Trauma

Question: trauma??????????? Can u stunt ur growth if a human punch hits u in the backbone and causes a trauma (e.g light bruise)? Can a trauma causes by a human punch cause u a herniated disc in a vertebra? what are the chances? can u stunt ur growth if somebody hits u hard in the backbone and u do not have a fracture or a trauma? can u stunt ur growth if u have a herniated disc? can u recover naturally from a herniated disc without any treatment? what are the symptoms of a herniated disc? If u do not have any of those symptoms, can u still grow naturally? is a herniated disc the same as a misaligned vertebra? can a herniated disc cause scoliosis?

Answer: Generally speaking, it won't stunt your growth; growth is only stunted if growth plates are broken, and the most you could to with a punch to the back is break the growth plates of one or two vertebra; and that's unlikely. However, my friend actually lost like a quarter inch of height because that padding was no longer there; so I guess it could stunt it in that area and even make you lose height if you were already done growing when it happened. If all you have is a light bruise, I doubt you'll get a herniated disc. Most of the time those are caused by a big trauma or by repeated stress on the back. You can't recover from a herniated disc even with treatment. The only thing doctors can do now is have you take anti-inflammatory medication. If it's so bad, sometimes they'll recommend surgery to fuse the vertebra together around the herniated disc so that it can't "go out" anymore. Right now there is some experimental surgery going on to replace the herniated disc with a synthetic one, but this is not mainstream medicine. You'll know if you have the symptoms. Your back will hurt. A lot. And you'll end up having to go to the Dr. for it. If you don't have the symptoms, you probably will. I don't think it's the same as a misaligned vertebra. A herniated disc means you've messed up the padding between the vertebra, not the vertebra themselves. I don't know if it can cause scoliosis, because I'm not an expert or anything, but I wouldn't be surprised if the two were related. I've seen my friend without his shirt when his back was out and you could totally tell just from looking because it looked crooked. It looked really painful. If you have any more questions, I'd suggest going to web MD or googling "herniated disc"

Question: What are levels of trauma and how does a hospital determine to be a certain trauma level? Like Level one trauma, Level two, Level 3 and Level four..I don't there's a level five? I watch Discovery health channel and they have shows on there, one happens to be Level One Trauma and they also have Trauma in the ER. Its so fast paced and yet scary but is interesting all at the same time to watch and learn how one assess a patient and handles the method of care. Thanks for answering.

Answer: The levels of trauma are in place to prioritise the order in which the patients are to be seen. Meaning that as a nurse you need to have the skills to decide who is the MOST important patient that needs to be seen by a doctor next. In my country being a trauma 1 means you need to be seen fairly quickly, trauma 5 means last priority. There is no "first in first served" policy in an ER, and this is often the thing that gets patients riled. For instance; If you've been waiting 5 hours for your broken rib to be seen to it's going to be an even longer wait if 2 heart attacks, 1 asthma attack, and 1 head injury come in in the meantime. Another way of looking at the situation is this - ask yourself "who is likely to die first if they don't receive treatment?" Not the broken rib that's for sure....

Question: What do you consider trauma to the belly? I am 31 weeks along and this morning my dog jumped onto the bed while I was sleeping. She weighs about 50lbs. She landed right to the side of me but her paw did touch my stomach. It didn't hurt at all, but what do you consider trauma to be? A dead on kick to the stomach or a car accident, right? I feel fine, but just curious.

Answer: I would say that's not really trauma to the belly, your right a kick a punch something that hit you belly hard and you can feel the pain or it still hurts. I always believe when in doubt call your Dr they know you the best and what's the best for you :)

Question: How do you overcome the trauma of being a first generation immigrant from a dysfunctional family? Firstly moving to a different country at the age of five was major culture shock i think i never actually got over. then living in said country with a family that is so dysfuntional on top of already being differnt because we are immigrants kinda really did me in. To top that off i have borderline personality disorder, dont worry im already in therapy. So do people ever REALLY overcome childhood trauma?

