5.3 million Americans live with disabilities caused by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBI has a major impact on how the brain works and may have long-term effects on the severely injured. The road to recovery from TBI takes a high economic toll; patients with TBI lose productivity and earnings while needing to pay for acute care and rehabilitation, possibly for a long time. They may also need mobility aids or remodeling their homes to make them accessible. Recovery and rehabilitation of TBI patients can be very difficult and stressful, but here are some ways to make it less so.
Legal Means
Falls, vehicle accidents, assault, or medical malpractice can cause TBI. You can sue if you believe that negligence caused the injury. One example is the head injury lawsuit filed by the family of Pavle Jovanovic against the National Olympic Committee (NOC). They claim that repeated TBI from bobsledding resulted in Jovanovic developing Parkinson’s Disease-like symptoms. The family further alleges that the NOC is aware of the impact of bobsledding and failed to warn athletes. Brain injury lawyers can help prove that negligence caused TBI and they can seek compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, rehabilitation, and medical expenses.
Support From Organizations
Financial difficulties are not the only challenges that patients with TBI face. They need specialized care to help them recover, and often they don’t really know where to start. There are agencies in the community that can offer them support and advocacy. One such organization is the Brain Injury Association of America. They have affiliates in every state to provide education, medical provider information, and family support services. There are also non-profit organizations in some states that offer programs to help patients in recovery how to live independently and function each day. Get in touch with these organizations to get the help you need.
Helping Oneself
People living with TBI can develop habits to assist themselves while in recovery, aside from participating in rehabilitation programs. They will need adequate sleep and rest. Avoid taxing physical and mental activity in the initial stages of recovery. This will help the brain heal. Find a balance between activity and total inactivity as soon as the doctor advises you to go back to your daily pursuits. A healthy diet is crucial in helping the brain function effectively.
Make sure you get a balanced diet with protein, good fats and oil, and carbohydrates. Nutritional experts also recommend eating smaller meals three or four times a day. The most important habit of all is to be patient. There could be times when you think that therapy and rehabilitation programs have stalled your progress. These are called “plateaus” by therapists and are normal during recovery. You will need to work through these to progress again. TBI recovery is almost always possible, but it may take a long time.
