Top Three Things to Know for New Brain Injury Patients
The time following a brain injury can be confusing, overwhelming, and emotional. There are three things that new brain injury patients should be aware of to help them through this difficult time.
1. You Are Not Alone
Every year 1.4 million people in the United States seek medical care for traumatic brain injury. Survivors should be willing to ask for and receive help from family, friends, and other loved ones when needed. Support groups, resources, and the survivor’s medical team are all there to help the patient navigate the time following traumatic brain injury. If the patient is not able to advocate for himself or herself, caregivers should be willing to call on the medical team, support groups, and other resources for help.
2. There are Different Types of Treatment and Rehabilitation
Survivors should be aware that there are a variety of types of treatments and rehabilitation available, depending upon individual needs, as well as where they are in the recovery process. No two treatment and rehabilitation programs are the same. Instead, they are individualized based on the location and severity of the injury. The goal of treatment and rehabilitation is to restore as much function to the survivor as possible. The plan should be to focus on the particular issues the survivor faces, and to structure therapies accordingly.
3. Recovery Will Be a Challenge
There’s nothing easy about recovery, and the new brain injury patient should realize this. As a matter of fact, without the many “challenges” that go hand-in-hand with recovery, the brain can’t rewire itself. While recovery can be extremely frustrating with the gains offset by steps backward perseverance, patience, and celebrating all forward progress, no matter how small, can keep the survivor in a positive frame of mind.