How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Your brain is an integral part of your body. It controls everything, from movement to thinking to critical functions like respiration. It is not hard to see that a brain injury can be devastating.

Once a person suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the road to recovery can be long and painful. Of course, though every person is different, a TBI can impact your life in a variety of ways as you struggle to deal with these changes.

Physical Effects of a TBI

Most people who are the victims of a TBI do not have to deal with major physical limitations in the long-term. Those who do have physical impairment will generally recover most, if not all, of their functionality within a year or so.

A mild TBI such as a concussion can lead to short-term weakness and dizziness. Multiple TBIs and severe brain injuries can be a precursor for coordination and balance issues, as well as seizures in rare cases.

Cognitive Effects of a TBI

One of the most common problems associated with a TBI is cognitive impairment. This can range from mild to severe and can be either temporary or permanent. Some of the cognitive effects of a TBI include:

• Difficulty recalling words and phrases
• Trouble with motivation
• Impaired visual abilities and perception
• Issues with concentration
• Forgetting what someone said or repeating the same thoughts
• Problems with logical thinking and reasoning

Behavioral/Emotional Effects of a TBI

The human brain is divided into two hemispheres – the left and the right. The left hemisphere controls logical functioning and language as well as the right side of the body. The right hemisphere controls intuitive and spatial abilities as well as the left side of the body.

If there is an injury to the right side of the brain or the frontal lobe (which regulates self-control and personality), there is also a good chance that the victim will have behavioral and emotional issues. Some of these might include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Impulsive behavior
• Apathy
• Fits of anger or outbursts

The Length of the TBI Recovery Process

TBIs have a tendency to heal quickly at first with many improvements before the progression slows. 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.

The TBI Model System provides detailed statistics on these injuries and recoveries. The data shows that, two years after an injury, most patients continue to show some increases in ability. This is good news, but the progress requires ongoing care and practice, which can be costly. Even two years out, 34% of injury sufferers require some type of supervision within a 24-hour period.

As you or a loved one struggle to recover from a TBI, this can be a stressful time. Health care isn’t cheap, and you may not be able to return to your job anytime soon, if ever. If someone else was to blame for your accident, you have the right to be compensated for this tragedy.

The Role of an Attorney in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases

TBIs are among the worst type of injury that a person can suffer. In the wake of one of these injuries, there are suddenly many new things to worry about that were never a concern in the past. It is in these early, crucial moments that you should speak with an experienced brain injury attorney.

The role of a traumatic brain injury lawyer is to provide you with strong legal advocacy to make sure that you are financially and emotionally compensated for the devastation that these injuries have had on your life.

At Burns, Cunningham & Mackey, P.C., we have extensive experience aggressively and effectively representing the interests of accident victims like yourself. Retaining one of our attorneys will cost you nothing upfront since we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we are only paid if/when you are awarded damages.

Our firm works diligently to earn the trust of its clients and will fight for a successful outcome in your case. Contact our Mobile office today at (251) 260-3815 to schedule your free consultation.