Can You Play Sports After a Head Injury? A Guide for Recovery
Can I exercise after a head injury? I suffered a skull fracture and epidural hematoma due to a car accident last July. I underwent surgery to remove the blood clot and have since recovered well. I would like to know if I can now engage in more intense basketball activities.
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: It is best to take it easy or to seek out exercises that do not involve muscle impact. Sincerely, Dr. Ding Hsien-Wei, Neurosurgeon.[Read More] Can You Play Sports After a Head Injury? A Guide for Recovery
Understanding Brain Recovery After Oxygen Deprivation: A Guide for Families
Brain Dear Doctor: My uncle was in a car accident in May, and during the transfer to another hospital, he experienced oxygen deprivation for nearly three hours. During this time, no surgeries were performed. I don't quite understand this situation—can the brain regenerate? I...
Dr. Qiu Yushu Reply:
Hello: Central nervous system cells hardly regenerate. Based on what you mentioned, your uncle seems to be in a vegetative state. Generally, if there is no improvement after six months, it is likely to remain that way. Wishing you good health![Read More] Understanding Brain Recovery After Oxygen Deprivation: A Guide for Families
Diagnosing Olfactory Nerve Damage After Head Trauma: Key Insights
Olfactory nerve Hello Dr. Ding: A friend of mine was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury, suspected to be a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which may have caused damage to the olfactory nerve, leading to olfactory dysfunction. Since smell is a subjective perception, what metho...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: It is recommended to visit the neurology outpatient clinic for a detailed diagnosis. Sincerely, Dr. Ding Hsien-Wei, Neurosurgery.[Read More] Diagnosing Olfactory Nerve Damage After Head Trauma: Key Insights
Understanding Disc Herniation: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Herniated disc Dr. Ding, I apologize for reaching out, but I had a spinal injury from a car accident. After a long period of treatment, I still experience lower back pain and numbness in my right leg. I had an X-ray taken, and the doctor informed me that there were no issues with...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: The causes of back pain are often due to prolonged standing or sitting, or improper use of the lumbar spine, such as repetitive bending or lifting heavy objects. Given your history of injury, along with lifting heavy items, it is likely to recur. Based on your symptoms, th...[Read More] Understanding Disc Herniation: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Understanding Upper Limb Muscle Strength After Injury: A Guide
Issues with muscle strength and flexibility in the limbs? Due to a car accident, the physician at the previous hospital has diagnosed me with a disability in my upper limbs. The diagnosis report states: current muscle strength of the limbs is right upper limb Gr 3-4; left upper l...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: This primarily concerns muscle strength; I recommend discussing it with your physician. Sincerely, Dr. Ding Hsien-Wei, Neurosurgeon.[Read More] Understanding Upper Limb Muscle Strength After Injury: A Guide
Understanding Strong Reflexes: Neurological Concerns After a Car Accident
Strong reflexes Hello Doctor: A year ago, I was involved in a car accident, after which I experienced symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and rapid muscle twitching, but I did not seek follow-up care. About 4 to 5 months later, I began to feel numbness in the left side of my brai...
Dr. Xiao Furen Reply:
Based solely on your description, it is indeed difficult to diagnose; part of it may be post-concussion syndrome. As for what the original physician meant, it would be best to ask him directly for clarification, as I cannot speculate. I recommend returning to your original physic...[Read More] Understanding Strong Reflexes: Neurological Concerns After a Car Accident
Do Unremoved Stitches in Head Wounds Cause Infections? Expert Insights
Can leaving sutures in a head wound too long lead to wound infection? Hello Doctor: My family member had a head injury from a car accident in December 2004, which required four stitches. Recently, we discovered that there is still a protruding stitch about 0.3 cm at the site of t...
