Today VA announced that it will use two innovative treatments to ease the everyday challenges associated with living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“We know that for a small group of Veterans, a traditional approach to health care may not be the most effective,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “This is particularly true with certain chronic medical and mental health conditions. For Veterans who don’t improve, we have to look for innovative, evidence-based approaches that may help them restore and maintain their health and well-being.”
Veterans with a history of mild to moderate TBI now have access to light emitting diode (LED) therapy contained in a lightweight frame that is placed on the head and a clip placed inside the nose. Results of some studies show that LED improves brain function including attention and memory, emotions, and sleep. LED therapy has begun at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain campus, this month. LED also is available for Veterans to use in their homes.
Providers at the Long Beach VA Medical Center have begun using stellate ganglion block (SGB) to treat Veterans with PTSD symptoms. SGB is safe and may ease PTSD symptoms, such as the feelings of anxiety and constantly being on alert. It involves an injection, or shot, of medication into the neck to decrease the symptoms of PTSD.
VA remains a world leader in the development and use of innovative therapies, such as telehealth, yoga and other approaches to improve health and well-being.
For more information about other emerging therapies aimed at enhancing Veterans’ physical and mental well-being, visit VA’s Center for Compassionate Innovation at: https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships.
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I’m a vet with ptsd,TBI an camp Lejeune sickness, look for info on that new treatment for such?
Alex Svidesskis
(personal information redacted)
They can’t seriously think that veterans with these problems will believe this BS. I check the major news networks almost every day and haven’t seen or heard a word about any of this. I truly believe this is VA’s way of not having to provide proper care and compensation to deserving veterans.
Hey idiot, maybe it’s brand new, an hasn’t got out just yet, what a paranoid pessimist!
When will the systemic discrimination against veterans with Parkinson’s Disease end?
Far too many other veterans who have been diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, besides myself who have been exposed to TCE, just like the Camp Lejeune veterans. Yet we are denied the same “Honor and Care”.
Yes I know that the GW IOM vol. 10 replicated the vol. 8 in that we GW veterans are still too young to have PD. Thankfully I and many others, had more professional providers, who correctly diagnosed our neurological signs and symptoms as described by the IOM vol. 2 Chapter 7 as Parkinson’s Disease.
I know that this reply will garner the same response as the similar statement to Secretary Shulkin has, and we all know that silence is consent. Consent to deny the “Care” vowed by Abraham Lincoln, in concern that it may open to many doors. This being reported as Secretary Shulkin’s initial reaction to the WWII veterans as well.
I don’t recall the VA as being responsible to the US TAXPAYER, except for the wasted expenditures, such as the payment to a failed neurosurgeon who has been paid for nothing.
How many veterans could have been “Cared” for under the a successful mission, instead of one with merely meaningless words?