post tbi: encephalomalacia diagnosed

[gilmoregirl30]

i have been diagnosed with cystic changes, encephalomalacia of the right frontal and right parietal lobes, and edema in the white matter. secondary to an old traumatic brain injury. my dr. said it would never get worse but never get better. but i've got a chemical embalance now and been diagnosed as bipolar and attention deficit disorder, too. my psychiatrist told me last month that mentally im getting worse and maxed my med. abilify. should i get a second oppinion and another mri of my brain and see if it has gotten worse or am i worrying too much?

[frebyrd]

Psychiatrists are not the right specialty for treatment. Neurologists and Neurosurgeons are the ones you should see..the reason being you have symptoms that appear like psychiatric ones...but different cause. The antipsychotic and other drugs rearrange brain chemistry. You dont need another level of damage to your brain.

[Jeanius5]

I have encephalomalacia. I am currently looking for treatments.I have researched this and found 2 clinical trials using Hyperbaric Chamber Oxygen Therapy. One study is in Jupiter, Florida. The other in Louisiana. This treatment has been shown to regenerate cells!!!! I am trying to get into the clinical trial in Florida. Sounds extremely promising! Also, I am bipolar and my psychiatrist prescribed Deplin 15 mg 1x per day. She decribes it as "food" for your brain. Paying out of pocket $58 per month through BrandHealth. I hope you find this helpful...will be praying for you! Jeanine

[uhhuhwoohoo]

I am new to this forum, having found it when searching for explanations via Google on 'encephalomalacia'...i am a 46 yo female having had been diagnosed in 1995 with a thalamic glioma...benign congenital lump is how it was explained to me. I was scanned 5 mo after dx to check for any growth. No growth, good news. After having had shingles while pregnant with my son a couple of years following this diagnosis, my health went completely downhill: nerve damage (small numb spot remains on my thigh), PAIN--diagnosed also with Fibromyalgia, depression (i believe mostly due to inability to do much of anything!), mood changes, worsening of allergies, weight gain (again, due to inability to move like i used to- running, golfing, weight lifting--used to love gymnastics when younger) high blood pressure...now I've recently seen major changes in my spine--osteoarthritis, bulging/herniated cervical disks, bone spurs...basically, I hurt EVERYWHERE--joints, muscles. Now, the latest, as of a couple of weeks ago, is a numbness in my L arm--little to no reflex up and down the entire arm. I had a brain MRI (17 years since the last one) and a cervical mri--I have a complete reversal of lordosis cervically, herniated disks--AND the brain MRI show thalamic encephalomalacia in the area where the 11x11x8 glioma is...my dr. says my brain is beginning to show signs of becoming 'mushy' in that area. Interestingly enough, I complained of not being able to read more than a chapter in a book, completely distracted by everything, never finishing a project, and the last couple of months have been prescribed Ritalin, with good results and an improved change in attention span and focus. I have had the usual falls, bumps to the head, etc, but am having a hard time understanding this mushy brain-thing. I know this is sometimes a result of inflammation, as well, and wondering: is there any kind of treatment for this? I am to visit a neurologist soon--hopefully to find out whether the weakness, numbness and lack of reflex in my arm is from the spinal issues or possibly something within the brain. (?) any info/experiences greatly appreciated! thx.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Usually, localized softening of the brain after the depressed, contusion head injuries and due to hemorrhage/inflammation is called Encephalomalacia. Symptoms could be seizures, paralysis may be common due to already damaged part of brain and may remain symptomatic or progress in future. Although any permanent cure can not be assured in such cases, but symptomatic relief, physiotherapy, avoiding any triggering factors and life style modification help you in certain extent. Please arrange an appointment with a neurologist who will evaluate the further prognosis here and can provide you an appropriate treatment. Hope this helps.