Millions of people sustain head injuries every year, but most are minor and require no special treatment because the skull is so protective, according to the University of Maryland Medical Clinic. But patients who suffer severe head injuries may develop issues with the brain that require varying degrees of rehabilitation.
Hospital Rehab
If you have sustained a moderate to severe injury, you may receive initial care and treatment in a hospital's intensive care unit. During this time, hospital personnel will focus on keeping you stable. You may have initial infections, spinal instability, blood clots, fluid imbalances and brain swelling that require attention. Once you are stable, you may be transferred to a rehabilitation facility for further therapy.
Subacute Rehab Options
The type and duration of rehabilitation you receive after you leave the intensive care unit depends on factors such as the severity and location of the injury. Options include inpatient and outpatient hospital rehabilitation, home rehabilitation, day programs at rehabilitation centers, supportive living programs and independent living centers. You, your family members and the professionals helping rehabilitate you will work cooperatively to choose the right place.
Rehab Team
The list of specialists who may work with you during rehab is long, but you may not need all of them. A physiatrist -- a doctor who specializes in rehabilitative medicine -- typically oversees the process. Other professionals on your rehab team may include: an occupational therapist to help you recover physical skills for everyday living, a physical therapist to improve your mobility and balance, a social worker or case manager to assist in team communication and decision making, a recreational therapist to help you explore leisure activities, a vocational counselor to help you address potential workplace challenges, a speech therapist, a neuropsychologist or psychiatrist, a rehab nurse and a nurse who specializes in traumatic brain injuries.
Goals
A neuropsychologist may asses your thinking, language, behavioral and physical abilities to help you determine what type of rehab services and rehab team would best suit your case. The ultimate goal in rehab is to help you regain as much of your brain function as possible so you may thrive at home as well as in your community. If damage is severe and permanent, rehab will help you find ways to compensate for losses.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Head Injury Overview
- MayoClinic.com; Traumatic Brain Injury: Treatments and Drugs; September 2010
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Traumatic Brain Injury: Hope Through Research
- Neurology Channel; Traumatic Brain Injury: Chronic Treatment; September 2001
