping--a hemorrhagic stroke!Stubbornly, he continued on with his night.&nbsp; He doesn’t remember hardly anything for the next 2 months.&nbsp;He tried sleeping it off.&nbsp; He was waking up throughout the night puking blood but didn’t want to go to the hospital.&nbsp; He had some behavior changes and confusion. A family member convinced him to call 9-1-1He had a stroke and was in the hospital for a 1.5 monthsHe woke up in a brand new body, 30 lbs lighter! He also woke up with a different brain--he couldn’t understand things and had left sided neglect.&nbsp; He needed full care and had to learn to walk again.Leaving the hospital was the best day!! Seeing leaves blowing in the wind had new meaningPost stroke realizations“Your stroke was a blessing,” it took a few months for him to feel this but it ended up giving him more than it took.&nbsp; It gave perspective and he has lived more in the 5 years since his stroke than he did the 30 years prior.Go to therapy! Process your feelings.&nbsp;&nbsp;He found he had been existing and surviving in fight or flight since he was 7 years old.&nbsp; He wasn’t living before the stroke, only existingHe discovered boundaries and what life should beHis stroke saved his life!The only reason you know what good feels like is because you have experienced bad.&nbsp;When you can’t walk, toilet, or bathe yourself; it changes your perspectiveTremors in right hand, short term memory issues, and cognitive changes persist but what he has gained from the stroke far outweighs it“Recovery is not easy.&nbsp; Recovery is the hardest thing I have ever done. The world is not easy; it is very hard.&nbsp; Things are heavy and feel insane some days but I feel blessed that I am still here to experience these things.” (17:40)Having the comparison of being stuck, dependent in a hospital shows how good life actually isIt’s ok to joke about your injury if you are ready.&nbsp; Some funny shit happened and it can be really helpful to laugh about it.&nbsp; We all process differentlySurvivors are all in different places with this and it's ok if you can’t.&nbsp; People who haven’t experienced an injury may not get it or feel comfortable laughing at the funny parts with youHow the NeuroNerds came to beLoneliness during recovery: people that haven’t been through it don’t get it“Wow, now I

Have you ever heard the saying knowledge is power? When it comes to stroke, nothing is more true. Many of the risk factors for having a stroke are things you have control over--quitting smoking, a healthy diet, and exercise are just a few. In this episode, Dr. Jenna Tucker, DPT teaches us about regaining physical balance to increase mobility and rebuilding a healthy, balanced lifestyle to help prevent future harm. Recovering from a stroke is a full time job; it has the power to transform your life in very positive ways!Covered in this episode:Acquired brain injury: no direct impact causing traumaAnoxic brain injury: lack of oxygen causes brain injuryStroke: 2 mechanisms that cause strokeHemorrhagic: a bleed from AVM, aneurysm, or other sourceIschemic: a clot that blocks blood flow, most common type, lots of modifiable risk factorsThe line can be blurry as to what gets called a stroke versus not.&nbsp; Clinical presentation and mechanism of injury are considered when deciding what gets called a strokeTypical presentations are based on which artery is affected.&nbsp; MCA strokes are the most commonLeft MCA: hemiparesis on the right side of the body (weakness), right sided sensory loss, speech and language deficitsRight MCA: hemiparesis (weakness on the left side), sensory loss, visual spatial deficits, visual impairments, cognitive impairmentsACA: higher order cognitive impairments, problem solving, behavioral challengesPCA: visual deficitsCerebellum: “the little brain,” center for coordination and balance: will see symptoms called ataxia which are impairments in smooth movement&nbsp;There are trends depending on the areas of the brain affected but everyone presents differentlyB.E. F.A.S.T.: Typical symptoms of a stroke.&nbsp; If you have these, get to the ER immediately!! The faster you get treatment the better the outcomeB: BalanceE: Eyes. change in visionF: Face. facial droop&nbsp;A: Arms.&nbsp; Arm weanessS: Speech. Slurred speech, difficulty communicating words, not making sense or jumbling, unclear speech&nbsp;T: Time: get to the emergency room immediately, best outcomes come from getting treatment as soon as possible.&nbsp; If you have a clot, they can give you a “clot busting” medicine but it has to be given within a few hours of the onset of symptoms.&nbsp; It is important for your doctor to know when the symptoms started.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the book, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor, she explains her first hand account of how it feels to have a stroke.&nbsp; This book is a great read!Patients who have had a stroke are at very high risk of having another one.&nbsp; Stroke survivors need to be educated on the symptoms to watch for so they can get help as soon as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rehab after stroke“How long will my recovery take?”&nbsp; “How much better will I get?”There is always room for improvement.&nbsp; How much? Time and effort will tellRecovery depends on time and effort, every injury and stroke is different.&nbsp;&nbsp;Get off to a good start with a lot of education on risk factors, stabilizing your general health, and education on

Shit happens! We don’t choose what occurs to us. We may feel victimized and out of control. We may feel scared.&nbsp; How do you get through it?&nbsp; In this episode we talk with Joanne Susi, life coach, stroke survivor, and a student of the law of attraction.&nbsp; We talk about how to move through fear, learn from it, and choose joy. The only control we actually have in life is our thoughts. Need help listening to your inner wisdom and moving forward? Listen today to learn more about being a human being not a human doing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Covered in this episode:Jonanne’s Stroke Survivor StoryHer intuition told her she should go to the grocery store rather than staying home alone. &nbsp; She experienced a stroke while at the store and was around others that were able to quickly help herBecause of the speed of care, she was able to receive the clot buster drug TPA which you have to receive in the first 3 hours of a stroke.&nbsp; She regained use of her left arm within 15 minutes after the shotWhile being hospitalized for her ischemic stroke she suffered cardiac arrest and had to be brought back to life.&nbsp; Thankfully her daughter was with her, her intuition told her something was wrong, and she was able to get help from the medical staff quicklyIntuition is our wisdomJoanne suffered a serious hemorrhagic stroke and needed brain surgeryShe was told she would never walk againNever say never, she was determined“Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t do.” (7:30)&nbsp; She can walk, it’s just not like she used to“We remember how we were prior to brain injury and when we look at how we are today we are not the same as prior to brain in jury when in fact we are better because we’ve learned more about ourselves.&nbsp; We need to look at the fact that we can do things, we just do it differently. “ (7:40)Joanne has residual effects from her stroke still that include walking with a cane and an AFO, and has paresis in her left arm/hand.“We don’t need to let go of our goals.&nbsp; Joanne uses the law of attraction to help her reach her desired outcomes. (8:47)The Law of Attraction is a force in the world like gravityWhen we set a goal, there are two sides to itThe goal is our desired outcome.&nbsp;&nbsp;The other part is the desire of the thing that we don’t haveWhen you have a goal and are thinking about how you haven’t met it your energy is focused on what you don’t have.&nbsp; You are vibrating in a frequency that doesn’t allow you to have itIf your focus is on what you don’t have than that is what you getThink of it like a radio station.&nbsp; You have a choice of what station you want to listen to.&nbsp; If you put on country and want pop you don’t get angry that you can’t hear pop, you turn the station.&nbsp; The problem is one frequency, the solutio is another frequency.&nbsp; If you are tuned into the problem you aren’t going to get anything but the problem.&nbsp; If you tune into the solution, the solution will come to you (10:40)There’s power to positive thinkingIntuition and FearIntuition has no logicIn Jonanne’s story, logic told her she should stay home where she would not have gotten help.&nbsp; Her intuition let her know she she go to the storeLogic (ego) is not bad but it can hold us back from what we want to doFear is paralyzing, caution will...

