Recovering From a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic injuries can leave the injured and their loved ones in a world of pain. For some, returning to their normal life is not an option. That’s why it’s important to understand what a TBI is, what the rehabilitation process looks like, and what you can do to support your loved one.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury is the result of a violent blow to the head or body. Even the mildest TBIs can affect the way a brain functions, but it’s essential to know that some injuries are more temporary than others. While mild TBIs usually result in a change of consciousness, severe cases can result in excessive periods of unconsciousness, comas, or even death.

According to the CDC, there were over 223,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2019 alone. Although you may assume that children are more likely to suffer from TBIs due to their high levels of activity, TBIs are highest amongst older adults 75+.

Causes

Some common causes of a TBI include:

• Falls amongst children and elders are the most common cause of TBIs. They are usually a result of falls from a bed, ladder, or down the stairs.
• Sports-related injuries are common in kids but can still happen to adults. The most common sports linked to TBIs are football, soccer, swimming, and boxing.
• Motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, and even bicycles are common causes of TBIs.
• Violent episodes such as domestic violence or assaults can lead to mild to severe brain injuries. Shaken baby syndrome is a devastating TBI for infants caused by violent shaking.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a TBI can vary depending on the severity of the injury. Some people may only suffer from physical symptoms, while others suffer from sensory, cognitive, mental, and behavioral symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of a TBI include:

• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred vision and sensitivity to light
• Mood changes
• Loss of consciousness
• Weakness or numbness of appendages
• Slurred speech
• Coma

If you or a loved one currently received a blow to the head and suffered from the symptoms listed above, you should immediately seek medical attention. Although your injury may seem mild, symptoms may worsen over time, making it hard to treat injuries. A doctor may require you or your loved one to seek rehabilitation to recover from your injuries properly.

Rehabilitation

Luckily, some injuries are treatable with the right rehabilitation measures. As stated before, the path to recovery truly depends on the severity of the injury. If a patient sustained injuries severe enough to affect their day-to-day life, they would most likely need to see a therapist.

The following therapists are commonly visited through the rehabilitation process:

Physical therapist

To help regain your mobility, a physical therapist will be required. Through techniques involving exercising and stretching, a physical therapist can help a patient restore functionality to certain places of the body.

Speech therapist

Depending on your brain injury, some people may have a hard time speaking, eating, and making facial expressions. Overall, a speech therapist is needed to ensure you or your loved one can communicate efficiently on their own after a TBI.

Occupational therapist

Occupational therapists are used to assisting patients with all of their physical, sensory, or cognitive needs. Their job entails helping patients overcome barriers that affect their emotional, physical, and social needs.

Psychologists

Experiencing a TBI is life-altering for some people. Psychologists are used to helping patients emotionally process their trauma.

An important note to remember: not all of the therapists listed above will be necessary for each brain injury.

Support

If your loved one has sustained injuries from a TBI, you should first work on understanding their injuries and triggers. The recovery process can be lengthy, so don’t be surprised if your loved one grows frustrated or tired while working on regaining their strength back. Try to avoid unhelpful behaviors, like catering to their every need, as they need the practice to return to their day-to-day activities. But the most important thing to remember is to be patient with them—this injury has caused your loved one a tremendous amount of physical and emotional pain.