Almost nothing can change a person’s life like a traumatic brain injury. These significant injuries can cause physical disability, behavioral and cognitive changes, learning problems, and developmental delays. Often, TBI recovery can be a long, expensive, and complicated process as patients re-learn the basics and come to understand how to cope with the lasting complexities of their injuries.
Recovery can be frustrating. However long the journey ahead may be, there are ways to navigate the challenges of traumatic brain injury recovery, and compassionate professionals are willing to help you along the way.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is any injury that affects how the brain works or disrupts normal brain function. Most TBI injuries are the result of blunt force trauma, such as an external blow or penetrating wounds.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations occurred in one year. That’s more than 586 traumatic brain injury–related hospitalizations per day. Those injuries can lead to long-term health problems and medical complications.
The Challenges of Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery
Often, physicians treat mild traumatic brain injuries with rest and over-the-counter medications like pain relievers. Recovery can take several days or weeks, and most people fully recover and can return to normal activities.
Moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries require more extensive medical intervention, such as surgery, anti-seizure medications, and potentially coma-inducing drugs.
The recovery period can include intense physical therapy and rehabilitation, depending on the severity of the injury and how it affects an individual’s physical and mental capacity.
Rehabilitation can encompass several medical specialties and looks different for everyone. Some specialists that may be involved in recovery can include:
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech and language therapists
- Recreational therapists
- Vocational counselor
- Physicians
- Rehabilitation nurses
- Neuropsychologists
- Physiatrists/Psychologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Social workers
Your doctor will work with you to create a personalized recovery plan, potentially involving several healthcare providers who can address specific aspects of your recovery, from managing physical impairments to helping you cope with behavioral or cognitive changes.
Your recovery journey may start in an in-patient rehab facility before moving to an outpatient facility or home-based program. Day programs and independent living centers may also be options, depending on a patient’s medical needs and required support level.
A comprehensive recovery plan must also include mental health services and support. Recovering from a traumatic brain injury can be a long and complicated process. Most patients experience significant quality of life changes, in addition to their injuries, which can lead to frustration, depression, and anxiety. A brain injury can also make a person feel like they don’t know themselves anymore, or their perception of themselves can shift. Mental health services can help patients find ways to understand and cope with their diagnosis while also addressing personality, cognitive, and behavioral changes brought on by the injury.
For some, recovery can be a lifelong journey, which means adapting to physical and cognitive changes. Continued medical intervention, monitoring, and ongoing rehabilitation are essential as a solid support system. In addition to family and friends, individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury may also find help from local support groups and brain injury organizations:
- Brain Injury Association of American
- Washington 211- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Washington State Guide to Brain Injury Support Groups
Contact a Seattle Brain Injury Lawyer Today for More Help
You can also find an essential source of support by reaching out to an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney. At Stritmatter Kessler Koehler Moore, our attorneys help accident victims pursue meaningful compensation for their injuries by providing personalized legal representation and support. We fight hard for our clients, seeking the justice and fair compensation they deserve.
Contact our office today for a free consultation about your case.
