North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates
Traumatic brain injuries can significantly impact a person’s life. These are some of the most severe injuries that a human can suffer from. More mild traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, typically do not result in significant long-term damage. However, the effects of any type of head injury are unpredictable, and the same injuries can have very different results in different people. Any injury to the brain can cause damage, including to the pituitary gland, one of the most vulnerable and critical sections of the brain.
What Does the Pituitary Gland Do?
The pituitary gland is about the size of a walnut and is based at the top of the brain stem and at the lowest section of our brain. This gland is responsible for producing important hormones that regulate various bodily functions. In the event that the pituitary gland is damaged in the area that produces human growth hormone (HGH), a person could experience a range of symptoms, including depression, lethargy, excessive fatigue, decreased sex drive, anxiety, and more.
Studies have indicated that around 18% of traumatic brain injury victims experience HGH interruption. The good news is that approximately 90% of those who experience HGH interruptions see the issue resolved naturally within about one year.
In the event that the pituitary gland sustains damage in the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) producing area, this will result in the reduced production of the ADH hormone and can lead to diabetes insipidus. This is a form of diabetes that involves extreme thirst and excessive urination. Those with diabetes insipidus can become dehydrated, and this condition affects around 25% of all brain injury victims. Again, those who experience ADHD issues often find the problem naturally resolved within one year.
How Does the Pituitary Gland Sustain Damage?
The pituitary gland has a central position in our brain. This means that it rests right above the basil support of the entire brain, making it much more susceptible to injury in the event our bodies experience rapid back and forth motions. Commonly, we refer to this type of injury as whiplash. When whiplash occurs, the area just below the pituitary gland is usually affected and can be damaged.
To be clear, any type of head injury can cause damage to the pituitary gland, particularly accidents involving the rapid back and forth motion of the neck and back or incidents where there is severe blunt force trauma to the body.
Some of the most common ways that a person could sustain pituitary gland damage include car accidents, sports-related incidents, physical assaults, and slip and fall injuries.
Securing Compensation After Pituitary Gland Damage
If you or somebody you care about has sustained a brain injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another individual or entity, you should be entitled to various types of compensation for your losses. If your injury involved damage to the pituitary gland, you could suffer from a range of temporary or long-lasting physical and emotional symptoms.
A skilled Chicago personal injury attorney will be able to work with trusted medical professionals who can fully evaluate their client and help determine the extent of the damage. An attorney will be ready to negotiate with aggressive insurance carriers and at-fault parties in these situations to recover complete compensation on behalf of a pituitary gland injury victim.