Are you fatigued after using your eyes? Since your brain injury do you feel anxious in crowds or grocery stores? Are you dizzy or do you get headaches? Does reading bring on symptoms? Do you have trouble tolerating screens even when you take breaks? Is it hard to pay attention? You may need neuro-optometry! 20-30% of brain injury survivors have symptoms caused by oculomotor disturbances that do not self-resolve! Join us with Dr. Jacqueline Theis to learn more about this overlooked profession. We discuss visual processing and how therapy may help you with your lingering symptoms. We were both shocked to learn how much this field can help with many of our ongoing symptoms, you may be too!Covered in this episode:Differences between types of eye doctors&nbsp;Ophthalmology: they go to medical school where they learn a little bit about a lot of the body systems.&nbsp; Then they specialize in surgery and diseases of the eyes.&nbsp; They are MDs who specialize in the eyeOptometry: after undergrad they go to optometry school where they learn a lot about the eye and how other body systems impact the eye.&nbsp; They can then choose to go to school longer for specialities like primary care, contact lenses, pediatrics, or neuro optometry.Neuro Optometry: works with atypical visual complaints.&nbsp; Your eyeball looks normal but visual processing is interupted.&nbsp; Typically subtle symptoms&nbsp;&nbsp;Neuro ophthalmologist: medical doctors that can fix structural eye issues with surgeryNeuro optometry: manages vision rehabilitation and vision therapy that can’t be fixed by surgery or medicine.&nbsp; They can also make glasses that help accommodate for visual or eye tracking issues post neurological event&nbsp;&nbsp;What Can Neuro Optometrists Help With?The signs and symptoms of vision issues post concussion or mild TBI can be very subtle.&nbsp; Providers don’t even know all the signs and symptoms to be looking forIf you complain of double vision, blurry vision, or light sensitivity you’ll definitely get a referral to an eye doctor.&nbsp; The eye doctor will look at the eyeball for structural issues and most of the time the eyeball is fine.In the last 5-10 years they have found that common symptoms that are screened for iin brain injury get sent to other providers but are actually related to visionSymptoms of visual disturbances post brain injuryFatigue with reading and eye useGetting anxiety in crowded areas or grocery storesDizzinessHeadache&nbsp;InattentionJaci aims to educate providers about screening for eye movements in patients with ongoing symptoms like those above (symptoms beyond 4 weeks).&nbsp;If symptoms don’t self resolve in 4 weeks, there is rehab that can be done to help.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is actually something that can be done and you can get better!!How do the eyes cause anxiety and cognitive problems? Vision uses your whole brainImagine a soccer ball moving left to right in front of you.&nbsp; The light signal from the ball moves to the retina, it transitions it into a chemical signal and sends it down the optic nerve all the way to the back of the brain to the occipital lobe.&nbsp;&nbsp;The occipital lobe sorts the information and then sends it the part of the brain that needs to respond to it.&nbsp;&nbsp;It gets sent to the temporal lobe which identifies what the object is.&nbsp;&nbsp;<li...

Have you ever wondered what the long term effects of your brain injury will be?&nbsp; We know that brain injury is a risk factor to developing types of dementia like Alzheimer’s.&nbsp; BUT not all who have brain injury get dementia.&nbsp; Today in our See BI segment, we are joined by The Ohio State University’s CBI researcher Olga (Niki) Kokiko Cochran to discuss TBI + what = Alzheimer’s.&nbsp; Could sleep disruption in TBI have chronic effects that lead to long term neurodegenerative consequences? Listen to learn more about the emerging research on this topic.&nbsp;&nbsp;We are super excited to announce our series: SEE BI! in partnership with The Ohio State’s CBI Program.&nbsp; The Ohio State Chronic Brain Injury program (CBI) works on improving our understanding, detection, and treatment of brain injuries through research and community partnership.&nbsp; Over the next few months, we’ll be chatting with brain injury researchers about their work and findings in the brain injury field. We are honored to be joining with them to bring you this educational series!!!&nbsp;Covered in this episode:Chronic outcomes after brain injuryHow does the experience of traumatic injury set the stage for neurodegenerative disease?If you experience traumatic brain injury your risk of developing dementia or&nbsp; Alzheimer’s is higher&nbsp;BUT traumatic brain injury doesn’t cause brain injuryIn Nikki’s lab they wonder, Brain injury + what= Alzheimer’sMouse models used for her researchModels used mimic different types traumatic brain injuryTrauma is induced on mouse brains several different ways which allows researchers to study and exploreThey need to carefully select which type of mouse model to use to most closely mimic the population they hope to studyNiki’s ResearchNiki’s initial research focused on giving mice who have a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease a traumatic brain injury.&nbsp; Her hypothesis was that brain injured mice would have a worse pathology (worse Alzheimer’s).&nbsp; This was not true at all.&nbsp; The brain injured mice did not do worse and in some cases did better.What they did see was that the inflammatory response to traumatic brain injury was different in mice genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's. That suggested that the presence of pathological proteins that predispose you to Alzheimer’s (which causes inflammation) was changing the inflammatory response from the traumatic brain injury.&nbsp;&nbsp;This got Niki thinking about brain injury + what= Alzheimer’sNiki started thinking about common symptoms seen in TBI and Alzheimer’s--sleep disruption is present in both.&nbsp;&nbsp;Could sleep disruption be the stressor that predisposes brain injured people to Alzheimer’s?&nbsp;&nbsp;Brain injury alone can cause sleep disruption.&nbsp; Then you have other life stressors (positive or negative) that disrupt sleep.&nbsp; How does this combination impact your brain function?Sleep disruption is a common symptom of any type of stress. In Niki’s lab, they look at how sleep disruption, which is a common physiological consequence to stress, complicates recovery after brain injury.To research the connections, the researchers disrupt the brain injured mice’s sleep.&nbsp; Their models mimic humans who have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.&nbsp; The mice are only disrupted for four hours at a time.&nbsp; After the 4 hours, they are no longer disrupted and can sleep as much as they need to.&nbsp; They are not sleep deprived, only disrupted.They study...

Since brain injury is invisible, survivors are often left on their own to figure out their cognitive and mental health.After injury, it can be hard to recognize what is going on, realize that this is not how your brain would normally function, and that you need help. Survivor Sara Howe joins us in this episode to share her story and her realistic perspectives on recovery. She has found physical and mental fitness to be monumental to feeling well. Listen on to be encouraged.&nbsp; We promise you’ll be nodding your head in agreement and leave feeling inspired. We know we did!&nbsp;In this episode:Sara tells her survivor storyPlaying hooky from college takes an unexpected turnFalling asleep behind the wheel led to a motor vehicle crash, many injuries (see below), an ICU stay, and moving back home with the parentsRight vertebral artery occlusion that led to a right cerebellar stroke and subdural hemorrhageCervical and thoracic spinal fractures, collar bone fracture, left arm and wrist fracture, right hand fracture, lacerationsPunctured lungCompartment syndromeOutpatient PT, OT, SpeechThe invisible brain injuryThe fractures are the easy thing to addressSara and her mom needed to advocate as they were told she was “neurologically sound” when she didn’t feel it and knew things were off.&nbsp; Find a doctor that will listen to you!Stimulant medications post brain injury helped for years with attention deficit issues post brain injury.&nbsp; It was very helpful, but she eventually wanted to wean off of themWays to cope with attention deficits without medicine: lists, to-do-lists, reminder app on your phone, take it day by day and be patient with yourselfSometimes you do need to be on medicine for a little bit; it’s ok to have help.&nbsp; If the first med doesn’t work, work with your doctor to find something that doesSara’s experience rehabbing from multiple injuriesShe could walk post injury but needed to be cared for by her mom for 4 monthsPT/ OT for hand and neck.&nbsp;Speech therapy (SLP)-Sara was in denial that anything was wrong, “I can talk fine.”&nbsp; Denial was very strongSpeech is more than talking. It's your organization and processing&nbsp;&nbsp;4 Phases after trauma: denial, anger, depression, acceptance.&nbsp; You cycle in and out of these throughout recovery.&nbsp; It takes a long time to get through all of thesePhysical recovery was a lot shorter than mental recovery.&nbsp; It took Sara a few years to recover mentally.&nbsp; You never really get back to your preinjury self. Post injury Sara feels even stronger because she has a different perspective on life,&nbsp; she doesn’t take things for granted, she has patience for people, and she’s learned so much through it.&nbsp; She’s not the same but she ended up better. (14:07)Mental and cognitive health are often the hardest parts to get over. People assume that since you are physically fine you are also mentally fineSince brain injury is invisible, brain injury survivors are often left on their own to figure out the mental health piece.&nbsp; It can be hard to recognize what is going on and realize that this is not how your brain would normally function and that you need help. (15:40-16:14)Mental health therapyPeople wait until something is wrong to go to therapy but “You go to the gym to keep your body in shape, You go to...

