Many advancements have been made recently in the diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries. Despite all these advancements, however, the primary prescription for those suffering a brain injury remains “rest.”
The term “rest” is somewhat of a relative term, meaning different things to different people, and all based on what their idea of an active or full schedule may be. In addition to that, there is a general misconception that merely resting the body is sufficient to recover from a brain injury. When, in actuality, the brain itself needs rest just as much- or more. But just what is required to fully rest the mind and body, so that you can maximize your healing after a brain injury?
While undoubtedly, physical rest is important, experts at the Neurological Rehabilitation Institute at Brookhaven Hospital attest that cognitive rest is imperative. But exactly what does cognitive rest entail? It is actually more difficult than you might think.
To truly rest the brain, one must learn to forego all kinds of work and avoid any type of mental stress. Perhaps the most difficult part of cognitive rest- especially in this day in age- includes completely “unplugging.” This means no television, computer screens, tablets or smartphones.
Purposely isolating yourself to recuperate from an injury that doesn’t appear to disable you can be difficult. However, patients who have disregarded their doctor’s recommendations to rest may regret it. Proper rest is integral to mitigating the long-term effects of a brain injury.
The idea of cognitive rest is not a new one. First introduced at the International Conference on Concussion in Sport in 2004, a summary from the conference identified cognitive rest as a need to limit both physical and academic activities, especially while patients were exhibiting symptoms of concussion.
Further Reading: Fatal Car Collisions Involving Alcohol
While this particular discussion focused on athletes, sports are only one way to sustain a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI, is commonly associated with car accidents, bad falls and violence.
A TBI happens when there is a jolt or external blow to the brain, and are classified according to severity – mild, moderate or severe. There are a wide range of symptoms of TBI, including:
- Headache
- Loss of consciousness
- Memory loss
- Disorientation or confusion
- Vertigo
- Nausea and vomiting
- Speech problems
- Vision impairment
- Ringing in ears, or
- Interruption in sleep patterns
If you’ve received any kind of jolt or blow to the head, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. Delaying treatment of even seemingly mild symptoms could exacerbate your condition and have life-long consequences.
Contact Our Pueblo Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury after a car accident, work accident, or other traumatic event, it is important to understand how serious this injury can truly be. Your Pueblo personal injury attorney will be able to help you obtain the compensation you need to fully recover after your brain injury. Call Pueblo attorneys at Smith & Smith, today for a FREE CONSULTATION – (719) 544-0062.