Answer: i have a dysfunctional family on top of us being immigrants as well. here's my theory: in a "healthy" family environment, you're raised at least to have the fundamentals of what's right and wrong and this helps you throughout life with standing up for what you believe in (or being able to adapt to changes in attitudes when new information pops up). however, in a dysfunctional family, all of that is muddled. for instance, my parents taught me to lie and hide things from other people, i got to watch beatings and constant verbal abuse so i assumed that when you really love someone, you've got to provoke arguing because it shows that they really care. in any case, this muddledness bleeds into your adult life so you're never really sure what the right thing for you to do is because you know that even if something feels right or normal for you, it might not necessarily be functional or healthy. it takes time and life experiences to figure out what the right thing to do for you. i commend you for seeing a therapist which means you acknowledge there's a problem and want to get help. but to answer your question, i personally don't believe you ever REALLY overcome that type of trauma, you just live with it as something that is part of your past and makes you the unique person you are. much like a person who loses an arm in an accident will always have a lost arm, they don't have to have a missing arm define who they are just as you don't have to have your traumatic past define who you are. i would also suggest visiting your homeland sometime. you may find the closure you're looking for in that the fantasy you created there is not a reality. (if that's what you're doing). i wish you much peace!

Question: What is the difference between a trauma doctor and an ER doctor? What is the difference between a Trauma doctor and an ER doctor ? And how long does it take to become these types of doctors?

Answer: Trauma is damage to the body caused by an outside force. As opposed to medical, which are problems with the body caused by an inside source. Sometimes these things overlap, normally that's a safe/simplified way to look at it. Knowing that. An ER doctor is a doctor that is in the ER ward. Which is where ambulances deliver patients too. They deal with the patients that come into the hospital complaining of mostly anything. Should these patient need immediate care in a life threatening sittuation, what would usually be consider a "load and go" by EMS, then they are taken past the ER and straight to the Trauma ward. At which point the doctors there will handle the patient.

Question: How is a trauma counseling session conducted? For example, if someone has just been involved in a car accident and they are the only survivor and a trauma counselor is called to the scene, what does that trauma counselor say to the person?

Answer: I'm not sure if you are asking as a professional or someone who feels the trauma counselor should have said something different. In either case, I am a licensed clinical professional counselor, and I specialize in trauma resolution. I've worked with traumatized children and adults in a variety of circumstances. If you would like more information as a trauma victim or as a professional, check out my website. I think I can help you. Not only do I work with clients, I am also a supervisor for helping professionals. Hope to hear from you! Kerrie Wheeler, LCPC

Question: What are the college requirements for a trauma therapist? I live in Tennessee and I am about to graduate high school. I plan on going to college to study clinical psychology. What credits do I need to qualify as a trauma therapist? In Tennessee.

Answer: Some information is below./

Question: What do trauma surgeons usually operate on? Do they get to operate on the brain? What are the most common surgeries that they perform? I'm deciding between neurosurgery and trauma.

Answer: Trauma surgeon's are a quick patch work. Like if someone comes in with a gun shot wound or severe lacerations ect... More of like a one the spot kind of thing. Most of it isnt planned.

Question: It it possible that recent trauma can combine with years of serious past trauma to cause a delayed reaction? Such as a delayed but severe panic disorder, post traumatic stress, or agoraphobia or the like. Is it common for extreme trauma or torture, spread out over a long time, to just hit you hard all of a sudden years later under the right conditions, like a slow buildup of signs over the years, then... BAM major reaction later?

Answer: Absolutely, in fact ptsd and agoraphobia and severe panic disorders usually don't happen until the victim is in a place of relative safety. After living for years in survival mode, in the grips of the 'fight or flight' response, it takes years sometimes for the mind and body to begin relaxing enough to begin the healing process. As frightening as they are panic disorder, ptsd, bipolar and agoraphobia are the beginnings of the journey back into sanity and reality. Or for the very first time for some of us.