C’mon, y’all know you’ve done some strange and laughable things while being brain injured. Maybe it was funny at the time, maybe it's taken years to laugh, or maybe you still can’t. Finding the humor in all the heart-(ahem, brain)-ache makes those hard days just a little easier. After Mimi Hayes suffered a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured cavernous malformation, she did just that. Taking her experiences on the road, she has made a career as a comedian. Nothing makes her feel better than having people laugh with her.&nbsp; Join us for some chuckles today with Mimi Hayes, making brain hemorrhages look cool since 1992!&nbsp;In this episode:Mimi’s Survivor Story: brain hemorrhage due to a ruptured cavernous angioma in the cerebellumSymptoms of fatigue, loss of balance, didn’t know where she was in space, visual disturbances, migraines, couldn’t move head or eyes without vomiting&nbsp;Symptoms mistakenly categorized as psychological!!!Took a couple weeks to get an MRI--Mama Bear to the rescue!The bleed happened at a stressful time in Mimi’s life.&nbsp; She thinks the added stress contributed to bursting her previously benign cavernous angioma (a clump of vessels that never unfurled correctly at birth)&nbsp;Initial treatment was at home: watch, wait, and hope for reabsorption. Mimi started losing physical function, coordination, double vision and vision loss, loss of taste, weight loss.&nbsp; With the increase in symptoms, her neurosurgeon reassessed and now Mimi needed brain surgeryRecovery from brain surgery:&nbsp;Post-anesthesia hilarity: Sit Down Helen!&nbsp;ICURehab Hospital: coming to grips with changed abilities.&nbsp; Aggressive therapy soon after surgery led to quick physical results.&nbsp; If you didn’t get this it doesn’t mean it’s too late!Outpatient therapyBack to work in 5 months with accommodations and self regulationRecovery is nuanced.&nbsp; Everybody’s recovery timeline is different.&nbsp; The intensity of your injury doesn’t mean a certain timeline, i.e. “mild” injury doesn’t mean quick recovery and visa versaAfter about two years of teaching post injury, Mimi started some new creative pursuits: book writing and comedy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Humor in tragedy, the importance of finding laughs through hard timesFinding new purpose after brain injuryTeaching after brain injury no longer felt like her purpose.&nbsp; She opened herself up to new possibilities.&nbsp; She hit the eject button and moved to NYC.Be open to new possibilitiesJump into the voidBook deal: I’ll be OK, It’s Just a Hole in my Head by Mimi HayesBrain Injury circuit: TV spots, comedy gigs with sets on brain injury, Brain Injury Association presentationsStep into yourself after injury: you have a new perspective, changed spirituality, changes in life.&nbsp; Get into those changes. It's a great time to reinvent yourself (48:12)Being an advocate in the brain injury community helps you care that much more about doing the work, It becomes bigger than you.&nbsp; You are helping others.&nbsp;&nbsp;Being a part of the brain injury community throughout the years: A support for you and others!Brain injury is always going to be a part of your storyOwning your story and deficits showcases

Surprise! Our brains control our bodies! While it’s common knowledge that our brains control thoughts, movements, and perception; did you ever think about it controlling your hormones? Hormonal imbalance may sound abstract but could be behind many persistent and chronic brain injury symptoms. Fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, not feeling like yourself, menstrual irregularities, changes in libido, and weight gain, among many others could be signs of hormone imbalance related to your brain injury.&nbsp; While hormone dysfunction may not be your answer; if it is, it is easily treatable and totally worth getting checked. Gain awareness and knowledge from our talk today with Dr. Tamara Wexler neuroendocrinologist.&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics covered:NeuroendocrinologyA specific set of hormones overseen by parts in your brainIncludes: thyroid hormones, sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, prolacin), growth hormones, and stress hormonesSystems in the brain involved are the pituitary gland and hypothalamus--they affect end organs like the adrenal glands, ovaries, testes, the liver, and the thyroidThe end organ glands are in a feedback loop with the brainThe hormones carry the messages between the brain and the end organsAwareness of hormone insufficiency post brain injuryThere is under awareness of hormonal issues in brain injuryIt is under diagnosed and under treatedYou need testing to determine if there is pituitary deficiency.&nbsp; You can replace the deficient hormone and remove the symptoms associated with its insufficiencyPituitary insufficiency is most researched in post concussion/TBI.&nbsp; There is some information about acquired brain injuries and hormonal deficiencies but the literature isn’t as broadCommon symptoms associated with hormonal insufficiency are vague and non-specific.&nbsp; Not all of these symptoms are caused by hormonal changes but without looking you do not know if they are.&nbsp; There is a higher rate of pituitary insufficiency after injury but it doesn’t mean every symptom is due to it.&nbsp; Treatment may not lead to a complete return to pre-injury self.&nbsp;FatigueMental fogNot feeling like yourselfChanged menses and fertilityweight changesexercise intoleranceBody composition changesSlowed thinkingPoor tolerance of things you used to be able to handleMood changesSchool performanceBehaviorGrowth&nbsp;If you don’t look for insufficiency, you can’t tell if it existsHow do you test?Menstrual irregularities, absence of menses, or changes in libido that persist more than 3 months after a concussion can reflect a brain related hormonal change (pituitary damage)If you are having regular periods without being on oral contraceptives you don’t need to be testedEstradiol and FSH: if ovary insufficiency or menopause are causing the symptoms, the estrogen will be low and FSH will be high.&nbsp; The pituitary sends FSH to signal the ovaries. FSH is high if the ovaries are the problem&nbsp;If the pituitary gland/brain is the problem the FSH will be normal or low.&nbsp; It is trying to mount a response but it can’tYou have to look at multiple hormones as they rely on each other

Domestic abuse and brain injury. Don’t let this scare you off. It is a conversation we all need to take part in. 75% of domestic abuse survivors suffer TBI as a result and you know we can’t leave friends in the community hanging! Today we join How to Love a Battered Woman’s Nia Renee to discuss domestic abuse and brain injury. Strikingly, overcoming both require similar skills of resilience, perseverance, strength, and o-so-much inner work. You won’t want to miss out on this insightful conversation.&nbsp; There’s a tremendous amount of wisdom shared for all those going through either or both experiences. And if you aren’t in either situation, it is still a crucial listen to gain understanding and insight. You never know when you might need to be an ally!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Covered in this episode:CTE is a result of repetitive brain trauma commonly recognized as a disease affecting professional football players.&nbsp; Victims of domestic abuse are probably even more affected due to repeated knocks on the head at home but it is not publicized like it is for professional athletesWomen are more susceptible to TBI due to the structure of our necks75% of domestic abuse survivors have a TBINia is a survivor of 20+ years of domestic abuseShe has a brain condition called Chiari Malformation that was sped up due to the abuseTherapy is an ongoing process throughout the rest of your life (5:45).&nbsp; It’s not a one and done fix&nbsp;Chiari MalformationHappens when the brain is herniating into the spinal canal because the brain is too big for the skull185 (ish) symptoms associated with this diseaseNia started experiencing symptoms her sophomore year of collegeWhile experiencing symptoms of the brain injury she was also being hit in the head which likely exacerbated her conditionThere is a lot of stigma around this disease in the neurologic world.&nbsp; Some neurologists believe that Chiari is an incidental finding that doesn’t cause symptomsIt took Nia advocating for herself and finding the right fit with a neurosurgeon to get treatment and surgery. Shout out to Dr. Holly Gilmer, M.D.!Nia talks about recovery from surgery and trying to get to know her chronic illness self&nbsp;&nbsp;A metaphor for living with chronic illness: A handful of spoons: every activity in your day requires you to give away a spoon. Eventually you have no spoons left to give away.&nbsp; This represents the energy each activity in life takes when you have a chronic illness and brain injury.&nbsp; You have to be deliberate on what you give your spoons toSurgery is not a cure; it just gives you a more livable lifeThe surgery can make some people worse.&nbsp; The experience and decision to have surgery is highly individualized&nbsp;Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS): a connective tissue disorder that is commonly associated with Chiari.&nbsp;Allow yourself to evolve and let go of the preinjury self.&nbsp; You are who you are now.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brain injury can cause an identity crisisLife lessons from surviving domestic abuse and living with a chronic brain conditionNia’s only 27! She has wisdom beyond her years.Remaining resilientResiliency as a child consisted of doing something creative to express herself and help her bounce back, especially writing.&nbsp; It was later on that she...

What is one symptom all brain injury survivors have in common? No, the answer we’re looking for is not our overwhelming awesomeness--although that’s also true! It’s FATIGUE.&nbsp; There are several different types of fatigue and many ways to manage it.&nbsp; Join Jenn Freeburn, MS, CCC-SLP as she schools us on the hows and whys of cognitive fatigue.&nbsp; She’ll help us strategize our way through the fog, no loud fog horn necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Covered in this episode:&nbsp;Types of fatiguePhysical fatigue- the body being tired and needing restPsychological fatigue- lack of motivation, trouble starting anythingCognitive fatigue (mental fatigue)- brain fog, not being able to attend or focusTheories for brain fatigueThe brain is trying to heal and has less energy for other things.&nbsp; Tasks feel more taxingThe brain is less efficient after injury possibly due to:&nbsp;the healing process or&nbsp;additional attentional resources are being put towards other aspects of life and those resources drain energy leading to fatigueAfter a brain injury, the brain is more sensitive to things in life that cause tiredness.&nbsp; You used to be able to push through and now your brain can’tYour brain is healing! And that can make you feel tiredManaging fatigue: it's not just about today; there is a cumulative effect.&nbsp; If you drain your daily “battery” and dip into your reserve battery, it will take more than a good night’s sleep to recover from the cognitive fatigue.&nbsp; When you are running low, you have to be gentle with yourself and not schedule a lot when you are drainedExamples of cognitive demands:Sensory heavy environments: crowds, bright lights, stores, noisy, socializingProlonged attentional tasks: reading especially nonfiction, anything that requires a lot of processing, taking in a lot of information.&nbsp; Tasks where you need to focus in and wouldn’t do with someone watching TV in the background.&nbsp;Mixing physical, cognitive, and psychological demandsLaundry: has lots of steps mixing physical movement with cognitive aspectsTimes when your attention is pulled multiple directions: example parties and conversationsMulti-step processes:Cooking: lots of steps and movementWhat’s one to do?Understand yourselfWhat triggers fatigue for you?&nbsp;Plan your day around those:&nbsp;know what is going to cause fatigue and be nice to yourself after so you can rest&nbsp;Do the hardest tasks during the time of day you are feeling your bestDon’t schedule hard/high stakes things during your times of higher fatigueStructure your day around your fatigue patterns with breaks interspersed throughout the dayWhat does fatigue look like for you?&nbsp;Brain fogNot being able to pay attentionIrritability, everything is annoying or frustrating.&nbsp;&nbsp;Self judgment i.e. negative self talkMaking errorsEmotionalityTry not to ignore your triggersWhat are your early indicators that

