#chambertreatment

[treatnow]

Explaining the Myths and the Myth-Makers Behind the Concussion Protocol

Bloodletting became popular in early American history; Benjamin Rush, a prominent Philadelphia physician and a signer of the Declaration of Independence fiercely advocated its use. One critic wrote: “By virtue of his social and professional prominence, his position as teacher and his facile pen, Benjamin Rush had more influence upon American medicine and was more potent in propagation and long perpetuation of medical errors than any man of his day. To him, more than any other man in America, was due the great vogue of vomits, purging, and especially of bleeding, salivation and blistering, which blackened the record of medicine and afflicted the sick almost to the time of the Civil War.” BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: Concussion Protocols are rooted in a series of medical myths: the "best treatment" for a Concussion is recognition, rest, time, symptom reduction, second-hit avoidance, information, and certainty that most concussions heal on their own. So, just give them time. This medical negligence allows too many victims of brain wounds to slowly atrophy and die of complications attributable to untreated wounds to the brain. ************ Bloodletting, or phlebotomy, was one of those centuries long medical activities that finally surrendered to modern science. Loss of too much blood under medical supervision probably killed George Washington. Though still used in some accredited interventions, we have learned much more about disease and are aware of the grip that guessing and hoping and "truth" held over physicians. Gratefully, time has helped advance the practice of healing. But not where concussions are concerned. Myths are stories told to get people to believe. They are widely held but mostly false ideas and beliefs. Historically they are marketing devices to convince a whole class of people to believe and act in a certain way. Stories told long enough become "truth." Bear with me; this all relates to why “appropriate health care professionals” worldwide with certified Concussion expertise get it so wrong, and en masse. Memes, which circulate units of cultural information much in the same way genes pass on biological information, can become pathological when they propagate false ideas. They become like "thought viruses" that have to be fought and eradicated. Centuries of medical myths have killed. As Heston and Gosselin have put it: Putting logic ahead of the scientific method, excessively relying upon expert opinion, and an incomplete understanding of biostatistics all contribute to the etiology of a medical myth. Yuval Noah Harari in NEXUS makes a salient point: when religion and medicine together create a myth, it is liable to stick around for centuries. Witch hunting was sanctioned to root out a global satanic conspiracy that was polluting civilization. Orgies, cannibalism, child murders, satanic conspiracies and pollution of genetic purity still fuel "witch hunts" to this day. The point is that wrong ideas do not have to be true to have staying power, and to defeat facts. Wrong ideas have power to kill good ideas, good science, and evidence based medicine. The NFL has done a terrific job of embedding itself so deep into American society that it has the overtones of a religion. And the NFL's protocol has the "weight of evidence" behind it. To repeat: nothing in the NFL's Concussion Protocol, especially the Return to Participation Protocol, discusses a brain wound, or intervention with HBOT to reduce inflammation, flood the brain with oxygen, and heal the wound. It is all about symptom identification and resolution, despite accumulating evidence that delay in actual brain wound treatment can lead to lifelong degeneration. The myth continues: Keep adding to observers to ensure we don't miss the symptoms, but just wait a while for them to go away. That blue tent on the sidelines and the walk to the locker room are for privacy and diagnosis, not healing medicine. We'll keep coming back to the Myths and Myth Makers in the coming weeks. NOTE: One professional society that continues to evolve around Veterans' issues is the Court system. The first Veteran Treatment Courts (VTC) was created in Buffalo, New York in January 2008. The number of VTCs has since grown to over 600 in the United States as of 2021. VTCs know enough about Veteran trauma to know that a new/enhanced system to treat Veterans in legal peril was required. Would that the medical culture had evolved vis-a-vis TBIs; Veterans would be receiving brain wound healing that we now know is superior to life-saving compared to the standard of care in the VA. NOTE: To experience the birth of a series of concussion myths and mythmakers, view "League of Denial." NOTE: A new study out of England "suggests that repeated head injuries, such as concussions, a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), may reactivate a common dormant virus in the brain, increasing the risk of AD and other neurodegenerative conditions. Researchers found that even mild brain trauma can trigger this chain reaction, leading to harmful changes associated with memory loss and cognitive decline. When the brain tissues were exposed to repeated "mild blows," the previously dormant HSV-1 virus became active. This reactivation triggered inflammation, beta-amyloid plaque build-up, and the formation of harmful tau proteins, which can damage brain cells and impair memory." ****************************** The TreatNOW Mission is ending service member suicides. Along the way, we have learned that we can end suicidal ideation, help end symptoms of PTSD, get patients off most of their drugs, and heal brain wounds to end the effects of Concussion, BLAST injury, mild TBI Persistent Post Concussive Syndrome, and polytrauma from AHI and Burn Pits. www.treatnow.org Information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made. Read the full article

