There is no denial about the fact that brain injury recovery can take longer than expected. The person has to go through rehabilitation as well as recovery stages. The transition through every stage can help a person to heal properly and live a life before the pre-injury condition. No wonder brain injury can be deadly, but post-treatment, recovery is possible.
There are various stages of traumatic brain injury recovery that can help in understanding the entire process. However, there is a possibility that certain stages may not be applicable to every patient because every case is different. This blog will help you understand these stages for better understanding and the recovery process.
Different stages of traumatic brain injury
Coma
This is the initial stage, which allows the patient to heal and stay uninterrupted. With extreme injury, it is possible for an individual to stay in a state of unconsciousness for some time. During this time, the patient will show no movement of eyes, communication, etc. The patient remains completely unresponsive. This stage has no certain time limit.
Vegetative state
After a coma, the vegetative state comes. The neurological response is different in this stage as the patient has regained a few reflexes. In this stage, the patient wakes up, and some eye movement can be seen. Plus, there can be some reactions or stimulations. There is some part of the brain that is still intact post-injury. But there are certain parts of the brain that have started healing. This stage will lead the patient to recover equally and move to another stage.
Minimally conscious
The minimal consciousness stage is where patients come into consciousness, and sometimes do not. During this stage, major improvement can be seen where the person can be aware of the surroundings. However, the medical help will allow the patient to experience consciousness. Also, under this stage, instructions or communication responses can be seen by the patient.
Post-trauma amnesia
After coming out of a coma, the post-traumatic amnesia stage can be seen. However, there are mainly two types of it, such as retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia. Under retrograde amnesia, the patient cannot remember any past events. And during anterograde amnesia, there is an inability to create new memories, which can also involve everyday events. During this stage, certain behavior changes can be seen.
Uneven behavior
Uneven behavior is a stage where a patient is unable to concentrate on one task or seems confused. This can be difficult to handle during communications and can sometimes make no sense.
Confusion
Another stage of traumatic brain injury is confusion. The patient will be able to understand or follow the commands that are given by the staff. They will also be able to communicate, but memory loss or other related issues can still be faced. The confusing situation post injury can be difficult to tackle.
Automatic
With certain advancement in the recovery, the patient reaches the automatic as well as appropriate stage. After reaching this stage, the patient will be able to do some activities of daily life without any help. The automatic stage is effective in post-acute rehabilitation. The patient will be able to indulge in physical therapies, speech therapies, etc.
Purposeful
Purposefulness is a stage of awareness and memory. However, the struggle will be there with certain interactions, time of reaction, as well as uneven situations which are not of a regular routine. But reaching this stage is equal to massive improvement. There are situations where a patient is able to cope and is allowed to leave the rehabilitation facility and get back home.
Independence
This is the last stage of traumatic brain injury, where patients are able to perform daily tasks with ease and are completely independent. There are situations where they go on with the rehabilitation process, but there is no requirement for assessment. During this stage, many patients recover fully, but their cognition can slow down after the injury.
Conclusion
Traumatic brain injury can be hard to deal with and can be deadly without any proper treatment. However, its different stages can allow a patient to see the recovery process with ease. Neuro Life Brain and Spine Centre, the best brain treatment hospital, allows you to get the best treatment post-brain injury. We have experienced staff who work in your favor for quick recovery.
