Concussion & Brain Injury Management in Edmonton

TruMed offers Edmonton Alternative Concussion & TBI Treatment

Brain Injury Background: 

What is a TBI?

TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury is an alteration in brain function, or evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force.

Symptoms of a TBI vary from mild to severe.

TBI pathogenesis: After the primary injury, there is secondary injury to the brain - secondary to raised intracranial pressure, reduced oxygenation, activation of microglia, release of excitotoxic neurotransmitters and altered calcium homeostasis.

What is a mTBI?

Up to 90% TBIs are classified as mild TBI or mTBI with a loss of consciousness less than 30 minutes, post traumatic amnesia of less than a day and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13–15.

What is a Concussion?

Concussion is often used as a synonym for mild TBI, but it is used more specifically to describe the symptoms and signs that an individual may experience after a mild TBI.

Most concussion symptoms resolve in 5-10 days.

What is Post Concussion Syndrome?

Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is when the symptoms remain beyond 14 days .

The main PCS symptoms are headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, loss of concentration and memory, and noise sensitivity - and these symptoms can linger for months.

Some patients experience Prolonged PCS (PPCS) where the symptoms last for over six months.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen?

Use of a Hyperbaric Chamber, which provides 100% pure oxygen under pressurized conditions, can cause a 10 -15 fold increase of oxygen in the blood which facilitates healing.

Can Hyperbaric Treatment help with Concussion management?

Yes! Strong data from multiple clinical trials and case reports supports a very unique and real effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of chronic Brain Injury and Concussion (Post Concussion Syndrome).

We'll dive into some of the studies further down this page.

The regeneration process after Brain Injury and Concussion requires much additional energy and Hyperbaric Oxygen can supply the substrate to produce energy needed for brain repair.

How can IV Therapy help with Concussion management?

At our Edmonton office, our Naturopathic Doctors infuse Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, and Anti-oxidants directly into the blood stream with IV Therapy to provide nutrients needed for brain repair.

Clinically speaking, Glutathione is a favorite at our Edmonton clinic for rapid improvement of Post Concussion Syndrome symptoms and lately (2022) we've been tinkering with IV NAD+ for fatigue and brain fog associated with Brain Injury.

Generally speaking, we love using IV Therapy because it can give extremely rapid benefits in some patients.

Regular IV Therapy treatments (1-2x weekly) have proven sufficient for numerous Post Concussion Syndrome and Brain Injury patients - usually 8-12 weeks of treatment is done. Hyperbaric and IV treatment is ideally done "back to back."

How does Hyperbaric Oxygen help in Brain Injury?

When it comes to Brain Injury & Concussion treatment, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has five main areas it affects that are relevant - increased brain tissue oxygenation, anti-inflammatory effects, reduced neuronal death (apoptosis), neurogenesis as well as stimulating release of stem cells!

All of these Brain Injury related mechanisms, and many more are why we are the only Naturopathic Clinic offering Hyperbaric Treatment in Edmonton.

This is us.

Concussion & Brain Injury - Human Data

Our Naturopathic Doctors use evidence informed treatments for Brain Injury and Concussion management at our Edmonton centre.

We've selected some key studies to share regarding Hyperbaric Therapy and Brain Injury and Concussion treatment.

Harch (2012) - 16 war veterans with mild to moderate Traumatic Brain Injury with Post Concussion Syndrome and PTSD using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. 

80% had an improvement in the majority of their symptoms in this case series.

Harch (2017) looked at 30 military subjects aged 18-65 with Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome with or without PTSD using Hyperbaric Therapy.

Significant improvement was seen in multiple areas including neurological exam, memory, dominant hand motor speed and dexterity, as well as mental emotional symptoms such as general anxiety, PTSD and depression. Furthermore, at 6-months subjects reported further symptomatic improvement.

Boussi-Gross et al. (2013) looks at use Hyperbaric treatment in 56 patients with Post Concussive Syndrome up to 6 years after the initial injury.

An improvement was observed in all cognitive measures with effect sizes from medium to large. 

Weaver (2018) looked at 36 patients with mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome.

Improved Post-Concussive and PTSD symptoms were seen  including sleep quality, anger and memory outcomes as well as balance improvements compared to a worsening in the sham group.

Harch 2020 reported results using Hyperbaric Treatment in Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome in 63 subjects on average 4.6 years after their last Brain Injury.

Statistically significant improvements in Post Concussion and PTSD symptoms were seen (see table below)

Questions?

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