WHAT KIND OF TREATMENTS ARE OUT THERE?

When you first had your accident, ambulance attendants likely did assessments and early management of physical symptoms. This happened at the accident site. The most important thing is to get the patient medically stable, making sure they can breath and their heart is working well. They make sure to stop the bleeding. Patients may also experience shock which may have been treated on site or at the hospital. Open wounds are bandaged but not cleaned or treated until a complete examination of the body can be done. Intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the main concerns for doctors. ICP is caused by swelling because of bruising and bleeding in the brain. If the pressure becomes too intense it may require surgery to relieve the pressure in order to avoid further risk of brain damage. Medical professionals will monitor the (ICP) and give intravenous fluids to make sure blood oxygen levels are kept high. They will also be watching for seizures, aneurysms and strokes. Once stable, common treatments are positioning the patient to avoid ICP (like sitting up not lying down), and medications to reduce fluid retention, avoid seizure, and medications to put the patient into a coma so they can heal faster. Surgery is sometimes required to reduce the ICP or to remove blood clots by drilling holes or removing a piece of skull. Doctors will also use omega 3 fatty acids to improve body energy to improve healing, highly oxygenated artificial blood to interrupt brain cell death and keep cells alive longer and the use of progesterone which contains protective elements. Some less common treatments at this stage are hyperventilation and lowering the body temperature to slow the spread of more injuries. Once the patient is ready, cognitive rehabilitation is usually required. Common forms of therapy are: occupational, speech, organizational and hand eye coordination. Following is a list of not so common therapies: • Healing touch • Acupuncture • Message • Reiki • Cranio sacral • Aquatic • Hippotherapy (horse riding) • Prayer • Hyperbaric oxygen • Neuro biofeedback • Visceral release or manipulation • Lymph drainage • Reflexology • Electrodermal testing