A Practical Guide to Recovering From a Brain Injury

Every brain injury is unique, which can make recovery difficult to predict. Brain cells are not regenerative, unlike most other cells. Instead, the brain must reorganise itself to regain as much of the lost function as possible. Rehabilitation takes time but is achievable as shown in our practical guide to recovering from a brain injury.

What is a brain injury?

 In our lifetime, many of us will suffer a minor brain injury, usually because of a fall or a bang on the head, but in approximately 80% of these cases, recovery is very quick.

A moderate brain injury is defined as a loss of consciousness for between 15 minutes and 6 hours, or a period of post-traumatic amnesia of up to 24 hours. Although symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, severe headaches, and memory loss will be more severe, these residual symptoms gradually improve within 6 to 9 months.

In severe brain injuries where the injured person has been in an unconscious state for 6 hours or more, or a post-traumatic amnesia of 24 hours or more, symptoms can be extremely severe, and the patient is likely to need inpatient care and extensive rehabilitation support.

This guide will focus on recovery from severe brain injuries.

Types of brain injury

 An acquired brain injury (ABI) is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. There are two types of ABI:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

These brain injuries are caused by external trauma such as road traffic accidents, falls and other accidents at home or work, or acts of violence.

Non-Traumatic Brain Injury

This refers to damage to the brain caused by internal factors such as an illness, oxygen deprivation, metabolic disorders, aneurysms, cardiac arrest, near-drowning experience; therefore, any injuries not caused by an external physical force to the head.

Recovery Timescales

Initially, it is difficult to put a timescale on recovering from a brain injury. It is usually a slow process; it can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The timescale becomes clearer after around six months when the full impact of the trauma and resultant symptoms can be more accurately assessed.

Physical recovery is often a lot quicker than psychological recovery. The triggers can remain for a long time, and behaviour can change dramatically following a brain injury, which many families struggle with.

To put it simply, it is challenging to predict how long it will take someone to recover from both physical and mental complications.

Accessing Rehabilitation Services

Rehabilitation services can make a significant difference to a person’s recovery. The main consideration to make is whether you are going to go private or use an NHS facility. It is a big decision that requires input from the survivor, their doctors, and the rest of their family too.

There are two key issues when making these decisions: we all know that the NHS is at breaking point and it is not always able to make appropriate facilities available for all patients; private care may be the best alternative in terms of ensuring the best possible outcomes, but costs can be prohibitive.

Sometimes funding is available to support patients recovering from brain injuries so do check with the local authority. There are also several brain injury charities across the UK that may be able to help.

Finally, according to the cause of the brain injury, the patient may be eligible for compensation. It is worth finding out more about making a brain injury claim using specialist solicitors like LB Law because if the injury has been caused by negligence or aggression, for example, the compensation could be quite extensive and will provide funds for the very best rehabilitation services.

Support Networks

 Dealing with a brain injury can be incredibly tough. It can have a profound effect on a person’s daily life. Unless you have experienced it personally, it can be hard to relate. This can cause friction between the survivor and those around them. Finding practical help and emotional support such as counselling, phone befriending and group therapy and social activities can act as a lifeline by putting the survivor in touch with other people who have or are experiencing the same things. The relationships built at these support networks can be transformative.

Changes in Behaviour & Mood

The damage done by an injury to the brain is difficult to predict. The science behind the human brain is a fascinating subject!  As mentioned above, the damaged cells do not regenerate. This can change a person’s personality. They might not like the things that they used to, or they might exhibit new behaviours. It can be difficult to relate to them. It can also be strange for the survivor to not quite recognise themselves.

Patience and understanding are paramount as well as, if necessary, adjusting activities to make them more accessible for the patient.

The Summary

The reality is that brain injuries manifest themselves differently in every person, which is what makes predicting a recovery so difficult. Timescales can shift, the rehabilitation can be long and arduous, but it can be vital in helping to form new pathways in the brain and aid in recovery.

Specialist doctors do know best, which is why you should listen to them and take on board their advice. Finally, don’t forget to reach out to others to form your own support network; it can be incredibly important.