Faces of TBI, Huffington Post, Brain Health Magazine, author of multiple books, brain behind the scene of many advocacy events...what do all these things have in common, Amy Zellmer!&nbsp; Amy used her experience as a concussion survivor to build community, share resources, and advocate for policy to benefit brain injury survivors across the country. If you’ve wondered how you can get more involved, listen here to get some ideas of where to go!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics covered:Amy’s Injury: a fall on the ice that led to concussionHelpful treatments: chiropractor, yoga, functional neurologyVision issues: nystagmus, trouble focusing&nbsp;Amy feels neurologists tend to focus more on managing long term neurologic diseases rather than brain injuryAmy’s injury taught her that there are resources available but they were hard to find.&nbsp; This spurred her on to advocacy and education with a focus on making resources more readily available to all.&nbsp;Medical advances and technology had the unintended consequences of pulling medical doctors from the bedside doing thorough physical exams to an over reliance on imaging“You know your body best, don't ever let a doctor, friend or loved one tell you that that is not possible or can’t happen” (19:30)Amy’s Journey to Brain Injury LeaderHer goal has been to build community, share resources, and advocate.&nbsp; Every 9 seconds someone in the US has a brain injury and they don’t know what to do or where to go.First Huffington Post articleFacebook group: Amy’s TBI TribeAuthor: Life with a Traumatic Brain Injury: Finding the Road Back to Normal by Amy Zellmer, a compilation of her articles early on; helps with understanding what it is like to have a brain injury and validates experienceSecond book came after she started getting better: Embracing the Journey: Moving Forward After Brain Injury by Amy ZellmerPodcast: Faces of TBI: features survivor and caregiver stories,Brain Injury Awareness Day in Washington D.C.Minnesota Brain Injury AllianceAdvice to others who want to help with advocacy and policyDon’t recreate the wheelConnect with your local brain injury alliance or brain injury associationReach out to Brain Injury Association of AmericaKnow your own limitations and where you are in your recoveryTake baby steps.&nbsp; Maybe the first thing you do is write down your story and share it;&nbsp; be a guest on a podcast.&nbsp; You don’t have to do everything to have a ripple effect.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Be mindful of your energy reservesBe ok with your limitations.&nbsp; Learn how to understand your energy and how much you have to give so you don’t crashContinue to be mindfulYou are a part of the brain injury community no matter where you are on the road of recoveryPoor experiences with brain injury resources may cause you to try to start from scratch.&nbsp; Don’t recreate the wheel, join it and make it better.&nbsp; MAny state alliances and associations only have 1 or 2...

Every once in a while, we like to give y’all an update on how we are doing and what we are learning from hosting the Making Headway Podcast (MHP).&nbsp; Listen today as we get real on everything from our mission, to our reflections on hosting, and all the positive takeaways we’ve learned along the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics covered today:Making Headway Podcast Mission:To share brain injury related information from multiple viewpoints without judgementWe want to make as many resources as possible available to survivors&nbsp; so you know what your options are and can choose a recovery path that makes the most sense for you.To advocate for the brain injury communityMake our voices heardTo promote the open sharing of recovery journeys in the hope that it lends support to other survivors&nbsp;Every story comes with an epic tale.&nbsp; Sharing stories is a source of inspiration and hope to keep moving forward.Reflections from doing the podcastProtecting ourselves from re-traumatization and getting stuck in our past selvesThe fine dance between telling your story, self awareness, recognizing your needs, and moving forwardThere’s no simple fix for brain injury recovery.&nbsp; You have to make the decision and put in the work to move forward.&nbsp;Effects on parenting. Increased concussion awarenessBrain injury baggage- finding the positive.&nbsp;&nbsp;Staying in the moment and stopping comparisons. I just am me! “You get what you get and don’t get upset.” (17:40)Just be where you are.&nbsp; The pre-injury self is not the gold standard.&nbsp;BooksWhere is the Mango Princess? &nbsp;by Cathy CrimminsHas been a really helpful book in moving forward about a person with brain injury and his caretakerThis is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo, MDPositive things we’ve learnedEating well4 colors on the plate.&nbsp; Frozen veggies really make this easyStir fries are easy ways to add more veggiesBowl full of blueberries always available to snack onYou can add a lot of veggies into chili and soupsThe Defined Dish by Alex Snodgrass, converts recipes to Whole 30, clean and healthy eatingEmbracing where I’m at.&nbsp; Doing something positive just for me everyday.Love Your Brain YogaYoga nidraMeditation apps: Calm, Insight Timer, HeadspaceGetting back into exercise.&nbsp; Working out now is more about what feels good rather than having lofty goals.&nbsp; Working out without body shame and self-judgement. Inconsistency is ok.&nbsp;&nbsp;Caution keeps you safe.&nbsp; Fear keeps you from doing...

Looking to learn more about how your diet can influence your brain injury recovery? Post-concussion and all other brain injury survivors, go no further!&nbsp; This episode has it all!!&nbsp; Chelsie Moore functional medicine nutritionist, action sport aficionado, and all-around super-smart, bad-ass teaches us about all things brain and gut.&nbsp; We dive deep on neuroinflammation, the brain-gut connection, and hormonal imbalances along with what YOU can do to take control and get better.&nbsp; Grab your pencil and take notes; you’re going to feel inspired to take action after hearing this!Topics covered in this episode:Functional MedicineGetting down to the root cause of what is going on with your healthDiffers from Western medicine as it looks to treat what causes the problem instead of just treating the symptoms of the problemPractitioners in functional medicine spend a lot more time with their clients to uncover root causes and provide individualized careChelsie’s Story--Motocross rider with multiple concussionsShe lost 5 years of her 20s because she didn’t have the right help that she needed.&nbsp; As bad as it was, it led her to turn it on its head and became a functional medicine nutritionist to be able to help others heal their brainsSuicide prevention&nbsp;Untreated brain injuries can lead to chronic inflammation causing mental health struggles which include suicidal thoughtsPeople may feel embarrassed to seek help if they’re having depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.&nbsp; There can be a stigma in the action sports community to not seek help and suffer aloneDon’t be ashamed to ask for help: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/&nbsp;NeuroinflammationThere is a lot we can do for neuroinflammationBrain injuries cause a breach to the blood brain barrier which allows toxins into the brain.&nbsp; That creates a cascade of reactions that cause inflammation (inflammation is an immune response)Anti-inflammatory dietClean dietThe first most basic thing to do is to do lower inflammation in the brain is to eliminate gluten, dairy (casein), and sugargluten and casein fuel trigger an autoimmune reaction called molecular mimicry that fuels the vicious cycle of neuroinflammation&nbsp;What has gluten in it?&nbsp;Learn how to read your food labels.&nbsp; Most food labels have to say if it has wheat (gluten) in itWheat, barley, soy sauce, some condimentsAnything that is “enriched”, “self risen”&nbsp;Graham or durum flour, food starchEmulsifiersMost of the fake meats have glutenHydrolyzed vegetable proteinMaltCammettRyeOats, unless certified gluten freeStabilizersThickenersWheat starch, wheat bran, wheat germ, semolinaWhat has dairy in it?MilkWheyCaseinAnything lacto-based (although some lactobacillus is dairy free)Brown sugar and caramelBinding agentsMore...

Mariah and Eryn were interviewed for episode 72 of the Concussion Talk podcast. If you like what you hear, check them out on a podcast platform near you- they have tons of great interviews and resources for brain injury and concussion survivors!

