How Long Will It Take To Recover?

Due to the uncertainty accompanying brain injury, it is difficult to predict a level of recovery. However, to speak in general terms, the recovery from brain injury happens in stages. The first stage includes intensive, lifesaving medical and technical procedures which occur in an acute care facility immediately following the trauma. After the acute care stage, the challenge of recovery then shifts to focus on the remaining stages of physical, occupational and neuropsychological restoration.

The rate of recovery is most rapid during the initial weeks of the brain injury or after the person awakens from the coma. It is important that the period of rapid recovery does not mislead both the family and treatment staff to predict continued rapid, perhaps complete, recovery.

Unfortunately, when there is a slowdown of recovery after this stage, it can be very difficult for families; however, each individual progresses at their own rate of recovery. It is important to note that a slowdown in progress does not mean an end to recovery. Continued gains in function have been reported even several years after the injury.

There are many factors that will affect the level of recovery after brain injury, such as: age at injury, severity and part of the brain affected by the injury, length of time in coma, preexisting personality characteristics, quality of pre-hospital (paramedic/EMS) and hospital care, speed of entry into brain injury rehabilitation program, the nature of the support network, and involvement of family.
NEXT: The Family’s Role.

Understanding Subtle Brain Injury

The concussions that disable, are almost always more symptomatic at 24 hours, than at the 2-4 hour time frame when injured persons are evaluated in the emergency room. Brain injury symptoms escalate over the first 24 hours, because brain injury involves a cascade of events. It is critical that if you are still symptomatic the day after your injury, go back to the same Emergency Room, don’t wait for a doctors appointment. It is critical that the Emergency Room personnel see that the symptoms still persist or have gotten worse.

View Our Video Series on Concussions