Health Care

By Lisa Clark

Imagine: your loved one has survived a terrible auto accident. After being extracted from the car with the jaws of life, she was life-flighted to the nearest trauma hospital. Her external wounds were expertly treated, but she remained unconscious for over a week. Finally, she opened her eyes. The worst, surely, is over, right? Maybe. But recovery from a TBI (traumatic brain injury) can last up to five years after the initial trauma. And the consequences of such an injury can last a lifetime.

What are some of the long-term issues a TBI patient might face? It depends upon the severity of the injury and what parts of the brain were damaged, but these are some of the problems a TBI victim may face:

--Cognitive impairment (related to reasoning, thinking, remembering, etc.)

--Short-term memory problems as well as voids in past memories

--Language struggles, including difficulty in finding the right word as well as problems with reading and writing

--Attention deficits, problem-solving impairment, and slowed thought processes

--Struggles in evaluating or judging one's situation

--Difficulties in decision-making and planning

Behavioral changes

--Depression and anxiety

--A lowering of normal inhibitions

--Anger, irritability, and lashing out

--Impulsiveness

--Self-centeredness and difficulties relating socially

--Neurological difficulties (relating to the nervous system and the brain)

--Loss of sensory functions (i.e. hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and vision)

--Exhaustion and/or insomnia

--A variety of physical complications, including epilepsy and seizures

--Walking, balance, and coordination problems

--Sexual dysfunction

Other issues

--Possible inability to resume driving

--Problems in finding and/or keeping a job

--Lingering physical limitations

--Difficulty in resuming former relational roles (e.g. as spouse, parent, or friend)

--Financial problems due to ongoing health issues

Recovering after a TBI is not an easy process. It may involve years of various therapies and, even after those, TBI victims may face significant difficulties for the remainder of their lives. The help and support of loved ones is essential for a person struggling with such problems.