Brain Injury Support Group
Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Outcome can be anything from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. A coma can also affect a child's brain.
I value your opinions. I have a appointment with my neurologist on 2/14. He ordered an MRI on brain and neck which I had to be put under anesthesia. My TBI was 5 years ago, shearing on the left side of brain with several subdural hematomas. Left me with difficulty in walking, talking, and putting thoughts into words. Recently my coordination is getting worse as is my balance. So my neurologist ordered this MRI. I figured out some of the words and looked on the Internet for much of the information. I don't understand much of what I read in the MRI report and need some knowledge from you all that would help me to ask the right questions to my neurologist. Here is the report:
"Findings
There is no available comparison study. There is no restricted diffusion.
There is cortical encephalomalacia along the temporal and parietal lobes. There are old blood products along the left cerebral convexity. There is no. mass effect effect or midline shift. There is no hydrocephalus.
There is mild volume loss and chronic small vessel ischemia in the white matter.
There is mucosal thickening in the maxillary sinus. There are mucus retention cysts or polyps in the maxillary sinuses and the left nasal cavity.
Opinion
1. No acute findings.
2. Cortical encephalomalacia with old blood products along left temporal and parietal lobes."
From what I can tell this report does not isolate what is causing these problems now or am I missing something?
Your input is greatly appreciated.
"Findings
There is no available comparison study. There is no restricted diffusion.
There is cortical encephalomalacia along the temporal and parietal lobes. There are old blood products along the left cerebral convexity. There is no. mass effect effect or midline shift. There is no hydrocephalus.
There is mild volume loss and chronic small vessel ischemia in the white matter.
There is mucosal thickening in the maxillary sinus. There are mucus retention cysts or polyps in the maxillary sinuses and the left nasal cavity.
Opinion
1. No acute findings.
2. Cortical encephalomalacia with old blood products along left temporal and parietal lobes."
From what I can tell this report does not isolate what is causing these problems now or am I missing something?
Your input is greatly appreciated.
No acute findings says to me that you aren't in immediate danger.
Opinion #2 - defines the problem areas that were found.
Take the report with you and take along a pen so you can ask the doctor to break it down and use terms you can understand. Write it down to help you understand better. Much of medical terminology is intimidating due to lack of understanding.
Does "no available comparison study" mean they don't have a prior MRI to compare this to? Did you have one when you suffered the TBI? If you did, that might help show potential changes.
I would ask about the encephalomalacia- ask the neuro what this is, and if it is a result of the TBI or something new. Especially since they put it in the "Opinion" section.
I would look up the terms if you haven't already, and then ask the neurologist what each of them means/what effect those could have. My feeling is that they have to comment on anything that shows up slightly different than normal.
Good luck!
He put me on new medications and ordered an EEG because those with that area of the brain that was damaged are prone to
Parkingtons disease but he did not think I have early signs of it. Then why the hell do I shake so much and so often now? Oh well more testing and more medications. On the merry-go-round again. ;)
Hey thanks all for your input, it prepared me better for the appointment.