Traumatic Brain
Injury
A guide to Traumatic Brain Injury, how red light therapy can help and how to access the treatment
What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI?)
Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, describes the effect of some kind of damage to the head and brain, for example from a fall, gunshot to the head, collision during sport, high-speed accident or being close to an explosive blast.
There are many ways in which the brain can be damaged. The immediate effect is to disrupt the normal brain structure, with bleeding and swelling making it difficult for the brain to function properly. There is loss of consciousness and the function of other parts of the body may be affected.
What are the long-term symptoms?
The symptoms depend on the kind of injury and where in the brain it happened. Symptoms often experienced after leaving hospital include fatigue, headaches, and memory difficulties.
Symptoms can be varied - difficulties in walking, talking, coordination as well as problems with vision and hearing. Seizures can start to occur along with unusual emotions, difficulty sleeping or difficulty not sleeping. The sense of self can be damaged, with a surreal and dislocated feeling.
On the outside little might have changed, but on the inside things are different, not right and often hard to explain. It can be frightening for the person living with TBI.
How do red and near infrared lights help TBI?
Red and near infrared light boost the mitochondria, the batteries in all the cells in the brain. This helps brain cells to function as well as reducing inflammation and increasing the number of blood vessels bringing oxygen to the damaged areas.
To be effective, lights need to be shone onto the head at least once daily and for a prolonged period of time.
How quickly do the lights work in TBI?
Everyone is different, and everyone’s injury is different.
Usually subtle improvements can be detected within the first few weeks, but remember that it takes time for new cells to be formed, new pathways to be developed and inflammatory processes to be curbed.
Often others will notice improvements first.
Can you recover from a TBI?
It depends. Many things play a part, for example, the extent of the original injury, the person’s age and health before the injury and the speed with which the person is transported to medical facilities experienced in trauma care.
The brain takes time to recover from all the swelling and disruption. New cells need to be made, brain circuits need to be re-established and created, the inflammation needs to settle down.