Locked-in syndrome (LIS) isn’t an easy diagnosis to contend with for the patient or their family. It arrives without warning, leaving patients fully aware but unable to move or speak. It’s terrifying for them and for their family, whether or not they become hands-on caregivers. A parent, sibling, or spouse doesn’t need a caregiving… Read More
Financial Costs of Managing Locked-In Syndrome
For the families of someone with locked-in syndrome, one reality sets in fast: the medical challenge is only half the story. The other half is financial, and it’s a scale of spending that few people are prepared for. Between round-the-clock nursing care, specialized equipment, home renovations, and decades of ongoing medical needs, the lifetime cost… Read More
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and LIS
Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a condition that causes almost total paralysis. It can result from a traumatic brain injury that affects the brainstem. How Often TBI Causes LIS Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is the second most common cause of locked-in syndrome, according to the Journal of Neurointensive Care (JNIC). Studies show that trauma is… Read More
Central Pontine Myelinolysis (CPM) and LIS
Some brain conditions don’t come from an injury or a stroke. They come from something that happens inside the body’s own chemistry. Central pontine myelinolysis, or CPM, is one of these. It’s a rare disorder that harms nerve tissue in a specific part of the brainstem. In its worst form, it can leave a person… Read More
Brainstem Strokes and LIS
Brainstem strokes are the most common cause of locked-in syndrome. Understanding how brainstem strokes occur, what they affect, and how they cause LIS can help you understand the next steps with your loved one’s care. What the Brainstem Does (and Why Damage There Is So Dangerous) The brainstem is a small structure at the base… Read More
Symptoms and Early Signs of LIS
If someone you love has suffered a major stroke or brain injury and doctors describe them as comatose or unresponsive, but you sense they can still hear and understand you, it’s worth understanding the early signs and symptoms of locked-in syndrome, a condition that is sometimes mistaken for a coma or vegetative state. What Locked-In… Read More