Two brain injured friends who were able to support each other through their recoveries and then start a podcast...WAIT, WHAT?!?!? We thought that was our thing but were so happy to learn that there are others using their friendships, conversations, and experiences with brain injury to help others! Today we talked with My Brain Injured Friends, Alexandra and Beate about their survivor stories and lessons learned.&nbsp; We quickly became friends! Take a listen, we guarantee they’ll feel like your friends too.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this episode:My Brain Injured Friends (podcast)Alexandra’s story: hemorrhagic stroke survivor due to AVMBeate’s story: ischemic stroke survivorNeuropsych testingDealing with the hard stuffWill you ever get better? When will you be 100%?Dealing with religion and relationships post brain injuryIf you just xxx, your xxxx will go away.&nbsp; Praying, hoping, and wishing for a different circumstance. Why would God do this?&nbsp;TherapyBeing flexible“If God can love you wherever you are, you can love yourself wherever you are.&nbsp; Praying hard for a miracle? Maybe the miracle is what you are going through.&nbsp; Maybe it’s not wishing it away.&nbsp; Maybe you are in this spot to learn something monumental”&nbsp; (33:10)“You get to define why your injury happened, you are the one who gets to see how it changed your life.”&nbsp; As life goes on your perspective changes and the list of lessons that come from it grows longer (33:50)“I am what I am right now” (35:14)Recovery is a lifelong process, version 2.0 of meFriendships may change and some relationships need to be cut loosePodcast lifeStarting the podcasts gave rise to community and addressed feelings of loneliness.&nbsp; We realized we aren’t alone!Opportunities to share with others who totally get it.&nbsp; When talking with other survivors you don’t have to hold back or protect non-injured people’s feelings.Revisiting the injury frequently can be intensely emotionalRecognizing the trauma without getting stuck in itReprocessing&nbsp;“I own the brain injury, the brain injury doesn’t own me. The podcast is a way to pay it forward. [The injury] doesn’t tell my story, I tell my story.” (46:37)It’s easy to think there isn’t a brain injury community since brain injury is invisible.&nbsp; The pandemic has pushed us to do more social media, video chat, and make online connections with others in the community. Yay!Has taught us about our communication stylesYoga Girl podcast, the art of listeningWhat surprised you the most about your brain injury?Cognitive fatigue and speech therapy for thinking therapyHow easy it is to take movement for granted.&nbsp; The brain-body connectionThe amount of information you process visuallyNeuro-optometry: for anyone with visual deficits post-injury.&nbsp; They will teach you how to live and compensate...

What can survivorship look like? This week’s guest has done it all! Join Chloe Luckett, a TBI survivor, program coordinator and community educator for Brain Injury Nova Scotia, yoga instructor for Love Your Brain, and podcast host of Between Two Brains.&nbsp; She found yoga to be a tremendous help in getting her out of learned helplessness and into her new post brain injury life.&nbsp; Listen for inspiration on all you can do to help yourself! You can do it!Topics covered in this episodeSurvivor Story: bike vs carIt takes a week for long term memories to form--this is why you may not remember up to a week before your injuryChloe had several brain bleeds, needed surgery, and was in a comaShe needed rehab for her speech and functionHer time after leaving the hospital and rehab was when the hard stuff set inLoss of independenceIn the hospital it is easy to fall into the role of being the patient, being cared for, and not needing to make decisions for yourself.&nbsp; These times of dependence can have a lasting impact on our mental health, how we think and how we act .&nbsp; It can take a toll on your confidence leaving you unable to make decisions long after you actually can. (9:37)The lack of confidence gets you into a place of questioning yourself and becoming very hesitant.&nbsp; It made Chloe feel unlike herselfChloe’s discovery of yoga helped her out of this place&nbsp;YogaYoga requires one to look into themselves and make the decision to be there; it's very mindfulYoga encourages you to do movements that are right for you; there is always the option of taking a break.&nbsp;You are encouraged to listen to yourself and your bodyLove Your Brain YogaKevin Pearce (founder): US snowboarder who sustained a TBI, fell in love with yoga after his injury and its healing properties for the brain6 week course, one class a week, virtual options available!!Restorative, slower, breaks down the movements into more manageable steps for people with brain injury symptoms (balance, vestibular, etc)What are survivors saying: “I didn’t think I would have ever been able to practice yoga before”Part of the program is a chat with your class after the yoga practice on a relatable topic: i.e. resilience, mindfulnessBenefits of yoga for brain injury survivors, “Why would I want to do yoga?”Breathwork reduces anxietyImprovements in sleepCommunity: connection with others who have brain injuriesHow will Love Your Brain accommodate your brain injury symptoms?They are conscious of your head staying above your heart to help prevent vertigo or dizzinessThe poses focus on keeping your gaze in one spot&nbsp;&nbsp;Brain Injury Nova ScotiaYoga program similar to Love Your Brain- Brain Injury NS allows more types of brain conditions to be included. They have the capacity and ability to accommodate more levels of ability due to smaller classes&nbsp;Programming during Covid:&nbsp;Brain injury community check ins, “How are you doing. How can we help”Virtual programming to reach any one who wants it<li...

Life. Is. Hard! (Thank you Captain Obvious).&nbsp; How we tell our stories and talk to ourselves directly impacts our mental health and abilities, to not only recover from brain injury, but to live a fulfilling life. In this episode we talk about how to love yourself through ALL times.&nbsp; Vanessa Woodburn, integrative health coach, PCS survivor, and author of Bounce Back: Reclaim Your Life After a Concussion joins us with practical advice on self care.&nbsp; Even if you don’t have PCS this episode applies to all brain injury survivors and we venture to say, all humans.&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics covered in this episode:Integrative health coaching: looks at the whole person: emotional, spiritual, nutritional, physical, sleepPost concussion syndrome: there can be a lack of awareness in the medical community of what to do for someone with PCS, “you look fine,” “your test results are fine”Vanessa found she needed to search for help on her ownBounce Back: Reclaim your Life After a Concussion by Vanessa WoodburnApplies to any brain injury.&nbsp;&nbsp;The book focuses on self compassion while doing this work.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gives a stepwise approach for recovery addressing many topics such as sleep, nutrition, exercise, self talk, telling your story, etcWriting our stories (self talk)Is what I’m telling myself true? We have the ability to change our story into positivityRising Strong by Renee Brown.&nbsp; The reckoning, the rumble, and the revolution of our stories.We are neuro-biologically wired to make ourselves safe in our story.&nbsp; We have to search for what is true.&nbsp; Our stories never end and constantly changeNight of the Gun by David Carr: a reporter who had addiction issues that after recovery wrote about his story.&nbsp; He found that the way he represented his story was not actually true, he had created a safer story leaving out difficult parts. After interviewing others he found a more true version&nbsp;The constant rehashing of your story can get you bogged down.&nbsp; What does the revisiting to the story do to your mental health?&nbsp; There have to be points along the way where you release parts of your story so you don’t get stuck. Sometimes you need space from it rather than living in it“If you fight for your limitations you get to keep them” (Jim Kwik).&nbsp; Am I putting a lot of energy to stay in a certain place that doesn’t feel good? You can choose to put your energy into moving forward (16:12)It's a balancing act of listening to what you need but not getting stuck in a spotSelf compassion: with all these things going on, what do I need today? The answer might be different then what it was yesterday. Is today the day to push yourself?&nbsp; (18:45)Self-compassion and Self-care: what will nourish you? Your brain, your body, and your mental health? Self-care considerations:&nbsp;moving your body,&nbsp;how is your sleep?&nbsp;how are you connecting with yourself on the inside, building in quiet so that you can actually listen to what you need?Bring it to a practical level.&nbsp;Kristen Neff, researcher- self care has a ying...

We have heard from many of you that going through a brain injury has been a lesson in listening to yourself at a fundamental level. Having an invisible injury means you have to rely on what your body and mind are telling you; no one else knows! We all have a voice, an instinct, a gut feeling that guides us in knowing what is right. This is intuition. Intuition is alive in all of us. Susan Gorman, Intuitive Counselor, joins us in this episode to unearth the myths and to teach us how to trust and strengthen the voice that is our intuition.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics covered:Common misconceptions about intuitionin our society we marginalize intuition...what we believe about it is that:&nbsp;it is rare- many people don’t have it or experience it, if you strongly believe in it you are weird,&nbsp;it is unreliable, if you can’t confirm it with your 5 senses it can’t be real, and&nbsp;it is dangerous or immoral.&nbsp; (3:56)If you prescribe to a system of thinking that “tells” you what to think, intuition isn’t heardIf you believe in a higher power, it helps you to embrace intuition as it puts you more in tune spirituallyIntuitive counseling is coaching people how to listen to and hear their own intuition&nbsp;Hearing intuition over anxiety and fearMost don’t listen to intuition until it is a last resort.&nbsp; Some don’t listen at allIntuition is not really a mental capacity, it uses language and thought but thinking about something and having intuition are two different thingsIntuition and anxiety/fear cannot exist togetherThe things we spend time worrying about don’t usually come to pass.&nbsp; We waste a lot of time and energy on these types of thought patternsTo listen to our intuition we have to stop the grooves we are used to existing in (the gutter ball analogy).&nbsp; We have to learn to stop fear and anxiety and how to “bowl a strike” to begin thinking clearly (11:14)What does Susan do as an intuitive counselor?Life would be easier if we didn’t have bodies or egos.&nbsp; She believes in tapping in and listening to our spiritEmpathy: she feels your thoughts and feelings as if they were her ownSpiritual connection: we are all connected to each other.&nbsp; The “force” is the energy that connects all living things together and she taps into thatClairvoyance: objective clairvoyance--visual images, seeing it as if it was right in front of you.&nbsp; She sees things others do not and it gives her informationShe does not give advice or tell people what is actually going to happen (unless she fees it very strongly)She helps people identify and figure out what information they want to take in or listen toHealthcare and intuitionA true therapeutic relationship with a healthcare provider is one where you feel comfortable and respected saying anything to the providerThe provider should accept you for who you are and listenTrust your instincts about your healthcare provider and your own health.Protecting the Gift by Gavin De Becker...you have to trust yourself and what you are feeling.&nbsp;&nbsp;Systems (healthcare, legal, social, religious, etc) tend to prime us (women especially) to not listen to themselves in an attempt to please others<li...

