Sleepiness following TBI may result from preexisting sleep disorders, as a side-effect of medications, or from the effects of the brain injury itself. A better understanding of this phenomenon is needed because it interferes with the rehabilitation process, depriving patients of the vitality to regain lost function.
Sleep disturbances are always important to address, but it is especially important among patients who have suffered a brain injury. Sleep is restorative and allows the brain to recharge, repair itself and rid itself of toxins. “Sleep is critical for allowing patients with TBI to fully recover from their injury.
A headache that gets worse and does not go away. Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination. Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching). Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.
Tips for Getting Rest After a Concussion
Have a bedtime routine that helps you relax. Set aside at least eight hours to sleep each night. If you're not sleepy at bedtime, do something relaxing. Avoid naps or keep them short and early in the day so they don't interfere with sleeping that night.
Sleep disturbances occur in 30–70% of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Insomnia, fatigue and sleepiness are the most frequent complaints after head injury.
In fact, depending on the severity of the injury, recovery time for a TBI may vary from a few weeks to six or more months. Each person reacts differently to injury and illness. Thus, recovery time will vary between individuals. However, the length of recovery time for TBI depends on how long a patient is unconscious.
Diffuse axonal injuries are one of the most severe types of traumatic brain injury. They occur when the brain is shaken or twisted inside the skull. As the brain twists, the cerebral tissue slides back and forth until the long connecting fibers in the brain (called axons) tear.
Even after surviving a moderate or severe TBI and receiving inpatient rehabilitation services, a person's life expectancy is 9 years shorter. TBI increases the risk of dying from several causes. Compared to people without TBI, people with TBI are more likely to die from: 57% are moderately or severely disabled.
Severe brain injury is usually defined as being a condition where the patient has been in an unconscious state for 6 hours or more, or a post-traumatic amnesia of 24 hours or more. These patients are likely to be hospitalised and receive rehabilitation once the acute phase has passed.
Get plenty of sleep at night, and rest during the day. Avoid activities that are physically demanding (e.g., heavy houscleaning, weightlifting/working-out) or require a lot of concentration (e.g., balancing your checkbook). They can make your symptoms worse and slow your recovery.
Though the causes vary, two primary reasons why survivors may experience a decline after brain injury are secondary brain injuries and chemical changes in the brain. Secondary brain injuries are complications that may arise after initial injury, such as hematomas (blood clot), hypoxia (lack of oxygen), or infections.
Immediate Problems
Some complications of TBI include seizures, nerve damage, blood clots, narrowing of blood vessels, stroke, coma, and infections in the brain. The likelihood of many of these problems decreases as more time passes and the person's condition stabilizes.
With a severe brain injury, the person may suffer life-changing and debilitating problems. They will have cognitive, behavioral, and physical disabilities. People who are in a coma or a minimally responsive state may remain dependent on the care of others for the rest of their lives. .
While many clinical decisions are made within weeks of traumatic brain injury, recovery may occur up to a year later.
Recovery usually follows a step-by-step path. Most people progress through the stages of coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, emerged from minimally conscious state, and post-traumatic confusional state.
They also found that on average, TBI appears to reduce life expectancy by about 8 years.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a sudden, external, physical assault damages the brain. It is one of the most common causes of disability and death in adults.
Moderate TBI causes unconsciousness lasting more than 30 minutes but less than 24 hours, and severe TBI causes unconsciousness for more than 24 hours. Symptoms of moderate and severe TBI are similar to those of mild TBI, but more serious and longer-lasting.
Level 5: Confused - inappropriate - non-agitated
The patient is easily distracted so may need to be asked several times to finish a task. They have memories of events in the past but they will not have clear memories of events since the injury. For example, they may not recall what you told them five minutes ago.
The first six months is generally when you will see the most improvement after an injury, and then patients continue to progress for another several years. After this, progress tends to slow. This is because the damage remains, but the severe symptoms (like bleeding and swelling) have receeded.
With moderate TBI, most people recover most or all of their brain function, although neurosurgery, occupational/physical therapy, speech/language therapy, psychological services, and/or social services may be needed.
Pain is reported to be one of the most challenging difficulties experienced by survivors of traumatic brain injuries. The pain can be acute or chronic, and it can affect a variety of different areas of the body — not just the head.
Many habits contribute to poor brain health, but four areas can have the most influence. They are too much sitting, lack of socializing, inadequate sleep, and chronic stress.