How Recovery Changes as Your Body Heals
You’ve hurt your head in a slip and fall or motor vehicle accident, or while playing sports. You immediately sought treatment, and the doctor diagnosed a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Maybe you’ve had persistent headaches or nausea, changes in your sleep patterns, or even a temporary loss of consciousness. Now it’s time for your brain and body to heal. What will that look like?
The Phases of Recovery From a TBI
The pathway to recovery will depend in part on the severity of your injury, but there are five general phases.
- Phase one—With many TBIs, the body’s first response is unconsciousness. A person suffering almost any level of TBI may momentarily lose consciousness, though such loss of consciousness is not necessary for a TBI diagnosis. In this state, the body may be unresponsive to sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch, though the brain may still be processing those senses. Accordingly, a person in this state, often considered to be in a coma, may actually hear and process the things you say, even though there’s no acknowledgement.
- Phase two—The next step in recovery is a return to consciousness, though the person may react slowly or inconsistently to external stimuli.
- Phase three—Known as a “localized response,” this is typically when the person starts to interact with others. There’s also a tangible reaction to any stimulation of the senses.
- Phase four—The person will start to have the ability to engage in dialogue, but confusion and overreaction are fairly common. Attention span will be improved, but still short.
- Phase five—The person will start showing a better recollection of daily events but may also continue to be a bit confused and potentially engage in inappropriate behavior
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion or other TBI. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio.