Have you ever tried to tell your story while in the middle of it? Seeing the light and lessons can be challenging in hindsight let alone while living it. Ruth Kavanagh who is currently fighting, surviving, and thriving with brain cancer shares her message of hope, courage, and strength in the midst of metastasis. She is a true warrior advocating for others even while she is in the throes of her own treatment. Our souls were touched and tissues were wet during this recording. Be prepared for tears, laughs, goosebumps, and inspiration. We caution you that this is an emotionally powerful episode, please be in a safe space while listening.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this episode:Traumatic vs. Acquired Brain InjuryTraumatic- from an outside injury or force, i.e. car crash, hitting head, concussionAcquired- an internal factor, i.e. lack of oxygen, aneurysm, stroke, infection, brain tumorRuth Kavanaugh’s storyThriver, survivor, fighter!&nbsp;Listen to your body, it will tell you if something is wrongAnaplastic Ependymoma: one of the rarest forms of brain tumor, only about 2% of brain tumors are this type. It is cancerous and extremely aggressive.&nbsp; Because it is so rare there is little research or treatment options.Ruth set her mind that she will get through thisIf you go online, make sure it is a reputable site (see below for suggestions)Radiation therapyCaused extreme fatigueLife after treatment: too tired to do anything and left to your own thoughts.&nbsp; Can be a very dark time.&nbsp;Taking care of your emotional and mental healthRemove the stigma.&nbsp; There is zero harm in seeing a counselor.&nbsp; Only good will come from it.&nbsp; You’ve got nothing to lose!Important to “date around” and find a counselor/psychiatrist who is the right fitThe cancer chaos“Scan-xiety” is a real thing.&nbsp; Cancer survivors, you are not alone when you feel anxious about upcoming scansRecurrence&nbsp;More discussions in tumor boards, consultations, surgeries, and therapiesStereotactic radiotherapyAvastin- side effects bleeding and prevention of wound healingInfectionLoss during hard timesRevisional surgeriesMetastasis, only 25 cases known in the world that spread the way Ruthie’s hasMore chemoLessons for healthcare professionals: listen to your patient, don’t make pre-judgements, be very cognizant of where the patient is now rather than basing all judgement on your past experience with the patient, sitting with a patient lowers the power divide (standing over a patient is very intimidating and strengthens a patriarchal model of care), respect the person as a person (not just a condition)Self-advocacy is advocacy for those who don’t have a voice.&nbsp; By standing up, telling your story, and advocating for better care; you can serve to stand up for those who can’t do it for themselves and help others.&nbsp;“I'm tired, but there is hope!”Strength, courage, and hope through extended trauma“There’s always hope.&nbsp; It doesn’t necessarily mean that there is going to be a magical cure.&nbsp; Look for it in the little things.” Hope can be finally being able to eat real food, getting out of bed, hoping for peace and...

Many of our speakers have alluded to the effects that nutrition has had on their recovery.&nbsp; If you’re like us, you want to learn more but don't know where to turn.&nbsp; This. Episode. Is. It! Susannah Juteau, the Headache Nutritionist, schools us on dietary approaches to headaches, migraines, post-concussive syndrome, and mental health.&nbsp; Do you think this means that you need to follow a super, restrictive elimination diet?? Susannah teaches us a different approach and gives practical advice on how to improve our diets.&nbsp; Listen and learn with us!&nbsp;Topics covered:Susannah’s survivor story and path to nutritional approaches for migrainesSolving headaches requires focus on 3 pillars:SleepStress&nbsp;NutritionNutrition is only part of the solution“A healthy diet doesn’t mean a headache-free diet”Anti-inflammatory diet to treat migraines and headachesMigraines are an inflammatory conditionIt’s not a quick fix.&nbsp; Migraine and headache treatment require an interdisciplinary approach.&nbsp; Work with your practitioners on what they specialize in, advocate for the right people on your teamWhat to expect when seeing Susannah, the headache nutritionistMicro-nutrient assessmentTiming of eating, what are you eatingDiagnostic test: the mediator release test, tells the specific foods that cause inflammation in YOUGoal of treatment is to calm the immune systemTypical approach is to have an elimination diet which is very restrictive. Susannah offers something different.&nbsp; Her approach using the mediator release test allows you to target specific foods to remove rather than whole categories of foodsElimination diets can take a year and may not hit the nail on the head as well as using a mediator release testHow do you know that inflammation is a problem?MigrainesChronic headachesIBSIndigestionMood, irritabilityPoor sleepHigh stressFemales’ hormones and stress response make females more susceptibleMost common food culprits for inflammationProcessed foodsDyesChemicalsMSGWhat to eat:Focus on brightly colored whole foodsTo make this easy: Frozen vegetables and fruits are oftentimes more fresh than what’s in the produce section meaning they are more healthy.&nbsp; They are easy to grab, already cut up, and make a great addition to any meal.&nbsp;Fish: omega-3 fatty acids are essential.&nbsp; Fish is quick and easy to make, bakes in 20 minutes!AnchoviesCodOystersMackerelSardinesSalmon&nbsp;Clams--canned is good too!! Great source of iron.Big bad wolves in nutrition: dairy, gluten, sugar.&nbsp; You might not need to cut them or eliminate every food in each category!! The mediator release test will guide what needs to be removed.&nbsp;Common elimination diets cut all gluten, sugar, and dairy as they are often reactive for people.&nbsp; With Susannah’s approach you cut these for the...

If you have been struggling with putting it all back together post brain injury, this is the episode to listen to!&nbsp; Holly Kostrzewski is a veteran brain injury survivor 21-years out.&nbsp; She uses her experiences to provide encouragement and advice to others experiencing the aftereffects.&nbsp; This episode provides heartwarming inspiration and support for anyone in the throes of recovery.&nbsp; It is a MUST listen!Bulleted list of topics covered:Female Brain Injuries-- all the research until recently has been done on male brains.&nbsp; Female hormone cycles affect how we respond to the injury and healHolly’s survivor storyMotor vehicle accidents are not accidents.&nbsp; They are predictable events due to a cause i.e. you run the stop sign and it causes a crash; the correct term is motor vehicle crash.&nbsp; Calling it an accident diminishes the event to something random.&nbsp; It’s important to determine the causeNeuropsych testing: everyone should have it.&nbsp; It gives a baseline and things to work onThe first five years are the hardestHolly uses a combination of Eastern and Western medicine: craniosacral therapy for pain, kinesiology chiropractor, anti-inflammatory diet and supplementationNutrition and brain injuries: you need to research what will work for you.&nbsp; No two injuries are alike. Some ideas to research for yourself:Limit caffeineClean dietRemove inflammatory foodsSome with epilepsy find keto helpfulResources: Funk’tional Nutrition podcast and Adventures in Brain injury podcast (see resources section below for links)Safety net support systemFatigue, being overwhelmed, poor instincts, mental health, and grief all affect the brain injured person’s safety.&nbsp;&nbsp;Survivors may think they are fine but they need someone watching out for themGrief and depression post injuryIt’s ok to be sad after your injury.&nbsp; Something terrible happened!Medications don’t address the cause of the symptomsGrief is an upward spiral and you never know when it is going to hit you.&nbsp;&nbsp;Grief therapyBereavement overloadThe first five years after injury, you are still acute and trying figure it all outBrain injury symptoms and the grief get diminished.&nbsp; People without brain injuries may try to commiserate with you saying that they have headaches, feel down, and are tired too not realizing how different it is for youTo overcome you need to have an abundance of gratitude and grace for yourself.&nbsp;&nbsp;Find the small victories.&nbsp; Celebrate you! Look at where you were at the beginning of the injury compared to now--you have done hard things and overcome!!!There is a difference between disappointing and devastating events.&nbsp; Brain injuries are devastating!Dealing with the struggleGive yourself graceKeep a positive attitudeMake a plan with goals that you can work on dailyGoogle the lobes of the brain to understand what each part does.&nbsp; It will help you understand your injury and the symptoms you experience&nbsp;Functional medicine or functional neurology could be helpfulRemove alcohol (it lowers your seizure threshold and all brain injury survivors are at higher...