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Concussion: Brain Wounding Typically Not Treated

Every person with a Concussion has a right to be told that a safe and effective treatment exist to help heal the brain wound. Hoping a Concussion Protocol will somehow allow a brain wound to heal borders on medical negligence. Concussion Protocols worldwide have a built-in bias toward an outmoded approach to brain wounds/TBI/PTSD/Concussion/BLAST. None of the protocols mention Oxygen treatment to repair the underlying brain wound/trauma caused by the concussion. They offer "resting" advice to parents of children with concussions, who often have debilitating symptoms. Concussions are a brain wound, a form of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) A concussion is a wound/physical tauma to the soft tissue we call the brain. A concussion begins a negative “concussion cascade” that can lead to serious and sometimes fatal consequences. This brain wounding is accompanied by symptoms of confusion or disorientation, sometimes loss of consciousness, and memory loss. It is often described as having your "bell rung." While it is true that these symptoms will diminish over time in many cases, there can be long-term physiological and other consequences when you do not treat the brain wound. What is this Concussion Cascade, and why haven’t I been told about it? It has been very difficult to “see” the wound/damage to the brain on routine X-rays, including CT scans and MRIs. Medicine diagnoses concussions by identifying the symptoms. You are assumed to be “better” when those symptoms go away. Doctors typically say that 80-90% of concussions heal on their own. What about the 20% whose symptoms remain? The Concussion Cascade can include these findings: - Inflammation - Reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery to brain cells - Reduced nutrients and enzymes necessary for wound healing/repair - Physical damage to brain matter at the microscopic level and not seen on X-rays, CT scans or MRIs - Oxygen starvation/hypoxia - Cell inactivation and death - Buildup of waste in the brain that can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in some cases And don't be shocked to learn that the same people that tell you everything will be fine in time, they are quick to warn about a second concussion. But if everthing is okay if you follow the Concussion Protocol, why worry about a second or a third? Well, maybe because there is residual damage from the brain wound that never healed. Concussions are typically a mild form of traumatic brain injury (mTBI). To understand concussions in the context of all brain wounds, it is instructive to look at just a few of the brain wounds we deal with every day. None are to be taken lightly, yet most are never treated properly: as a brain wound, not as a mental health problem that will somehow magically heal via "the tincture of time." Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by an external force, such as a blow to the head, a penetrating head injury, or a blast injury.  Major Symptoms of TBI can vary greatly in severity and may include: Physical Symptoms: Headache  Nausea and vomiting  Dizziness or loss of balance  Fatigue or drowsiness  Sensitivity to light and sound  Blurred vision  Changes in speech  Weakness, numbness, or tingling in extremities  Seizures  Cognitive Symptoms: Confusion  Difficulty thinking clearly  Memory problems  Difficulty concentrating  Slowed thinking or processing information  Problems with judgment  Behavioral or Mood Symptoms: Irritability  Agitation  Anxiety  Depression  Aggression  Changes in personality  Severity of TBI: Mild TBI (concussion):May involve a brief period of unconsciousness or disorientation.  Medicine says that symptoms typically resolve within a few weeks, but they do little to adequately treat and heal the brain wound Moderate TBI: Loss of consciousness for an extended period. Possible confusion and disorientation for hours or days.  May experience more severe cognitive and physical symptoms. Severe TBI: Extended period of unconsciousness or coma.  Significant neurological damage.  May result in long-term disabilities.  BLAST damage. Blast injuries occur when explosions create high-pressure waves that can damage sensitive organs like the ears and brain. A blast injury is caused by the intense energy released in an explosion and can lead to a wide range of injuries, depending on the type of blast. 