Dr. Xiao Furen Reply:
It is recommended to return to the outpatient clinic for evaluation; if possible, it is better to remove it.[Read More] Do Unremoved Stitches in Head Wounds Cause Infections? Expert Insights
Risks and Concerns of Cranioplasty Surgery After Traumatic Brain Injury
Cranial vault surgery I was in a car accident last February, and I suffered a comminuted fracture of the right frontal bone. A month later, the doctor said I needed to have my skull cap replaced before being discharged, so I agreed to the surgery. During the procedure, the doctor...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: It is normal to wake up in the operating room after surgery, as the recovery room is primarily for monitoring the patient's condition once they are awake. The main concern with artificial skull surgery is the risk of infection; other risks are comparable to those of s...[Read More] Risks and Concerns of Cranioplasty Surgery After Traumatic Brain Injury
Understanding Vegetative State: Insights and Hope for Recovery
Vegetative state? Hello, Doctor: I would like to ask you a question. I have a friend who was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury. Currently, he is unable to take care of himself and relies on a feeding tube for nutrition. He cannot eat, walk, talk, or manage his bowel a...
Dr. Xiao Furen Reply:
1. If it is possible to know that someone is calling him, although his IQ is like that of a child, he should not be considered a vegetative state. As for whether he will recover and to what extent, that is uncertain. 2. Regarding care issues, assistance can be sought from the s...[Read More] Understanding Vegetative State: Insights and Hope for Recovery
Understanding Brain Injury After a Car Accident: Recovery and Risks
Car accident? My brother was in a car accident and has been in a coma for a week. He woke up after three days but his cognitive abilities seem to have regressed to that of a child, and he is also speaking nonsensically. The doctors mentioned that there are small blood clots in hi...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: First, the primary purpose of surgery by a neurosurgeon for patients with head trauma is to relieve pressure. Therefore, if the hematoma is not large, surgery is not necessary, as the hematoma will be absorbed naturally. In fact, the severity of the head injury is already ...[Read More] Understanding Brain Injury After a Car Accident: Recovery and Risks
Can Brain Surgery Patients Safely Fly? Understanding Risks and Recovery
Is it safe to fly after having brain surgery? I had a car accident two years ago, which injured my left hemisphere. I underwent brain surgery, and for the past few months, I have been experiencing dizziness at night. If I go out in the evening, I also have headaches. Could this b...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: This is a post-traumatic sequela, but congratulations on your recovery. I recommend that you continue to follow up. If everything goes well, symptomatic treatment may suffice for dizziness and headaches. Whether a patient who has undergone brain surgery can fly depends ent...[Read More] Can Brain Surgery Patients Safely Fly? Understanding Risks and Recovery
Will Limb Lengthening Surgery Damage Nerves? Expert Insights
Will bone lengthening damage the nerves? Hello Dr. Ding! Four years ago, I was in a car accident that resulted in a comminuted open fracture of my right femur. I developed a bacterial infection and underwent eight surgeries. Eventually, my attending physician removed the shattere...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: In principle, limb lengthening surgery should not affect the nerves, and orthopedic surgeons pay special attention to this issue. However, this type of surgery falls within the scope of orthopedics. Please discuss this with your orthopedic surgeon and seek a second opinion...[Read More] Will Limb Lengthening Surgery Damage Nerves? Expert Insights
Why Does the Brain Develop Indentations After Surgery for Head Injuries?
Why does the brain become sunken after surgery for a brain injury? Hello Doctor, my grandmother (76 years old) had a car accident four months ago, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. The doctors diagnosed her with intracranial hemorrhage, and she underwent two brain surgeries....
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: It may be the reservoir of the drainage tube, but since I cannot see it in person, I am unable to provide an answer. Sincerely, Dr. Ding Hsien-Wei, Neurosurgery.[Read More] Why Does the Brain Develop Indentations After Surgery for Head Injuries?
Understanding Scoliosis and Sciatica: Alternative Treatments Explained
Scoliosis with sciatica? I would like to ask the doctor: A few years ago, I was in a car accident, and about a year later, I started feeling discomfort when standing or sitting. After an examination, it was found that I have scoliosis compressing the nerve in my right thigh. Howe...