In this episode, Mariah and Eryn give you a peek into who they are, where they are at in their brain injury recovery journeys, and all their favorite binges from 2020.&nbsp; Get to know your hosts and some of the books, podcasts, shows, and food that got them through this year.&nbsp;&nbsp; In This Episode:Mariah and Eryn talk about where they are at in their brain injury recovery journiesWading through the traumaMental healthLessons learned this yearResources for recoveryMy Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power by Lisa Mosconi, Ph. D.The Passion Planner https://passionplanner.com/&nbsp;Joanne Soucy: https://h4hp.org/Brainstorm: From Stroke to my Trusting Place by Joanne M. SusiFavorite Books this YearThe Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany HaddishThe Henna Artist by Alka JoshiSuch a Fun Age by Keily ReidStamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. KendiAmerican Gods by Neil Gaiman<a...

Why do silos show up so much in healthcare?&nbsp; Aren’t they meant for holding grain on farms?? Today we talk with Dr. Taylor Eaves who teaches us all about chiropractic neurology.&nbsp; This specialty looks at the whole person; the physical, the physiologic, and the cognitive to see how each system is affecting the other and creating a problem.&nbsp; They use this information to create a plan that addresses your individualized needs.&nbsp; Treatments are multimodal using a wide combination of therapies to get you back from your brain injury.&nbsp; This is not your traditional crack your back and send you on your way.&nbsp; If you’re looking for someone willing to consider how all your systems work together (rather than looking at each individually), a chiropractic neurologist may be for you!In this episode:What is chiropractic neurology?Ties the physiology, mental, and physical aspects of recovery together&nbsp;They typically see chronic conditions or symptoms post concussion or brain injuryWhat makes chiropractic neurology different?They test the eyes, cognition, and balance; do brain mapping, and combine the many findings into what your brain and body are outputting.Can these outputs be changed? What are the deficiencies?&nbsp;&nbsp;They use this information to make an individualized treatment plan.Chiropractic neurologists look at all the components together rather than in a siloDon’t accept an answer of “this is as good as it gets; there’s nothing we can do.”&nbsp; There’s likely more to be doneBrain injuries disrupt the connections (axons) between nerves.&nbsp; Your brain will compensate but these compensations do not always lead to smooth function.&nbsp; The goal of chiropractic neurology is to find the area of initial trauma and the compensations the body/brain has made for that and treat it all to make the body work as efficiently as possibleTypes of treatments offered: neurofeedback, physical therapy, neurofacilitation, hyperbarics, context specific exercises (training that mimics the goal activity)It is not a crack to the spine and send you on your way!More on hyperbaric chambers: provides oxygen to promote healingMetabolic and autonomic functionBrain injured patients can have trouble regulating automatic functions in the body.&nbsp;Dr. Eaves tracks the heart rate responses (metabolic activity) while challenging a patient to see where their metabolic and autonomic thresholds are. Not pushing beyond a threshold prevents a patient from crashing--have to work within the boundaries to improve themDo I need a chiropractic neurologist?&nbsp;Some things they treat (not all inclusive, they see most anything!): Dizziness, balance issues, severe fatigue, ongoing symptoms, strokes (should try to see as early as possible), headache, post concussive syndromeDr. Eaves recommends a care team of functional medicine, physical therapy, and chiropractic neurology to provide a holistic approach to brain healingAge is not a limiting factor! Any age can be helped with chiropractic neurology&nbsp; &nbsp;Links to any resources mentionedHow to find chiropractic neurologists: Visit the American Board of Chiropractic Neurology website https://www.acnb.org/ --doctor finder tab, this shows diplomate level practitioners meaning they have had 300 hours + of specialized trainingFind Dr. Eaves on Instagram: @dr.e_neurochiroThe Southwest Brain Performance...

“As long as the world is spinning, we are going to be dizzy and we are going to make mistakes.”&nbsp; Thanks, Mel Brooks, but today’s speaker tells us the mistake is not seeking treatment for the dizziness.&nbsp; In this episode, vestibular therapist Dr. Emily Beus DPT, teaches us about different causes and treatments for the spins, the lightheadedness, or the rocking boat feeling that you’ve been living with (unless of course you actually live on a boat, she can’t help you with that). &nbsp; Join us and learn how to get your head to stop spinning!&nbsp;Covered in today’s show:Check in with Mariah and Eryn: What’s one thing you wish you would have known earlier in your brain injury?What is the vestibular system? A sensory system that provides our brain information about motion and spatial orientation.&nbsp; It maintains our balance, movement, and posture.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vestibular Rehab: a physical therapy specialty&nbsp;What to expect with vestibular rehab:Give a history: really important to describe your dizziness--Lightheaded? Faint? Spinning? Off balance? Rocking? Swaying? Floating? Eyes aren’t tracking right? You might have all of them!Your therapist will help guide the conversation to help you identify what your symptoms are; it can be hard to find the words but don’t worry they will help youYour symptoms guide the therapist to what the cause is and what needs to be worked onPeripheral nervous system issues:&nbsp;BPPV: Benign Paroxysmal Positional VertigoPositions such as rolling, bending, or looking up gives the sensation of vertigoYou don’t need to avoid your triggers for vertigo, see a therapist!! They can fix it (and it usually doesn’t take long). Sometimes you’re fixed that day!Mechanical problem in your inner ear: the “crystals” are out of placeTreatment involves laying you in a position that triggers symptoms and then moving the head around to move the “crystals” into a better spotYou can be premedicated to help with symptoms if moving into the position is scary to you--work with your doctor and therapist to arrange thisCentral nervous system issuesOcular motor function: looks at how your eyes are moving.&nbsp; Depending on what your eyes do determines if it is a peripheral or central nervous system issueNystagmusBalance assessment: standing still and with walkingDamage to the cerebellum, a part of the brain that controls balance, is treatable but takes longerAcquired Brain Injuries (an injury that happens without a knock to the head or an trauma)Dizziness might be from blood pressure issues (orthostatic hypotension)Therapy strategies to work with the changes caused in your brainTreatment may be slowerTreatment focuses on strategies on how to be safeTalk to your provider and get an order for physical therapy: great doctors to have on your team are neurologists, PMNR physiatrist; Ear, Nose, Throat doctor (VMG testing that assess the eye movements more in-depth)Check out these resources!:&nbsp;www.vestibular.org (VEDA)Logs that are free to print for tracking symptoms, medications, foods, etcwww.neuropt.orgLots of educational resources written for...

You are the unfortunate recipient of an injury that caused whiplash, concussion, and persistent concussion symptoms (PCS).&nbsp; You do all the physical, vestibular, and vision therapy but the symptoms persist.&nbsp; You experience a constant headache with zapping pain that goes from the back to the front of your head.&nbsp; You’ve tried migraine treatments, you’ve seen specialist after specialist, but nothing helps. Sound like you?&nbsp; Join us in this episode as we learn more about occipital neuralgia (ON) from the founder of the Occipital Neuralgia Foundation, Kayla Smock! Learn more, and find hope and support at www.ONFsupport.org; on facebook at Occipital Neuralgia Foundation; and on Instagram at Occipital.neuralgia.&nbsp;&nbsp;Covered in this episode:&nbsp;Occipital Neuralgia Foundation: The mission is to raise awareness in the medical community and public about ON and to foster research on ON.&nbsp; The foundation focuses on providing an online community to support and educate.&nbsp; They are working on establishing connections in the medical community to pursue research.&nbsp; Social media accounts and the website focus on sharing resources, survivor stories, education, and most importantly providing light and positivity to those with ON.3 in 100,000 people have Occipital Neuralgia diagnosed, likely there are many more but it is not readily diagnosed or broadly known about in the medical community&nbsp;Symptoms: People with ON have constant headaches that do not improve with treatment characterized by a zapping pain from the back of the head to front of the head. They may also have pain down the arms, blurry vision, and eye fatigueTreatment: headache medications, injections: botox, nerve blocks, or trigger point; nerve decompression surgery, radio frequency ablation, nerve excision, neuro-stimulator implant&nbsp;Advice to those going through ON: connect with others who have what you do (see links below), keep advocating for yourself and find a provider who will listen.&nbsp; Doctors are humans, not every doctor knows everything; it's ok to find one that knows about what you’re going through.&nbsp; Have a support person to help you advocate.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Foundation is IN SEARCH OF medical providers and researchers interested in finding a cure.&nbsp; Please contact the Occipital Neuralgia Foundation at ONFsupport.orgLinks to resources:www.ONFsuppport.orgFacebook: Occipital Neuralgia FoundationInstagram: @occipital.neuralgia&nbsp; HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!&nbsp;If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:Click here to subscribe via Apple PodcastsClick here to subscribe via SpotifyClick here to subscribe via RSSYou can also subscribe via Stitcher&nbsp;<a...

