Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious and sometimes permanent injury that can have a lasting impact on the patient and their loved ones. Helping a brain injury patient through recovery consists of maintaining a positive outlook and knowing what to expect in the weeks and months after the injury. Friends, family and support groups are the most important resources to help a traumatic brain injury patient recover and learn to adapt to life with certain deficits or disabilities. In some cases, a TBI patient might make a full recovery while other patients may experience life-long effects. Each person’s brain is unique and responds to injury differently.
Traumatic Brian Injury Stabilization in the Hospital – Anticipate Behavioral Changes
Immediately after a traumatic brain injury, doctors typically work to stabilize the patient. They monitor any building pressure or bleeding inside the skull and may perform and emergency craniotomy to relieve pressure and mitigate brain damage. Doctors may also use drugs or place the patient into a medically induced coma to help the brain heal.
Once the brain injury patient is medically stabilized, they may begin to awaken and start recognizing people around them. By this point, doctors typically begin rehabilitation planning. The patient may soon transition out of acute hospital care to a period of inpatient rehabilitation. It is important for friends and family to understand that a recovering patient’s behavior may be erratic and uncharacteristic during this time. Loved ones should not become frightened or frustrated by behavioral abnormalities, as this is a normal sign of a healing brain.
During the early stages of awakening and rehabilitation, a patient’s ability to pay attention is often impaired, resulting in agitation, nervousness, restlessness or frustration. Sleeping patterns can also be disrupted. A patient may overreact to too much stimulation or could become physically aggressive. Inconsistent moods and behavior are also common. These changes may persist for some time while a patient recovers. These things can be difficult for family members to cope with since the person behaves so uncharacteristically, but it is important to once again remember that this is a normal stage in the brain’s self-repair process and it will take time for the patient to settle back into his/her normal ways.
Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Long-Term Therapies
Mid and late term stages of recovery from a traumatic brain injury may manifest an increase in cognition and physical functions. The most rapid pace of improvement typically occurs in the first six months after the initial injury and steady improvement is commonly prevalent. This progression is easily recognized and often boosts morale as daily physical therapy exercises become increasingly easier for the patient.
Between six months and two years, it is common for recovery progress to become intermittent for periods of time. Patients and their supporters should understand that rapid recovery is commonly seen in the first six months, followed by a potential plateau period or even some regression. Two steps forward are often met by one step back. It is crucial to remember that this wavering is just as normal as the earlier behavioral changes and it is a natural part of long-term recovery after any serious brain injury. Persistence is the best way to cope and make it through these stages, knowing that long-term gains can still be made if rehabilitation efforts continue.
Adaptive Equipment – Prepare for Changes around the Home
After any serious to severe traumatic brain injury, a patient will likely be living with some permanent deficits. Between three and twelve months after the injury, the patient will be ready to return home and continue with outpatient therapy. A power chair may be a necessary part of life and a home may need to be fitted with wheelchair ramps, special hand grips and bathroom modifications designed to aid the TBI patient. The TBI patient may also still be able to operate a motor vehicle, but adaptive controls may need to be installed. It is important that a patient continue on with scheduled physical therapy sessions until they reach a comfortable range of capability.
Attending support groups and counseling sessions can be an important source of support for people living with a brain injury and should continue indefinitely. Family members can also speak with rehabilitation center doctors and other specialists for guidance on how they can prepare to help their loved one by making changes and planning for adaptive equipment around the home.
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