The outcome of your TBI rehabilitation depends on many factors - the initial diagnosis and prognosis, your rehabilitation team and plan, as well as individual abilities - before and after the catastrophic event.
However, what some patients and healthcare professionals can forget, is that the TBI victims themselves have an amazing impact on the TBI rehabilitation outcome. Here are 5 tips on how to maximize your recovery from a traumatic brain injury, stroke or other types of brain injury.
People react to a catastrophe in many ways. It is natural to lose hope, or fall into despair for some time in this challenging time. But, those who do the best in rehab usually will see negative situations as an opportunity to grow and develop.
When you can spend less time and energy on looking back and dwelling on the past and focus your energy on looking forward to building your future, life WILL get better.
The time of recovery can be an opportunity to get to know yourself in a new light. To redefine your life and yourself. By doing that, you may find new kinds of satisfaction and a new sense of purpose in your life.
Using the help of trained therapists and psychologists can be a crucial part of this process. They will make sure you stay on the right track and help you in every way you need.
People with a brain injury often say that TBI rehabilitation is the biggest challenge of their lives. It is a great task indeed, getting your life back after such a traumatic event. While the life you get back may not be exactly the same, how far you go in recovery depends on how much you invest. It is important to not overdo things as fatigue is a common symptom, but a steady consistent approach to rehab makes a big difference in the long run. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, so stay determined!
After a brain injury, the need for structure and routine is extremely important - it allows the brain to rest and save its energy for rehabilitation.
To make sure you stay on top of things and don’t overload your brain, prepare a schedule that you can follow. You can use a big poster, or a whiteboard. Make sure to find the space for mealtimes, rehabilitation tasks and exercises, seeing your friends, as well as quiet rest periods.
Make sure that your diet is healthy and you eat at the same time each day. You can use one of many apps existing in the market - they will calculate the daily intake of macro- and microelements important for your health.
Regular exercise is good for your health and maintaining a positive attitude. Account for suitable activities in your weekly routine. If necessary, check with your rehab team, or doctor about the right exercise plan.
Go to bed at the same time each night, making sure that your evening routine is calming and relaxing. While it is good to find the time to nap during the day to restore your energy, it is not recommended to sleep too long in the daytime. Day sleeping can disturb your night sleep, which is very important when it comes to your brain recovery.
You may have heard your doctor asking about your support system, as it is vital in rehabilitation. A support system is a group of family members and friends invested in your recovery. They will support you and help you, with the guidance of your healthcare professionals’ team.
What happens often, is that TBI victims will often reject this help in the search of their own independence, out of despair, or shame. If you do that, you will risk just the opposite - your rehabilitation will be slower and more painful. A common key to success with rehabilitation is having your family and friends involved.
Make time to stay in touch with friends and work this into your schedule. This can be difficult as meeting a friend for coffee can be exhausting during the recovery phase. There are easier options, such as a quick phone call, or sending an email.
If there are people in your life who want to support you, make sure they know your needs. Do not expect them to guess, you are the only person who knows how they can really help. Whether it’s just talking, walking with you, or accompanying you to a doctor’s visit, these are all small gestures with great impact on your rehab outcome.
Support groups can play a vital role - not only for the person with a brain injury, but their carers and family members. It is a chance to connect with others with similar problems, feel understood, and discuss solutions to problems. In remote areas, many find that online support groups on the Internet are very useful.
Some people manage catastrophic events well, surviving with much less effect than others. The key to an excellent recovery from a traumatic brain injury will often be due to all of the factors that we have covered.
According to the publication “Brain Injury Medicine”, “resilience, motivation, hope and courage are the hallmarks of patients who do well in rehabilitation”. So make sure you have all of these in abundance, and in the time of need, turn to your friends, family and support groups. You are not alone!
NeuLife Rehabilitation is one of the best TBI rehab centers with specialized catastrophic rehabilitation programs for a wide range of catastrophic injuries.
Our programs for neuro rehab are customized to meet the individual needs of each patient, and care plans are structured to promote the highest level of functional independence and successful community re-integration. Through the skills and experience of our highly trained team of clinical experts, we are able to treat a wide range of diagnoses and injuries at our brain injury facility.
If you have any more questions concerning neuro rehab, brain rehab, or any other issue regarding brain injury, call us to make an appointment today. You can also schedule a tour to visit our best brain injury facility.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
We know that choosing the next step in your recovery from a catastrophic illness or injury is complex. Together, we can help you take the next step.
Contact us with any questions today.
