Cure And Treatment Of A Brain Injury

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is the damage that occurs in the brain that takes place following its birth, such as an accident, a car crash or a stroke. The brain injuries do not impact all persons similarly and thus there is never a one-seat-fits-all treatment. Instead a combination of medical care, therapies and day to day support strategies is applied in order to make people adapt and restructure their lives.

According to Brainlink, approximately 30 percent of individuals who incur brain injury would be left with a long term and a severe disability. This alters the movement, thought process, communication and emotional coping of many, and as such the continued management is as significant as the initial treatment.

What May Induce An Acquired Brain Injury?

Any person can be affected by ABI. There are those causes which occur abruptly, and those which evolve over time.

Common causes include:

• A blow or jolt to the head, which is strong like road accidents, falls, sport injuries, assault or domestic violence. They are referred to as traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
• Asphyxia to the brain which can happen with near drowning, drugs overdose or hypoxia.
• Brain tumours or cancers
• Stroke: This is the disruption of blood flow to a section of the brain.
• Infections (meningitis and encephalitis).
• Brain damage associated with chronic alcohol consumption (ARBI) or other drugs.
• Serious neurological diseases such as dementia or Parkinson.
• Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which is caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol.

What Are The Symptoms Of Abi?

The signs of ABI vary widely. Certain individuals experience short-term symptoms that are easy to overcome, and other individuals live with permanent changes.

Earliest or frequent symptoms can include:

• Temporary loss of consciousness.
• Feeling dizzy, sick or vomiting.
• Persisting or increasing headaches.
• Loss of face/orientation or memory loss.
• Balance or coordination problems.
• Blurred or double vision
• Seizures

An injury to the head cannot be underestimated. In case one faints, experiences a seizure or any of these symptoms following a head knock, emergency medical assistance must be called upon through dialling 000.

How Is Abi Treated?

The treatment is based on the occurrence of the injury and its severity.

TBI in the form of concussion, which is a mild form of the disease is commonly treated through rest, reduced activity and simple painkillers. Nevertheless, the symptoms should be monitored. In the event that they do not get any better or worse, tests including a CT scan might be necessary to examine whether they are bleeding or swollen.

Worse brain damage normally requires immediate medical attention. Doctors are concerned with maintaining oxygen and blood flow to the brain, blood pressure, head, neck and other injuries and infections.

Surgery

• According to Synapse Australia, about 50 percent of the severe brain injuries are surgical. To ensure additional harm is avoided, emergency operations might be required to:
• Evacuation of clotted or pooled blood within the skull.
• Fractures Repair Fractures may be repaired or the bone fragments pushing against the brain may be removed.
• Stopping internal bleeding
• Decreasing the pressure in the skull through draining fluid or creating space in case of swelling.

Medications

The physicians can also prescribe drugs to help in controlling pain, seizures, mood swings, muscular rigidity or other chronic medical issues associated with the injury.

What Is The Management Of The Long-Term Effects Of Abi?

Attention is not limited after one comes out of hospital. ABI can be accompanied by the long-term rehabilitation process, changes in lifestyle and the support networks.

Daily Living Lifestyle Plans

Little everyday practises can go a long way in the long-run. These might include:

• Programmed activities that aid memory, regulate energy levels and mood.
• Educating the family members in such a way that they know about behaviour changes or emotional changes and can provide a useful support.
• Being socially active with friends, community association or hobbies to eliminate isolation.
• Exercising the brain by being active in general, keeping your diet balanced, engaging in mental activities and not taking alcohol or drugs.

Specialised Interventions And Resources

Special difficulties may be solved with the help of utilitarian tools and professional therapies.

• Memory and organisation Diaries, alarms and visual reminders assist.
• For neuropsychologists, there are attention, planning, emotional regulation and problem-solving strategies.
• Speech therapy facilitates communication problems and where necessary, swallowing and feeding.
• Physiotherapy is concerned with strength, balance and coordination.
• Occupational therapy assists individuals to relearn their everyday activities and can prescribe assistive devices to help in making tasks safe and simpler.

There are organisations like Brainlink and Synapse Australia that are handy in dealing with the daily challenges associated with ABI.

The Way Support Services Can Be Assistive

The additional assistance and the support of the family are helpful to a great number of individuals. Independent workers of support can be of significance in ensuring independence and quality of life by helping with:

• Daily activities and personal care, such as stress and fatigue-reducing reminders.
• Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology and assistance with practise therapy exercises at home (allied health services).
• Household chores such as cooking and taking to the doctor.
• Social and community building to confer confidence and connexion.
• Respite care, allowing the family carers to take some time off and take care of themselves.

When effective strategies, therapies and support are put into place, quite a number of ABI within their living conditions can be able to adjust themselves, develop new skills and live meaningful lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to recover following an ABI?

The process of the recovery varies with an individual. There are those that regain a number of their abilities and those that still cope with long-term changes basing on the type and the extent of the injury.

How long does recovery take?

There is no fixed timeline. Others can improve early on whereas others take years of therapy and encouragement to show.

Will ABI be classified as a disability?

ABI is commonly known as a disability in Australia when it interferes with day to day functioning. It is not concomitant to intellectual disability and mental illness.

What should be the emergency medical assistance after a head injury?

Dial 000 immediately in case one is unconscious, vomits a lot, has a seizure, gets more baffled, feels weak or hard to arouse.

Would it be different when it does not feel like an emergency?

Even when the symptoms are mild and are of concern, a physician ought to examine an individual. The Head Check app is one of the tools that can be used to spot the signs of a potential concussion.