What to Do After You Have Experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury: Steps to Recovery

One of the most complex types of injury you can suffer in an accident is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This injury occurs when you suffer a severe blow to the head. As you can imagine, these are common with motor vehicle, pedestrian, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents.

Motor vehicle accidents are not the only ways people suffer a TBI. Construction workers are prone to these sorts of injuries as well. If they get hit in the head with a piece of equipment or fall from scaffolding, they can suffer a TBI. And once they suffer this sort of injury, they will likely be affected for the rest of their life.

A TBI does not heal like a back or knee injury. These injuries tend to persist for years, possibly even the rest of the individual’s life. That is why it is important that people who suffer a TBI take the necessary steps to recover from their injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, you should contact an experienced brain injury lawyer in Alabama.

What are the Long-Term Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Brain injuries cause long-term problems that often interfere with a person’s normal functioning. For example, people with a TBI often suffer from both short-term and long-term memory loss. It can be difficult to hold down a job when someone suffers from memory loss. TBIs can also cause severe headaches. While this may not sound like a big deal to some people, these are not your garden-variety headaches. They are often similar to migraines and can persist for hours on end.

People with a TBI can also suffer things like insomnia and an inability to concentrate. This can make life miserable. Yes, these symptoms can be managed, but it can still be frustrating for the individual.

What Things Can a Person Do to Recover from a TBI?

Whether or not someone can recover from a TBI depends on the severity of the injury. For people whose head injury results in a coma, survival is their biggest concern. The doctors can recommend surgery or other treatments to restore the person to some sense of functioning, however, people who suffer these injuries are not able to work again. They may end up requiring one-on-one care for the rest of their lives. However, for many people who suffer a TBI, normal life will eventually resume.

During the first six months, TBI victims experience the most rapid recovery. They will regain most of their normal functions like speech and walking. After that, the next two years are critical. During these years, a person can expect gradual and slow recovery. Some of the things they will engage in may include:

• Physical therapy – this can help a person learn how to walk again and regain their motor skills
• Occupational or Vocational therapy – This helps a person regain the skills they need to resume some sort of employment.

It could take several months of therapy before a person can work again. And the type of work they do may change.

Other Steps a TBI Victim Should Take

While a TBI victim works toward physical recovery, it is important that they also take the necessary steps toward mental recovery. It is a good idea to work with a counselor to deal with the anxiety and depression that accompanies a TBI. It is also imperative that the individual work with a therapist on developing different ways to deal with memory loss and memory enhancement. This includes things like cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy.

If you or your loved one suffer a TBI in any type of accident, call an experienced personal injury lawyer in Birmingham right away.