A car accident. A bad tackle. A fall. A brain injury can happen in a split second when someone's attention wanders while driving, when a football player decides to dive for the ball, or when an older person slips and falls the wrong way.
As much as we may like to think it, a brain injury isn't a condition that only happens to other people. We've all seen the stories in the media -- including some local stories -- about a concussion gone wrong or a tragic accident resulting in a young person's life put on pause.
ACCORDING TO the Centers for Disease Control, every year 1.4 million Americans receive medical treatment as a result of a traumatic brain injury. While many recover with no apparent ill effects, a significant number deal with effects of their injuries for months or years after that initial accident. In fact, the same set of statistics states that an estimated 5.3 million Americans have a long-term or lifelong need for help with activities of daily living as a result of a traumatic brain injury.
For patients, families, friends and others who continue to be affected by traumatic brain injury, their lives are changed. As hard as it may be to imagine at times, that doesn't mean that their lives can't be as fulfilling as they would have been before the accident. Even though it takes a long time to recover from brain injury, recovery happens. Over time, there can actually be significant improvement after a traumatic brain injury -- and that is one of the most important things for families to understand.
The more people know and understand about brain injury, the better able they are -- as a patient and as a family -- to manage and identify resources that can help in recovery. Augusta is fortunate to have several acute-care hospitals, including a Level I trauma center at MCG, to care for patients in the emergent hours and days after a brain injury. But after that, what's next?
Every person is different, but a traumatic brain injury has the potential to lead to short- or long-term disability and suffering. How a traumatic brain injury affects someone depends on the type and extent of the injury, but getting rehabilitation soon after the injury by trained specialists can help speed recovery and maximize function. But traditional rehabilitation -- physical and occupational therapy for example, either in a hospital setting or an outpatient basis -- is only the first step.
Some of the more unique services available in the Augusta area include a transitional living center for patients with brain injuries who are ready to leave a rehabilitation hospital setting, but still need help relearning daily activities. Walton West, on Bertram Road, helps brain injury survivors make that transition through an individualized program that assists individuals in relearning those tasks we all take for granted, such as taking care of a home, cooking, shopping, banking, social skills and work skills.
DAY PROGRAMS, such as one at Harison Heights, Walton Rehabilitation Hospital's assisted/independent living center, can help those with physical disabilities, including brain injury, foster socialization skills through interaction with others during community outings. Another unique program is the Walton Foundation's monthly adaptive golf clinic, which encourages those interested in returning or learning the game of golf with the help of volunteer golf coaches.
We also are fortunate to have a brain injury support group in this area, which meets at Walton West and brings survivors of brain injury and their families together for support -- as well as community projects. This March, the support group has organized a Brain Injury Awareness Walk that will take place Saturday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Family Y, 3750 Wheeler Rd. The group has created T-shirts, painted banners and worked diligently to make sure their voices are heard this month.
Another community program, Walton Options for Independent Living, supports brain injury survivors and others with disabilities through advocacy and assistance with employment and equipment needs. Neuropsychology services; spasticity management; seating and equipment clinics; physician services; psychology services; pain and headache management -- brain injury survivors and their families can benefit from all these services throughout the recovery process.
THESE TYPES OF programs help in recovery, but they also help brain injury survivors regain confidence, feel pride in their abilities and be more independent, which is the ultimate goal of any rehabilitation process. While education about prevention remains of the utmost importance during Brain Injury Awareness Month in March, we also encourage families to arm themselves with the knowledge of the many services available in the Augusta area to help and support them and their loved one.
A traumatic brain injury can be life-changing, but increasing knowledge and understanding can help families better cope with these life changes and find hope.
(The writer is a fellowship-trained brain injury specialist and medical program director in brain injury at Walton Rehabilitation Health System in Augusta.)
As a person that had to recover from a severe concussion, I understand what the writer is talking about. Of course, while recovering from my brain injury, I learned to understand the liberal left. For over a year they actually made sense. However, as my injury healed and I was able to see the big picture and assimilate information and make decisions from information received from more than one source, I came to realize that only the severely brain injured could think like a liberal. While I'm glad for the experience and revelations I received from my brain injury, I'm happier to be healed. I was never happy as a liberal.
Right on johnston!!!! "A great light hath shown in a dark, dark, land".
I did not realize that "brain injury" was a disease? CDC or AMA? Is this a taste of "government medical care".
Wonderful editorial. A friend was in a serious auto accident and survived with serious head injury. It has not been easy for him or his loved ones. He has been recovering now for nearly 15 years but is, miraculously, now almost fully functional again. Thank you Dr. Dennison for your work. As you can see above, the public is horrifically ignorant. Perhaps it is common knowledge, but the greatest source of traumatic brain injury is the Middle East.
Hey Doc, I read this article (I believe in the Wall St. Journal) about a young man from Carrollton who had a severe brain injury. He was treated with the female hormone (Progesterin?) and had a miraculous recovery. I'm sure that you've heard about this case; but if not then that's why I'm mentioning it. And for all of you "low life" morons who have your sick comments ready - Forget It. This guy had no bad side effects and is not turning gay or anything like that either. Just trying to cut you bozos off before you get out of control, so if you do post something ludicrous you will look stupid.
Gaterp, I, too, was treated progesterone and I became lesbian. So far no negative effects though. I can't tell if I'm gay or not since I liked girls before the treatment and I still do.
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