Question: How is unrelenting trauma pain possibly connected to MS? I fell in a hole last year and injured my leg, the pain went away a few months after the accident and then returned to be on and off...I had an MRI of the leg last month which showed some swelling between the muscle and bone but nothing that should explain some of the other issues with it. Today I'll be having a MRI of my brain and spinal cord as my doctors now believe it to be MS....I've never heard of trauma pain being related to MS, anyone have any explanation or common experience?

Answer: My sister has MS. She has had it for about20 years. From being young she used to fall a lot. We said she was clumsy ( bless her) One day , out walking her 2 dogs she fell and could not get up. Luckily a passer by got help to get her home. She was then diagnosed with MS.. I am no doctor but am wondering if that shows that it was there from being a child and then triggered off by the fall all those years ago. I hope I make sense. God bless

Question: How long can brain trauma symptoms appear after accident? Husband had brain trauma in auto accident in 1966. Can signs of symptoms not show up until 20 years later?

Answer: No, usually within 24 hours you will notice problems. 20 years, no way. Your husband has something else going on. He needs to see a Dr.

Question: How to handle post event trauma especially after the death of spouse? What can the loved ones of the deceased do and cope with this kind of trauma?

Answer: take one day at a time, cry a lot, remember the good times and keep your faith. Faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain. Get with others in a support group and talk a lot about your spouse. Speak with friends and relative about your spouse, remember that your not alone, many have lost their love ones, such as child and they all manage to live on. Stay positive and think I have had my spouse for all these years, some people have their child for only a very short time. Think positive and remember that there are stages of grief it will take you time but life does go on without your love one.

Question: What Type Of Doctors Are On A Trauma Team? I wanted to become a doctor and specialize in Emergency Medicine and I was wondering what type of doctors they have on a Trauma Team. I want to specialize in trauma and work in a trauma center and I wanted to know if it was possible for an Emergency Medicine doctor work on a trauma team or even run one. Thanks in advance!

Answer: It varies by hospital. I've rotated in Emergency medicine in three and they are all different. Sometimes it is just Emergency medicine physicians, sometimes general surgeons, or sometimes just Trauma surgeons. Hennepin County in Minneapolis has their emergency medicine residents run the show. Another hospital I was at the Emergency medicine doc stabilizes the patient and general surgery takes over after, so it is pretty much still run by Emergency. Cook County in Chicago is mostly done by the Trauma surgeons.

Question: Is it possible to become a trauma nurse right out of college? I am working towards becoming a EMT right now because I want to work in emergency medicine and will be going to nursing school in 1 year to become an RN. Because I want to be involved in emergency medicine, I want to become a trauma nurse. Is this possible right out of college or do they usually promote people from within?

Answer: It is possible for you to work in the ED right after graduating nursing school. Some hospitals prefer that you have experience, however, I just graduated nursing school in December, and there are two individuals who graduated with me that got hired in a level one trauma center. So, yes. Good Luck!

Question: What type of surgery does a trauma surgeon perform? I understand that they provide surgery for patients experiencing some kind of trauma, but I want to know if they have to specialize into a specific organ system or if they are like general surgeons. Do they ever not perform the surgery but instead call in lets say a neurosurgeon for a patient who needs immediate brain surgery. What are there limitations?

Answer: As Pangolin said, trauma surgeons ARE general surgeons. Trauma surgery is actually a sub-specialty of general surgery that is taken as a fellowship after the completion of a general surgery residency. They will operate on any trauma that involves the belly, soft tissues, or chest (excluding the heart). They will perform the initial surgeries and any follow-ups needed (for example reversing an ostomy). They will call in specialists for all neurosurgeries, all orthopedic injuries, just about all heart injuries, just about all urologic injuries, just about all ENT injuries, and will call in vascular surgeons for vessel injuries.

Question: What is the process of becoming a trauma surgeon? What degrees do you need? What does it take to become a trauma surgeon?

