Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Stages
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury can take a long time and vary depending on the nature of the injury and the health of the victim, and may not ever heal completely. There are a number of stages of recovery that follow a brain injury. If you, a member of your family, or a friend are currently suffering from the effects of a brain injury, you may benefit from understanding what happens in the recovery process and what you can expect going forward.
In the following guide, the traumatic brain injury experts at JMW have outlined the different stages of recovery that head injury survivors go through following their accident.
How do Traumatic Brain Injuries Affect a Person?
It is common for both mild and severe brain injury survivors to lose consciousness after suffering head trauma. The way these are measured is by using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which considers factors such as length of unconsciousness and responsiveness.
Moderate brain injuries are also known as concussions and typically only last up to a few months, while moderate and severe injuries may cause physical impairment and can result in significant changes in behaviour and the ability to perform various functions, including speech and movement.
The Coma, Vegetative or Minimally Conscious Stage
A person suffering from a traumatic brain injury may fall into a coma - a state of unconsciousness in which the person is unresponsive. While it may be scary to wait for someone to wake from a coma, which may last a long time, this stage is vital to the traumatic brain injury recovery process as it allows the body to repair.
A person may recover well from a head injury, allowing most or all of their bodily function to return. However, head injuries are very dangerous and, in many cases, there is only so much the brain can heal from one. When they wake, the person may have lost certain functions, or struggle with them more than they did previously.
Other symptoms that a brain injury victim might face following their injury include post-traumatic amnesia, mental health disorders, sensitivity and irritability. These can last anywhere from a matter of days to years, or even permanently, but the right support can assist with healing and recovery.
The First Two Years
A common misconception about brain injury is that the extent of the healing happens by the end of the second year following the incident which is untrue. There have been many patients who have improved several years after a brain injury. It is difficult to predict how this healing process will go for an individual due to the complexity of the brain and the effects that a traumatic injury can have on it.
There are a number of activities a brain injury patient can carry out to improve their chances of a successful recovery. Repeating activities can help the brain to rebuild the cells that are required to complete such activities. This is known as improving the neuroplasticity of the brain. Physical therapy can help to improve coordination and physical ability, while cognitive training can help to improve mindfulness. Doing all of these regularly and together will maximise the chances a brain injury victim has to return to normal. While a full recovery might not be possible in every case, it is important for appropriate treatment and support to be put in place as soon as possible after a brain injury to give the patient every chance of making the best recovery possible.
Victims should avoid maladaptive plasticity, however. This is the process of repeating an action incorrectly. Following an injury, the brain is especially susceptible to new learning, so learning something incorrectly can be very difficult to correct in later stages. For more complex activities, injury survivors should seek the assistance and guidance of another person to ensure they are doing it correctly.
Years After
As stated above, brain injuries can be especially difficult to deal with due to their unpredictability. It is recommended that, even if no improvement is witnessed, brain injury victims should continue to work on rebuilding their routines and abilities, as the process can take several years to yield results.
If deterioration is noticed, however, the person should seek an assessment from a medical professional as soon as possible, as certain activities may cause their condition to worsen.
Dealing with an injured person who has suffered a brain injury can be life-changing for those around them, and family or carers may have to make changes to ensure they are able to look after the patient. The best thing a carer can do for someone with a head injury is to stay open to developments and maintain care for them through patience and understanding.
If you are caring for someone who has suffered a brain injury, there may be support networks available to you, which you should discuss with your doctor. The best way to access support and care is to claim compensation for the injury. This can be done if the injury was the fault of another party and not the fault of the victim.
To discuss whether the injury was the fault of another party, you should seek help from expert personal injury solicitors such as those at JMW, who will be able to discuss your options with you and advise on the prospects of success. The solicitors at JMW have a proven track records or taking on brain injury cases and winning them often recovering millions of pounds in compensation even where others have advised that there are no reasonable prospects of success. For example, where the police have advised that the other party (a motorist) was not at fault or where another law firm have advised that there are no reasonable prospects of success. If you are a carer or family member of the injured person, you may be able to do this on their behalf. A successful head injury compensation claim will award you with compensation that will allow you to get the help required to facilitate the injured person's recovery and ensure that they have the necessary care, treatment and support for as long as it is required which can often be lifelong in the event of a brain injury.
Do not delay, speak to a professional solicitor today and ensure the best chances of a comfortable recovery for your loved one or companion.
