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Your brain injury: A challenging and unique medical condition

On Behalf of | Mar 5, 2020 | Brain Injury |

A traumatic brain injury can end any ideas you had about your future. Your goals may need to change, and your entire career path could be disrupted. This sometimes severe condition can lead to significant disabilities and even death for some.

Did you know that severe traumatic brain injuries contribute to around 30% of all the fatalities that happen as a result of injuries in the United States? In 2014 alone, there were around 2.5 million traumatic brain injury-related emergency department visits.

Your brain injury can’t be compared to anyone else’s

The interesting thing about brain injuries is how much they vary between people. Sometimes, people with mild traumatic brain injuries are able to recover completely, suffering only from minor symptoms for a few weeks or months. People with moderate or severe injuries may have life-long effects to deal with.

How does a traumatic brain injury affect you?

A brain injury can affect you in a few ways. People generally see short- or long-term issues to do with:

  • Behavior (such as changes in behavior, aggression or personality changes)
  • Sensation (such as heightened hearing or vision loss)
  • Cognitive function (trouble with memory or attention span)
  • Motor function (having weakness or trouble with balance)

Some people are comatose when they first suffer these injuries, while others might develop amnesia. Everyone is different, so until you see a medical professional, it may be difficult to see how your brain injury is going to continue to affect you.

How does a traumatic brain injury affect you at home?

After a traumatic brain injury, you may struggle to do the things you easily could have done before, such as brushing your teeth or hair, taking a bath or getting dressed. Some people benefit from having a caregiver in the home. Others go through occupational therapy or have a combination of services that they use to make their daily lives easier.

After a brain injury, it’s important that you continue to follow your doctor’s orders and get the treatments that you need. This kind of injury can heal, at least to a degree, so early treatment is essential to helping you start on the path to recovery.

If another person is responsible for your injuries due to negligence or reckless behavior, remember that you may be able to ask them to cover your medical expenses, so you can get the support you need as you recover.