| Rod was hurtling down a mountain single track on his | | | | myelin sheath surrounding the nerve fiber that is often |
| mountain bike when he misjudged the bend in the | | | | followed by micro swelling and the formation of scar |
| track. He lost it and broke his arm. After one night in | | | | tissue. According to Kit W. Harrison, Ph.D., at the |
| hospital he was discharged. | | | | Houston Behavioral Health Associates. |
| Peter was playing for his schools 1st XV in the | | | | The process of scarring, can take weeks, months, or |
| penultimate rugby match of the season when he was | | | | even years, to complete. As the axon scars over, |
| tackled and broke two ribs. He was admitted for | | | | fewer and fewer impulses can be carried through the |
| x-rays and discharged with a strapped torso and | | | | tough scar tissue, and the axon may begin to die and |
| instructions not to play rugby for six weeks. | | | | lose connectivity function over time. This accounts for |
| I was out in the mountains marking a route for an | | | | a number of symptoms which could worsen with time. |
| adventure race when we got stuck. In the process of | | | | For a business owner or any person in a position of |
| pulling the 4X4 truck out of a mud hole a metal bar | | | | authority and leadership TBI spells disaster. Within |
| struck me in the face, shattering my left cheek, sinus | | | | months the impact of the injury became evident as |
| cavity and eye socket. After two days in hospital, | | | | Peter was unable to complete his homework and |
| which included six hours of reconstructive surgery I | | | | started withdrawing from his friends. At home he was |
| was discharged. | | | | moody and quarreled with his sister for apparently no |
| Peter, Rod and I were happy that we weren't injured | | | | reason. Rod, as a senior manager tried to keep things |
| seriously. None of us knew that we were suffering | | | | together, but he wasn't up to his normal creativity and |
| from TBI, also known as Traumatic Brain Injury and | | | | his department started losing money owing to poor |
| that the life as we knew it had already started | | | | decision making. Senior management had no option but |
| changing dramatically. | | | | to retrench him. |
| Peter and Rod barely knew that they had taken a | | | | As for me, as an adventure sportsman and founding |
| knock on the head. In the adrenaline rush of falling of | | | | member of the Adventure Racing World Series I was |
| his bike and the ensuing pain from his arm, Rod didn't | | | | forced to sell my house at a loss and had the bank |
| take the bump on his head seriously; besides, the | | | | repossess my car after 8 months. My sports |
| painkillers took care of the headache. | | | | marketing business closed down shortly thereafter. |
| Peter remembered knocking his head on someone's | | | | Most of my problems could have been avoided if I had |
| knee as he went down in the tackle. He had a bit of a | | | | known that I was suffering from TBI. My natural |
| blank spot and felt a bit groggy, but it cleared up | | | | reasoning was impaired so I never thought to move in |
| quickly. | | | | with a friend or family and rent my house out to cover |
| In the USA 1,5 million people will be admitted for | | | | the bond. I never told anybody that I was having |
| non-fatal TBI annually. It is estimated that a further 3 | | | | problems with motivation and managing my company |
| million sports related TBI incidents are never admitted. | | | | so nobody new or though t to help and this is the first |
| In South Africa 89000 new TBI cases are treated | | | | step to keeping your life normal, which is vital to a |
| annually; in keeping with international statistics an | | | | quick recovery. |
| estimated 200 000 sports related incidents are never | | | | Traumatic brain injury is a silent epidemic and requires |
| reported. | | | | a pro-active response from people suffering from it, |
| Traumatic Brain Injury is classified based on the level | | | | but even more so from friends and family identifying |
| of severity. Sports people will most likely suffer from | | | | the possible symptoms in those they love. |
| Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI), which presents a | | | | If you think you are potentially suffering from TBI you |
| unique framework primarily owing to the fact that you | | | | have to tell those closest to you and get a specialized |
| can suffer from MTBI without ever losing | | | | diagnosis. Unfortunately you cannot rely on an opinion |
| consciousness! Further to this the changes in the brain | | | | from your GP; you have to see a neurologist. |
| are microscopic and will not be seen on a CT or MRI | | | | To help with recovery you have to do three things. |
| scan; and worst of all, the symptoms can start | | | | Firstly you have to start exercising; join a running club, |
| manifesting as much as 2 weeks after the incident. A | | | | not a rugby club! The cross motor exercises will |
| Scottish study found that 47% of people classified as | | | | hasten the recovery as it assists with the creation of |
| having MTBI were disabled to some extend a year | | | | new neurological connections. If you can't run, join a |
| after the incident. | | | | walking club, but get out there. |
| But what are the practical realities for Peter, Rod and | | | | Secondly you must eat healthily. A pro-brain diet |
| I? | | | | excludes sugar and refined carbohydrates and is high |
| We can expect to have to deal with problems in our | | | | in protein and Essential Fatty Acids such as Omega 3 |
| cognitive skills, such as impaired reasoning and problem | | | | and 6. |
| solving skills. To make this worse there is also the | | | | Lastly you have to hang in there. Recovery is an |
| possibility of not being able to express ourselves | | | | extended process and could take anything up to 8 |
| verbally. | | | | years! |
| Then we can also expect be irritable and emotional to | | | | If you are in a position to think that a family member, |
| the extent of suffering from depression. | | | | friend or colleague might be suffering from TBI, you |
| The sum total is that we will be severely challenged in | | | | have to give them support and encouragement. |
| our abilities to cope with challenging situations, to plan | | | | Chances are that they are confused and feeling |
| and implement strategies or to stay focused and | | | | frustratingly helpless. If they are not helped to a correct |
| motivated. | | | | diagnosis soon after the TBI incident they might lose |
| To understand this we have to understand the | | | | self esteem, motivation and all confidence. |
| neurology of TBI. What usually happens in brain injury | | | | A comparative study in the USA came to the |
| at the cellular level is known as "axonal injury." Axons | | | | conclusion that a alarming proportion of homeless |
| are the microscopic nerve fibers of neurons, the brain | | | | people could be in their current situation as a result of |
| cells that communicate with each other. This axonal | | | | an incident of TBI in their past. Without help and |
| injury can occur in localized areas or throughout the | | | | support I believe that it is quite likely that I could have |
| brain. | | | | become a statistic. Your knowledge can make a |
| Axonal injury occurs as a microscopic tear along the | | | | difference. |