The Healing Process After a Traumatic Brain Injury

The Healing Process After a Traumatic Brain Injury

The healing process after a traumatic brain injury can be prolonged. Because the neurons of the brain do not heal like other parts of the body, brain damage is often permanent. This means that the symptoms and complications that people develop following a blow to the head may persist for the rest of their life. Like other injuries, these complications and comorbidities will vary depending on the type of injury. A few types of traumatic brain injuries include:

• Concussions: Perhaps the most common traumatic brain injury, a concussion is a temporary alteration in the way that the brain functions. This could occur in an auto accident, contact sports, or a slip and fall injury.
• Cerebral Contusion: A cerebral contusion is a bruise that occurs on the brain tissue. Following a blunt impact to the skull, a cerebral contusion is often detectable on imaging scans such as a CT or an MRI.
• Intracerebral Hemorrhage: This is the medical term used to describe a brain bleed. An intracerebral hemorrhage takes place when one or more of the blood vessels that supply the brain have been torn. A few of the classifications of brain hemorrhages are an epidural hematoma, a subdural hematoma, and a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Whenever someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, the first step is to receive emergency medical care. The healing process starts with this first step and continues on with the help of family and friends.

Emergency Medical Care of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Following a traumatic accident, it is essential for people to know some of the common signs of a TBI. A few of these include:

• A temporary or permanent loss of consciousness
• Persistent, chronic headaches
• Changes in hearing or vision
• Emotional lability, irritability, and a short temper
• Difficulty with memory issues

Any of these could be a sign of a traumatic brain injury. A visit to a medical professional could help confirm the diagnosis. After this, some of the treatment options include:

• Medications: Medications will be used to stabilize the individuals and their injury. This could consist of drugs that help control blood pressure and the flow of blood to the brain. This might also include medications to help manage the pain that comes with a TBI.
• Intracranial Pressure: Measures might also be taken to control the intracranial pressure inside of the skull. This could include additional medications, whole-body cooling, and elevating the head of the bed.
• Emergency Surgery: Some individuals who sustain a TBI might also require emergency surgery. Following a TBI, the brain might swell, increasing the risk of a herniation. Surgery gives the brain a location to expand without the risk of a herniation.

Once an individual has been stabilized, he or she will be able to leave the hospital. Of course, the healing process does not stop there.

The Long-Term Recovery Process

Once an individual leaves the hospital, follow-up appointments with various medical professionals are a necessity. This will help people regain multiple motor and sensory functions that might have been lost. Some of the medical specialists that might be involved include:

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapists can help people regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion in their arms, legs, back, and other areas that might be weak.
• Occupational Therapists: An occupational therapist can help individuals manage their activities of daily living as well as return to work or school.
• Mental Health Professionals: Mental health problems are common after a TBI. It is essential for every family to seek the help of a trained mental health professional to help manage these issues.

Watch YouTube Video: Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries. The following video explains how the treatment of a TBI depends on the type of injury a person sustains.

Contacting a Brain Injury Lawyer

The complications that manifest themselves after a traumatic brain injury could end up lasting a lifetime. These issues could make it difficult for someone to go back to work, return to the classroom, or even perform various activities of daily living. It is easy to see how this process could place the entire family under a tremendous amount of stress. During this time, everyone deserves the help of a traumatic brain injury lawyer in San Francisco. A few benefits of working with an injury attorney include:

• Having a trained professional who can help families make difficult decisions during a challenging time.
• Guidance in seeking damages related to the accident, the TBI, and any of their complications.
• Help with negotiating with financial institutions to ensure that all bills and benefits are paid on time.
• Assistance in moving a case to the courts when required.

Everyone needs to remember that help is always available, and nobody should have to face this difficult situation alone. Rely on the help of an experienced San Francisco traumatic brain injury lawyer. You and your family might be owed significant financial compensation.

Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in San Francisco