For an NFL player, getting hit in the head comes with the job. Many players will receive hundreds of serious blows to their head over the course of their career, and often they just get back out there right away to do it all over again.
For quite some time, there has been growing evidence that many NFL players suffer from serious medical issues after sustaining multiple concussions during their career. Many report experiencing severe depression, sleep disorders, chronic headaches, and mental fatigue as a result of these concussions.
However, recent evidence has made it clear that the brain injuries caused by concussions may be far more serious than we had previously believed. The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) has been conducting studies using the brains of dead former NFL athletes. The findings reveal that the health of many NFL players has been seriously jeopardized as a result of sustaining frequent concussions.
Previously, doctors considered concussions to be an invisible injury which would not show any damage on a brain scan such as an MRI or CT scan. However, this new study by the CSTE has demonstrated that concussions deliver widespread brain damage to those who suffer them. This brain damage is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE was present in all six former NFL players’ brains examined for this study. The damage did not just affect superficial areas of the brain; it was found throughout the deeper brain layers as well. Many of the former NFL players who have died at a young age (30’s and 40’s) contained brown tangles throughout their brain tissue. These tangles are generally found in elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The brain damage caused by CTE affects the brain centers responsible for controlling emotion, rage, hypersexuality, and breathing. Over time, CTE will begin to kill brain cells as well.
Unfortunately, while many NFL executives and coaches are fully aware of the damage inflicted by concussions, many frequently fail to take the proper steps to ensure the safety of their players after they have suffered a concussion. If you have sustained a serious brain injury while playing in the NFL, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced brain injury attorney to find out if you have a valid claim.
If you live in the New York City area and have a brain injury claim, please contact the Law Offices of Silberstein, Awad, & Miklos, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
