In the early stages of recovery when the critical phase is ending, there will be signs that the patient is emerging from the coma. Evidence of wakefulness and increasing consciousness will occur during this period.
The recovery of consciousness is a gradual process and is not just a matter of “waking up” as people often imagine. The patient begins to open his/her eyes and obey simple commands on an inconsistent basis. Often there will be confusion, fatigue, agitation and memory loss even after the patient is fully responsive. The patient will generally have no memory of time spent in the ICU, although some survivors report memories of coma. That is why it is vitally important to speak very positively to the patient throughout the period of coma.
NEXT: Neuro-Imaging
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.