1. Primary Blast Injury This type of injury results from the direct effects of the blast wave on the body. It primarily affects air-filled organs, such as the lungs, ears, and gastrointestinal tract. - Concussion or brain injury: Loss of consciousness Headache Dizziness Cognitive difficulties (memory loss, confusion) - Ear damage: Tympanic membrane (eardrum) rupture Hearing loss or decreased hearing Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Ear pain or pressure Balance issues or vertigo - Pulmonary (lung) injuries: Pulmonary contusion (bruising of lung tissue) Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) Hemothorax (blood in the chest cavity) Respiratory distress or failure Hypoxia (low oxygen levels) Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) - Gastrointestinal injuries: Bowel perforation or rupture Abdominal pain or distension Nausea and vomiting Gastrointestinal bleeding General Symptoms of Blast Injury - Shock (hypovolemic or neurogenic shock) - Pain (due to tissue damage, fractures, or burns) - Confusion or altered mental status (due to brain injury or shock) - Loss of consciousness (can be temporary or prolonged) - Respiratory distress (due to lung damage or blocked airways) - Bleeding or bruising (due to internal injuries or shrapnel wounds) - Fatigue and weakness (due to trauma or blood loss) Long-Term Effects - Cognitive or psychological issues (such as memory problems, mood disorders) - Chronic hearing loss or tinnitus - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Chronic pain and disability due to fractures or soft tissue damage - Pulmonary problems or chronic lung disease (if lung injury was significant) Polytrauma and Operator Syndrome are more complex and additive injuries suffered along with brain wounding. What is true for mTBI/Concussion is also true for these conditions. Short of death, these are the worst war and accidents can serve up. Proper diagnosis and proper treatment are mandatory to restore near-normal function. And that includes treating and healing brain wounds. You do not have to sit idly by hoping a Concussion will heal on its own when you follow the Concussion Protocol. NOTE: Ask yourself where in the NFL Concussion Protocol, or ANY protocol in high school or college or the NHL or FIFA or your local hospital, any attention is paid to treating and healing the brain wound. Here's a taste: The NFL Concussion Protocol is a multi-step process designed to evaluate and manage players suspected of having a concussion. Here's a simplified summary:  1. On-Field Evaluation: - Spotting the injury: If a player displays concerning symptoms (e.g., dizziness, confusion, loss of balance) on the field, medical personnel are immediately alerted.  - Sideline assessment: A brief initial evaluation is conducted on the sideline to assess for any "no-go" symptoms (e.g., loss of consciousness, seizures, severe motor weakness).  2. Locker Room Evaluation: - More thorough examination: If concerns remain, the player undergoes a more comprehensive evaluation in the locker room. This includes neurological tests, cognitive assessments, and balance tests.  3. Independent Neurological Consultant (INC) Evaluation: - Independent assessment: An independent neurologist examines the player to provide an unbiased evaluation.  4. Return-to-Play Protocol: - Gradual progression: Players must pass through a series of steps before returning to play, including: Rest: Initial rest and symptom monitoring. Light aerobic exercise: Gradually increasing physical activity.  Non-contact drills: Introducing non-contact football activities.  Contact practice: Gradual reintroduction to contact drills. Full practice participation: Returning to full practice with the team. 5. Ongoing Monitoring: - Continued observation: Players are closely monitored for any recurring symptoms throughout the return-to-play process.  Key Points: - Player safety is paramount: The protocol emphasizes the importance of player safety and aims to prevent premature return to play.  - Independent evaluation: The involvement of an independent neurologist ensures unbiased assessment.  - Gradual progression: The step-wise approach allows for a safe and gradual return to play.  - Ongoing monitoring: Continuous monitoring helps identify any potential complications. Note: not a word about brain inflammation, reduced oxygen, healing the brain wound. The NFL spends more time healing ACLs, hamstrings, and broken bones than it does on brain wounds. Yet more former players succumb to suicide or CTE than to orthopedic injuries. Of course, those players are off the NFL's books by that time. Heal Brains. Stop Suicides. Restore Lives. TreatNOW ****************************** The TreatNOW Mission is ending service member suicides. Along the way, we have learned that we can end suicidal ideation, help end symptoms of PTSD, get patients off most of their drugs, and heal brain wounds to end the effects of Concussion, BLAST injury, mild TBI Persistent Post Concussive Syndrome, and polytrauma from AHI and Burn Pits. www.treatnow.org Information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made. Read the full article