Dr. Qiu Yushu Reply:
Dear User: We are unable to understand the situation you described. Please take the time to visit our outpatient clinic for a proper diagnosis of your condition. Thank you, Hsinchu Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan.[Read More] Understanding Scoliosis and Sciatica: Alternative Treatments Explained
Alternative Treatments for Sciatica: Beyond Surgery Options Explained
Is surgery the only way to cure sciatica, or are there other methods available? Doctor: Hello, is surgery the only way to cure sciatica? Are there other methods? I have had spinal displacement due to a car accident for several years now and have been relying on acupuncture and ma...
Dr. Xiao Furen Reply:
Sciatica is actually a symptom, and it is important to identify the underlying cause. In your case, the symptoms may be due to a lumbar vertebral slip caused by trauma. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical stabilization may need to be considered. For details regardi...[Read More] Alternative Treatments for Sciatica: Beyond Surgery Options Explained
Understanding Sympathetic Nerve Issues: Solutions for Hand Pain and Numbness
Numbness in the hands? I was involved in a car accident last March, which resulted in injuries to my right wrist and elbow. I consulted both orthopedic and rehabilitation specialists, but my symptoms have shown limited improvement. In recent months, I have experienced numbness on...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Hello: If you are experiencing symptoms of numbness, it may indicate nerve injury, which can lead to issues of numbness and pain. The sympathetic nervous system is a part of the autonomic nervous system and regulates certain reflexes, such as sweating and pupil response. Some of ...[Read More] Understanding Sympathetic Nerve Issues: Solutions for Hand Pain and Numbness
Understanding Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Lower back pain? Hello, I apologize for taking your time. I would like to ask you about a sudden onset of lower back pain I experienced a few days ago. Initially, it was just a simple ache in my lower back, but the next day I began to feel discomfort behind my knees, and later, t...
Dr. Xiao Furen Reply:
Sciatica is essentially a symptom that relies on clinical diagnosis. As for whether the cause is a herniated disc, it is certainly a possibility. The diagnostic tools commonly used are computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is also possible for sciatica ...[Read More] Understanding Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Understanding Post-Trauma Head Pain: Is It a Residual Effect or Something More?
Brain issues Hello Doctor: Six years ago, I was in a car accident and hit my head, losing consciousness at the time. The doctor diagnosed me with intracranial hemorrhage. After resting for about a month, the doctor said the blood clot had dissipated, and I returned to my normal l...
Dr. Chen Changmu Reply:
Hello Zhu Zhu: You have been injured for six years, and the headaches are likely a sequela. It is recommended to visit a neurosurgery outpatient clinic for evaluation.[Read More] Understanding Post-Trauma Head Pain: Is It a Residual Effect or Something More?
Understanding Radiation Exposure: Risks from X-rays, CT, and MRI Scans
Radiation injury I recently had a car accident and underwent X-ray, CT scan, and MRI within a short period of time. I would like to know if such exposure to radiation could cause harm to my body, such as cancer.
Dr. Chen Changmu Reply:
Please have the patient schedule an outpatient appointment and provide detailed instructions.[Read More] Understanding Radiation Exposure: Risks from X-rays, CT, and MRI Scans
Exploring Treatment Options for Spinal Cord Injury After Trauma
Please consult a physician for questions? Hello Doctor! My colleague (male, 40 years old) was involved in a car accident on May 8th of this month, resulting in a compression fracture of the thoracic vertebra (specifically at the eighth thoracic vertebra). He also sustained an inj...
Dr. Xiao Furen Reply:
In general, there are no effective treatments for spinal cord injuries, and rehabilitation is the primary focus. Surgery is mostly limited to decompression and stabilization to prevent further damage to the spinal cord. There are reports indicating that corticosteroids may be eff...[Read More] Exploring Treatment Options for Spinal Cord Injury After Trauma