http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2010/07/18/opinion/doc4c429be8535c9192162685.txtTo the Editor,
As a grateful nation,we must never forget that the signature wound for Iraq and Afghanistan is not visible to the naked eye — traumatic brain injuries.While we remain in both war zones, it is critical that friends and families become aware of symptoms so that we can best help our veterans re-adjust.
Officially, military figures say about 115,000 troops have suffered mild traumatic brain injuries since the wars began. But top Army officials acknowledged in interviews that those statistics likely understate the true toll. Tens of thousands of troops with such wounds have gone uncounted. Per Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, the Army’s most senior medical officer,” We still have a big problem and I readily admit it.That is a black hole of information that we need to have closed.” Later this year, the Pentagon expects to open a cutting-edge center for brain and psychological injuries, which will treat about 500 soldiers annually.That leaves over 100,000 soldiers to attempt to work through the current system.
The most common head injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are so-called mild traumatic brain injuries. These are harder to detect. Scanning devices available on the battlefield typically don’t show any damage. The long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injuries can be devastating.Soldiers can endure a range of symptoms, from headaches, dizziness and vertigo to problems with memory and reasoning. Brain injury specialists are now saying that the best treatment for these patients is to get them into cognitive rehabilitation therapy as soon as possible. A soldier whose injuries are not diagnosed or documented misses out on the chance to get this level of care — and the hope for recovery it offers.
To remain with comrades, soldiers often shake off blasts and ignore symptoms. Commanders sometimes ignore them, too, under pressure to keep soldiers in the field. Medics, overwhelmed with treating life-threatening injuries, may lack the time or training to recognize a concussion. Lt. Col. Mike Russell, the Army’s senior neuropsychologist, said fellow medical officers told him stories of burning soldiers’ records rather than leaving them in Iraq where anyone might find them.
It appears the same actions have a tendency of repeating themselves over and over, year after year. It is crucial that we communicate with our representatives and encourage they insist on aggressive care of our troops ... especially as we increase our aggression in Afghanistan. Our troops have earned much more than this —especially after a decade of service in a war zone. Until we end this senseless aggression overseas, we are mandated to care for our troops — a job that has been sorely lacking.
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