[treatnow]

VETERANS' DAY, 2024: A Day of Remembrance for Veterans Denied Medical Treatments Part 1

“et us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower   Eric Koleda, USAF Vietnam Era Veteran, National Director, TreatNOW State Legislative Efforts, President and Co-Founder, HBOT4KYVETS.com The Diabetic Foot Ulcer and Lower Limb Amputations Epidemic: Veterans with DFU’s Dying at Historical Levels From Avoidable Amputations According to a 2022 report to US Congress with data provided by Dr. Steven Lieberman, VHA Under Secretary of Health, more than 796,340 Veterans have died from Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) Lower Limb Amputations (LLA) since 2001. That is more than all Veterans KIA (623,982) since the beginning of WW I. Approximately 93% of these Veterans were denied access to HBOT or not provided medically required ‘Informed Consent” about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Using worldwide and industry standards, HBOT is proven to prevent amputations in 74% of DFUs, thus preserving limbs and life. "Time is Tissue" and lengthy delays providing the healing power of HBOT can result in gangrene and amputation. This is a National Tragedy which is preventable, but Veterans are largely and routinely denied access to FDA, CMS and Tricare-approved HBOT treatments, resulting in their premature DFU/LLA deaths. Help TreatNOW.org make FDA, CMS and Tricare-approved Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy available to all Veterans meeting DFU Medicare criteria or in the ten states which have legislated HBOT for TBI Veterans - go to TreatNOW.org- a National Veteran Advocacy Group advocating approved Hyperbaric Oxygen programs for Veterans with DFUs, TBI and PTSD. Please call us to discuss. Take care of yourselves, and if you can, a Veteran too. ****************************** The TreatNOW Mission is ending service member suicides. Along the way, we have learned that we can end suicidal ideation, help end symptoms of PTSD, get patients off most of their drugs, and heal brain wounds to end the effects of BLAST injury, mild TBI Persistent Post Concussive Syndrome, and polytrauma from AHI and Burn Pits. Diabetic Foot Ulcers have become a major emphasis. www.treatnow.org Heal Brains. Stop Suicides. Restore Lives. TreatNOW Information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made. Read the full article

[treatnow]

Brain Science: Election Day +2, 2024 Personal, Congressional, and National Accountability

"Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be." - Sydney J. Harris The sky hasn't fallen. But this isn't about politics, though nothing these days seems to be free of tough choices amidst competing interests and "truth." This is a reflection on choices we as a country face with respect to medicine, specifically brain wounds, mental health, and modern alternatives and supplements to standards of care that are outdated. Consider: Compared to most of medicine, Brain Science is in its infancy. A quick review of the historical record shows the recent rush of new science: Early-history: Trephination, an early form of brain surgery, was used to treat a variety of conditions, including: Relieving pressure in the skull, Treating symptoms of epilepsy and sinusitis, and curing supernatural or otherworldly conditions. Remains of the brothers, who lived during the Bronze Age between 1550 BC and 1450 BC, were found with holes in their skulls during an excavation of a tomb in the ancient city of Tel Megiddo. The Incas beat Europeans to it, but fossils show that brain surgery may have begun around 2.5 million years ago, during the late Paleolithic period. Pre-modern: Al-Zahrawi performed surgical treatments for head injuries, skull fractures, and other conditions in Al-Andalus from 936 to 1013 AD. Simple neurosurgery was performed on King Henri II in 1559 after a jousting accident. He didn't survive. 18th century: The Industrial Revolution led to economic and technological growth, which in turn led to medical progress.  19th century: Scientists made discoveries and inventions that helped identify and prevent illnesses, and understand how bacteria and viruses work. Anesthetics were developed, and medical training improved. Cushing ushers in modern neurosurgery in 1895. 20th century: Research focused on infectious diseases and how they spread. Many pathogenic organisms were discovered and classified, including viruses, which cause diseases like polio, measles, and mumps.  1950s: Antibiotics were discovered, and the mechanisms of metabolic diseases were understood.  1960s and 1970s: The scientific method became more important than tradition and authority. Treatments had to be shown to be effective through statistically sound techniques.  1980s to 2000: Robot-assisted surgery, Vaccine for Hepatitis “B”; MRI scanner; Statins; Laser Cataract Surgery; Gamow bag (hyperbaric bag for treating altitude sickness); tiny camera on a pill; Radiosurgery (for epilepsy and malignant tumors); Viagra. 2000 to present: Human Genome completed; CRISPR; worldwide BRAIN projects; Nobel prize for importance of oxygen, discovery of the glymphatic system, (re)discovery of translational/functional/ alternative medicine. In 2024, "invisible wounds" are no longer invisible. Brain scanning and sophisticated biomarker techniques can reveal brain wounds and provide hints for interventions to cure those wounds. And we continue to discover many of the mechanisms of action that impede brain health, and how HBOT addresses conditions like inflammation, oxygen delivery, proliferation of stem cells, healing, restoration of brain functions necessary for health, and ageing. The glymphatic system, an undiscovered body system until 2012, helps the brain clear metabolic waste, excess fluid, and proteins. It's thought that glitches in the glymphatic system may contribute to the buildup of harmful waste in the brain, which could lead to conditions like Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. HBOT, by reducing inflammation and growing new blood vessels, restores glymphatic system regularity. Consider the impact of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on our understanding of brain mechanics. The prize was awarded to William G. Kaelin Jr., Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, and Gregg L. Semenza for their discoveries about how cells sense and adapt to oxygen levels. The scientists' work revealed the molecular machinery that regulates gene activity in response to oxygen levels. This process is essential for hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). Dr. Shai Efrati, a veteran HBOT researcher, has recently published BEYOND NORMAL, How the new Science of Enhanced Medicine Elevates Peak Performance and Repairs Brain Injury. In it, he speaks directly to the power of Hyperbaric Oxygenation, coupled with HIF, to restore brain function. His ground-breaking work provides remarkable insights about oxygen delivery for Stroke, Concussion, PTSD, Fibromyalgia, neurologic disorders like Alzheimers's, peak physical performance, and the science of "reverse ageing." Bottom line: new advances in medicine have escaped many medical school graduates who have never heard of HBOT, the glymphatic system, or HIF. Sadly, medicine and insurance rules make it difficult for doctors to really listen to patients to do proper diagnoses, The lack of time to read outside their discipline means doctors are uninformed. Victims of brain wounds are underserved and often unknowing about safe, effective, available, and less costly interventions to deal with their mis- or mal-diagnosed TBI/PTSD/Concussion. In the midst of a complex and often contentious healthcare landscape, we find ourselves grappling with critical choices that directly impact the lives of countless individuals suffering from brain injuries and mental health challenges. The urgency for modern alternatives to outdated care standards has never been more pronounced, as we witness the heartbreaking epidemics of suicide, concussions, and mental health issues affecting veterans and civilians alike. At TreatNOW, we are committed to illuminating the path forward by educating key stakeholders—Congress, the Department of Defense, and the general public—about the proven benefits of innovative treatments like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Our efforts are driven by a deep compassion for those struggling with the aftermath of brain wounds and a resolute belief in the power of timely intervention to facilitate healing. As we tirelessly advocate for policy changes that will enhance access to effective treatments, we invite you to join us in championing this vital mission. Together, we can break the logjam and ensure that those in need receive the care they deserve. ****************************** The TreatNOW Mission is ending service member suicides. Along the way, we have learned that we can end suicidal ideation, help end symptoms of PTSD, get patients off most of their drugs, and heal brain wounds to end the effects of BLAST injury, mild TBI Persistent Post Concussive Syndrome, and polytrauma from AHI and Burn Pits. Diabetic Foot Ulcers have become a major emphasis. www.treatnow.org Heal Brains. Stop Suicides. Restore Lives. TreatNOW Information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made. Read the full article