Mice. They aren’t just the scurrying creatures who’ve made a home in your attic.&nbsp; Their contributions to the brain injury community are substantial.&nbsp; In this episode, we learn how scientists research brain injuries and develop new therapies to prevent some of the devastating effects.&nbsp; Listen to our talk with Paige Martin, Ph. D. in biomedical science who gives us an introduction into the research and genetics of brain injuries.&nbsp; What goes on behind the scenes with brain injury research gives us hope for future treatments and lesser long term effects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics covered in this episode:The relationship between head injury and neurodegenerative diseasesMouse models in the research of traumatic brain injury, diffuse axonal injuries, cerebral hemorrhages, strokesWhat do we learn from mouse model research?How the brain responds to injuryWhat biochemically needs to be turned on or off to promote healingTherapeutics that could be helpful for brain injury and healingGenetics and their role in the healing brain: personalized precision medicineGenetics and predicting the effects of brain injuriesTargeted therapies based on personalized geneticsCurrent research on brain injury&nbsp;Atorvastatin (Lipitor)Medicine to reverse short term memory deficits in concussions and repetitive head traumas

Eryn and Mariah interview fellow survivor, Chris Dittrich, who suffered from a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car crash during his senior year of high school.&nbsp; Early on, his family used a white board posted in his rehab room to post basic reminders (where you are, what happened, goal for day, etc) when memory is poor.&nbsp; The most important message on that whiteboard: KEEP MOVING FORWARD! Chris credits his brain injury with teaching him to be open with everyone around him and comfortable approaching others for help. Chris teaches us that setting manageable goals and achieving them builds confidence. He uses videos on social media to be able to look back and see achievement.&nbsp; Chris believes strongly in being an inspiration to others through actions- showing others that they too can make incredible progress and be a positive influence on others and the world.

In today’s episode we go deep into the world of all things concussion.&nbsp;Concussions are one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries but because imaging can’t “prove” that there is damage, it can turn into one of the most lonely.&nbsp;Good news is, YOU’RE NOT CRAZY! What you’re feeling is real. And it can be treated!&nbsp;It’s not normal to wake up feeling dizzy, foggy, in pain, and off balance every day.&nbsp; Join us today as we talk with Matt Campbell, clinical director at the Midwest Concussion Clinic.&nbsp;Matt provides hope and in-depth knowledge on concussions, PCS, and its treatment.&nbsp;There is an end in sight!In today’s episode, we cover:Concussions: the treatment has changed over the last 18 months--hint, it’s done a 180!Sit and rest in dark rooms for 2 weeks leads to a longer recovery and is a disservice to your recoverySymptoms of a concussion: headache, dizziness, fogginess, balance issuesConcussions need evaluation by a concussion specialistComponents of a concussion evaluationSACT 5, golden standard for immediate diagnosisVOMS assessment, tells them the mostModified Clinical Balance TestTreatment for concussions&nbsp;Psychological effects of concussionsHow return to activity decisions are madeThe insurance aspects of getting care through an athletic trainer: the concussion specialistWorker’s Comp and concussion treatmentEarly treatment is crucialPCS: Post Concussion Syndrome or Persistent Concussion Symptoms?20% of concussions have prolonged symptomsWho’s most at risk: females 18-34 y/o likely due to hormone shifts with females’ cyclesResearch on concussionsTreatment of PCS&nbsp;Relies on the underlying cause&nbsp;5 main causes of PCS: decreased blood flow to the brain, soft tissue injury to the cervical spine, vestibular-ocular relationship (visual therapy), inflammation, psychological aspectsYou’re not crazy!! What you’re feeling is real.Helmets: skull fracture protection not concussion protectionModifications to make to live with concussion and PCSBrain injuries are the ultimate lesson in learning how to listen to your brainThe healthcare system in general may gas-light concussions.&nbsp; There is hope!! There is treatment! Caring practitioners who will help you are out there!!Integrated approaches and other treatments for PCS: PRTMS, neuropsych testing, neurology, vestibular therapyTo find Matt Campbell or to ask any questions, reach out on:InstagramFacebook&nbsp;[email protected] quotes:&nbsp;"Concussion treatment has changed...The goal of concussion treatment is to get back to activity as quickly and safely as possible.""The definition of post concussive syndrome is changing to persistent concussion symptoms. PCS is not something separate from a concussion and its prolonged symptoms.&nbsp; The definition for PCS is symptoms that are lasting longer than 2 weeks in adults and 30 days in adolescents.&nbsp; 80% of the time the brain heals itself.&nbsp; 20% of cases have prolonged symptoms."&nbsp;&nbsp;"You’re not crazy!! What you’re feeling is real. And it can be treated!""Work with your brain, not against...

Brain fog. Trouble concentrating. Difficulty planning and organizing.&nbsp; Trouble with problem solving. Memory issues. Word finding challenges.&nbsp; These are just a few of the symptoms after a brain injury. &nbsp; We have therapy to help us get back to walking and doing our daily activities but who rehabs our thinking and how our brains work after an injury??&nbsp; In today’s episode we delve deep into the world of Speech Language Pathology (SLP) with therapist Emily Overbaugh of Thrive Speech Pathology.&nbsp; She teaches us the instrumental role speech pathologists have in treating the “invisible” parts of our injuries. Join us as we talk about all things thinking-related and how we can recover this crucial part of our brains!!&nbsp;&nbsp;In this episode we cover:When in your course of injury you start speech therapyWhat speech therapy addressesHow you know you need speech therapy.&nbsp; Below are a few symptoms SLP helps with:Fogginess and cognitive fatigueMemory issuesDifficulty with attentionWord finding issues and trouble conversingExecutive function difficulty (ability to plan, organize, and set goals)Cognition, communication, or swallowing issuesProblem solving difficultiesTasks taking longer than usualGetting a cognitive baselineThe relationship between attention and memoryThe role of speech pathologistsStrategies: Goal, plan, do, reviewReduce environmental distractions&nbsp;Plan your time&nbsp;Take breaks and restEvaluate your performance and how it could have gone betterReturn to work strategiesTechnology that will help you (hint: use your smartphone)Advice for caregivers of brain injured people: it’s a family injury!Recognizing brain fatigue and what to do about itUnderstanding your own boundaries: learning how you think and acting on thisComing to terms with your “new normal”Final thoughts:&nbsp;self advocacyfind providers you really connect withdealing with the “shoulds,” “I should be able to do this,” “people say I’m fine, so shouldn’t I be?”--trust your instinctsrest/activity balance--strike a healthy balanceLinks resources from this episode:&nbsp;AnyList: https://www.anylist.com/Todoist: https://todoist.comGoogle calendar: https://www.google.com/calendarAmerican Speech and Hearing Website for a list of providers and their specialities in your area: https://www.asha.org/To follow Emily Overbaugh: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivespeechpath/ Website: https://www.thrivespeechpathology.com/Quotes from the show:Every patient is so different, therapy is individualized based on symptoms.The role of a speech pathologist is to delve into...

Subarachnoid hemorrhage. It’s a mouthful and it sounds terrifying. Join host Eryn Martin as she talks about the subarachnoid hemorrhage that she experienced in&nbsp; May of 2020 in the midst of the US Covid quarantine. Out of nowhere, Eryn was struck by an uncontrollable headache and vomiting after completing an at-home workout. After being rushed to the hospital, she was told by neurologists that she had suffered from a perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage, meaning that she had experienced a spontaneous venous rupture in her brain. Eryn was rushed from her local hospital in New Hampshire to the neurological intensive care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she spent seven days recovering. Eryn talks about her time in the hospital, her return home, what her recovery journey has been like, and the hurdles and surprises along the way. HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!&nbsp;If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:Click here to subscribe via Apple PodcastsClick here to subscribe via SpotifyClick here to subscribe via RSSYou can also subscribe via Stitcher&nbsp;Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.Follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

Our. First. Episode!! Join us for the premiere of the Making Headway Podcast as we learn more about our hosts and what brought them to share with you. We begin our series with Mariah’s harrowing traumatic brain injury recovery journey after being hit by a car while walking to work.&nbsp; This trauma caused a subdural hematoma with a skull fracture. She was placed in a medically induced coma and needed mechanical ventilation for a short time. Her doctors told her it’s a miracle that she is alive. So why did this happen?? Why did it not always feel so joyful? Join us on Mariah’s road to recovery where we take time to talk about mental health struggles post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and lessons learned with the destination of her improved state of mind and a better way of living. HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:Click here to subscribe via Apple PodcastsClick here to subscribe via SpotifyClick here to subscribe via RSSYou can also subscribe via StitcherVisit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.Follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

Join hosts Eryn Martin (subarachnoid hemorrhage survivor) and Mariah Morgan (subdural hematoma survivor) as we chat a little bit about why we decided that we wanted to begin our podcast.Making Headway came to be because, as good friends, we were lucky to have each other to lean on during our brain injury recovery journeys but we quickly recognized how easy it is to feel like you are isolated or alone. In addition to this, it can be hard to find solid advice on how to heal your body and your mind. Our hope is that by sharing survivor stories and practitioner interviews, we'll normalize the recovery process so that other survivors know that they are not alone on their roads to recovery.Full episodes will be launching in November 2020. Check us out at our website: www.makingheadwaypodast.comInstagram: @MakingHeadwayPodcastFacebook: @MakingHeadwayPodcast