Head injuries / rehab

[deanp]

My mother-in-law fell backwards down some wooden stairs about 12 days ago and had some bleeding and swelling on the left side of her brain. There was not enough swelling or bleeding for surgical correction or medications to reduce the swelling. Four CT scans have been done and a 5th is scheduled for 2 1/2 weeks from now. After spending four days in ICU and a day in general room she has been moved to a rehabilitation hospital.

We're dealing with mood swings, no desire to eat or drink, resistance to physical therapy and language therapy (dependant on mood). She remembers the name of her children, grandchildren and husband, but does not always answer correctly about address, work etc.

We've been told to be patient, that everyone has their own timeframe to recover from this type of injury (months to years) and that it is typically more difficult on the family than the patient. Right now the hospital (recommended by a large # of people) is saying that they need to work with her over the next three weeks to learn what is affected the most, see what improves, changes etc and then they will have a family meeting to bring everyone up to date.

Any words of advice from those that have been through this?

[Joeaksa]

Dean,

Have not been through this personally but seen enough patients like this (was a medivac pilot for years) and will say a prayer for her. Its in the hands of God and the doctors now and hope she gets better and soon.

JoeA

[JavaBrewer]

Not exactly like your's but 5+ years ago I fell, actually I passed out (exhaustion+flu) and suffered a halo skull fracture that sidelined me for 3 months and took another 3 months of recoup time. The thing is that modern science still has a lot to learn about the human brain. Some folks like myself have suffered major head injuries with little to no side effects where others get a tap and are never the same again. Sympotoms now may very well disappear over time or they may not. It's really a waiting game. Best of luck to you.

[deanp]

Thanks for your thoughts Joe.

David - that's what we're being told, that it's a wait and see process. We've been told it is harder on the family in these circumstances than the patient, because right now my mother-in-law doesn't comprehend what is going on...

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by deanp
We've been told it is harder on the family in these circumstances than the patient, because right now my mother-in-law doesn't comprehend what is going on...

Think about it. Most of us drink a little something at night to purposefully lower our comprehension levels, at least for a couple hours. No stress at all

[Eagle Keeper]

I cracked my skull in Dec 92. I spent 1 week in the ICU and 2 weeks in the hospital, with an additional month at home. I still have problems today. I have very poor hearing in my left ear and I can't smell. I got lucky!! It will take a LONG time for her to get back to 95%. But 100% may never happen. PM me any questions. I might have some insight.

[RoninLB]

The best cognitive rehab places are on the east coast. Contact Brain Injury Ass of New York State. They are in Albany NY. Ask for Dr Debora Benson. Ask where to send her close to where you live.

The sooner she's in correct therapy the better.

[deanp]

Jason, I will be in contact via PM. Thank you.

Ron, will try Dr. Benson tomorrow. Thanks for the info. She's at Fairlawn in Worcester right now, we've heard really good things about their facility. Will see if I can talk to Dr. Benson and see what she can tell me over the phone.

[RoninLB]

What's happening is that proper cognitive rehab is a relative new routine, maybe 10yrs. Most family docs don't even know anything worth while about it. Your routine needs a family manager to go to meetings at the rehab place in order to monitor her rehab and make adjustments along the way. This manager can't just listen and ok whatever the rehab routine is. The manager has to know what your in-law needs and what procedures are effective and which are not. The more well spoken the manager is the better.

Her brain was slamming around, back and forth, inside her skull. That brain is one complicated machine to tune. You need the best shop immediately before parts take a false set.

[deanp]

Ron, sent you a PM.

[Flatbutt1]

wish I could help Dean but my injury was to my spinal cord. still a memo to the Kessler Institute in West Orange NJ couldn't hurt. They had me walking and caring for myself within 8 months of a C4 hyperflexion that caused temporary(3months) quadriplegia. They really know rehab.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by deanp
Ron, sent you a PM.

returned 2 PMs

[Tobra]

Be as patient with her as you would a child, I have seen some pretty amazing recoveries. I have never seen anything to prove it, but I think the ones that have familiar faces around do better.

[deanp]

Ron - received your PM's will be making a checklist and calling MA and NY Brain Injury Association locations.

Tobra - fortunately all of her family is local. We've all been making daily visits and trying to space them out so we're not all there at once.

Flatbutt - will see what I turn up at NYBIA and MBIA then if need be follow up with Kessler. Sounds like they did a great job with you, happy to hear rehab really made a difference with you.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
Think about it. Most of us drink a little something at night to purposefully lower our comprehension levels, at least for a couple hours. No stress at all

Very helpful.

[Bill Douglas]

One of the things that happens in these situations is the nerve endings are no longer attached, and the correct signals to and from the brain don't get sent. There should be some very good nurologists in your part of the world.