Answer: Well, to be a doctor you need to first have good grades in high school. Maintain at least a 3.8GPA. Then you go to college and take the required classes for medical school and you get a bachelors degree. Then apply to medical school with your MCATs(kind of like SATs for college). You then go to med school for 4 years and after that you are offically a M.D. Do a 3-5 year residency. It take 11-15 years to be a trauma doctor. It take hard work and dedication so be prepared to study all night if you have to. Good Luck

Question: How long after a rape is the trauma to the vagina evident? This happened in March of this year. The person that it happened to just told us about it last week. She has used tampons in the past but said when this happened it hurt but she didn't bleed. My question is, if there was any trauma done to the vagina during the rape (brusing, tearing, etc) how long after the rape is that evidence able to be seen? Also, if the person who raped her admitted in a instant message to doing so ("I'm sorry for raping you"), is that enough to get a conviction?

Answer: Yes, that is enough. Evidence is hardly needed in rape cases anyhow, more then likely the accused will be forced to take a polygraph test. Healing could be complete in three to four weeks. This victim needs to see her OB/GYN. You even knowing she was raped and staying silent can make you an accessory to crime. If she won't tell, you have to. Don't keep it a secret. If she does not have him punished, she will live with a terrible nightmare of him for the rest of her life. No man has the right.

Question: Can emotional trauma cause breast cancer to grow so quickly? My mum went through an emotional trauma and 1 month later she was diagnosed with a 1.8cm lump which turned out to be breast cancer. Is it possible for breast cancer to start growing so quickly after an emotional shock?

Answer: No. Firstly, cancer does not develop that quickly. Your mum's cancer has almost certainly developed over a long period of time. Secondly, cancer is not connected to emotional trauma.Sometimes people are desperate to find an explanation for their cancer, and will identify a time of great stress or trauma -divorce, bereavement etc - and assume there is a connection. There isn't any credible evidence, though, that stress or trauma contribute to the cause of any cancers, or affect the progress of cancer. Many people who are diagnosed with cancer have had recent traumas, but just as many have not. The same is true for people who haven't been diagnosed with cancer. There isn't a pattern. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my sister was - still is - convinced it was due to a time of great stress a couple of years earlier; she was ignoring the fact that my cancer had been developing for many years (it was advanced) and certainly predated that traumatic time. Sorry to hear that your mum has cancer; my best wishes for her treatment.

Question: How do you become a trauma nurse? I'm currently in nursing school and will have my BSN in a year and a half. I'm interested in trauma nursing, but I am wondering what kind of work/volunteer experience employers look for. Should I work at the ICU or the ER first, or is there a better place to start? Also, I'm just curious as to what it's like to be a trauma nurse. All I really know is what I see on TV. It looks really exciting and interesting. Thanks for your suggestions!

Answer: ER or prehospital care would be great experience. Don't fool yourself with the TV. If you want non-stop action, then you'll be looking for a general/city/county hospital in the inter-city. Non-stop violence. It get old quick. Plus these hospitals usually pay less and treat their employees like crap. Should you want both Trauma, Good pay, and a good experience, look for a Magnet Nursing hospital first. You will be happy you did. Go for 'action' second.

Question: How would a fall not cause a physical trauma? How would someone fall 13 feet to the ground, hitting the back of his head and back on a very jagged rock and not suffer any physical trauma? How was the central nervous system not impacted from this fall?

Answer: He got lucky, basically - to be totally accurate, the person suffered trauma (that energy has to go somewhere), it was just distributed in a way such that there was no severe damage to any part of the body (no apparent damage, at least). If you *had* to choose a way to land after falling 13 feet, flat on your back is probably the best way to do it - all of the force is spread over the biggest possible area, in the strongest part of your body. The back isn't too good at taking severe twisting/bending forces, but in terms of taking blunt impact, the skeletal structure and musculature in combination are incredibly durable (which is why you instinctively curl up or turn away in response to a threat that it is too late to avoid). Hitting the back of the head isn't so good, but if the person was positioned correctly, the head may not have received a lot of penetrating force; also, even though there may not be any sign of external injury, the brain could have suffered injury from bouncing off of the skull during the deceleration process after hitting the ground (i.e., a concussion).