Recovering From A Traumatic Brain Injury

Imagine everything suddenly going dark, your mind, thoughts, feelings, and physical abilities seemingly slipping away from you. This is what it feels like when your brain suffers a traumatic injury. Of course, there is a more scientific definition as to what a traumatic brain injury is, as well as a multitude of things to expect in the recovery period after the brain has sustained an injury. Here's what to expect if you or someone you know has sustained a traumatic brain injury.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury can occur when any sort of external force damages the head. The leading causes for brain injuries are falls, followed closely by car accidents and falling objects. Most often, emergency room visits are made by very young or very old patients who have been hit in the head by something. When the brain suffers trauma, a loss of consciousness, amnesia, a skull fracture, a post-traumatic seizure may occur as well.

What does recovery look like for someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury?

The severity of the accident determines how long recovery will take. In a closed head injury, the skull and brain have not been penetrated, and recovery may take just a few weeks. An open head injury is when the skill and other layers that help protect the brain have been penetrated or torn, exposing the brain to air. Open head injuries, or primary injuries, occur at the time of the accident and cause more damage to the brain. Damage from these injuries is irreversible and can take years to recover from, if recovery is even possible. A few examples of primary injuries include:

Fracture - When the skull is broken or dented, exposing the brain or causing the bone of the skull to put pressure on the brain, known as a depressed skull fracture.

Localized - An injury to one part of the brain that may involve bruising or bleeding on some part of the brain.

DAI (Diffuse Axonal Injury) - When the axons and neurons, which allow our brains to communicate, are stretched, pulled, or torn, which minimizes our brains ability to function.
Secondary injuries, which occur after the initial injury, are another cause of concern for traumatic brain injury patients. After the brain has suffered the initial trauma, swelling or bleeding can be expected. If the brain swells significantly, it can press on the base of the skull. Oxygen flow to the brain may be limited, and blood pressure may drop.

Ultimately, here's what you can expect in the time after a traumatic brain injury is suffered:

Inability to express signs of awareness
Fall into a coma, vegetative state, or a minimally conscious state
Loss of focus
Learning difficulty
Frequent agitation
Restlessness
Nervous tendencies
Disrupted sleep patterns
Inconsistent ability to do certain tasks

The most you can do is be there and be supportive for a person who has sustained a traumatic brain injury. The journey to recovery is a long and winding road, and often has many ups and downs. Recovery may take 6 months or 6 years. Depending on the severity of the injury, a full recovery may not even be possible. A person who suffers a traumatic brain injury may regain brain function, or may have limited to no brain function.

By Linda M. Shick for The Healthy Moms Blog Magazine

Linda M. Shick's entire legal career at Naftulin-Shick has been limited to representing seriously injured people, including those suffering from traumatic brain injuries. She has been honored with the Pro Bono Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, "Because the Law is for All."

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