Would I be correct in saying no one can predict what the outcome of a TBI will be

[Kirk5w7]

That's my understanding

[Negeen]

100& correct. Yes.

[Hidden]

I think depending on the "part" of the brain that is injured you can be informed of a range of typical outcomes for that type of injury - you may have all of them, some of them or none of them. However I understand that it is nigh on impossible to predict how long a recovery will take and how significant the recovery will be. It takes time usually measured in years not months...........My hubby had a right frontal lobe injury and we had a list of potential effects such as executive functions, socialisation, empathy. irritablility etc - we were also told it would get worse before it got better and that things like fatigue can take 12 months plus to go and may never go completely.

This gave us a good guide and indeed a few of the things on the possible outcome list have turned out to be the case for us - but not others.

I believe other parts of the brain can affect physical movement, speech, vision etc - but I know little about this.

Best to sit down with the medical staff that have the details of the injury sustained to get guidance on what "may" be affected - but they will never be able to give you a specific outcome for a specific person. Brain is so complex.

Hope all turns out as well as possible

Mx

[Mina_Kefalonia]

Yes that is true, even more so for Anoxic Brain Injury (where the brain cells are not just traumatised: they've been deprived of oxygen and are destroyed for life).

After 9 years of living with a brain injured sister - who was not affected in the least in terms of mobility but has totally lost her personality as it was - one piece of advice: go for rehab, straight from the beginning. Don't waste time and money on doctors patting you on the back and offering "solutions" with meds. Try to get your loved one to learn to be as independent as possible in day-to-day routines. I wish I knew then what I know now...

[SAMBS in reply to Mina_Kefalonia]

I think many of us echo that wish Mina.

[DavidSugg]

my understanding of my TBI is it is different for every one like a brain aneurysm depends on the location what part of the brain it occurred but a big factor in a ruptured aneurysm and the subsequent Subarachnoid Haemorrhage is how big the bleed area was and how long the blood was laying on the brain because the blood its self causes further damage to the parts of the brain it has contact with if that makes sense

[scruffycat]

Yes. Even if you've seen hundreds before, you haven't seen this one before.

[lifelonglearner]

The saying is, 'once you've seen one brain injury you've seen one brain injury'.

Each is unique, having said that there are some general symptoms that are common. For an accurate diagnosis you need to be assessed by a specialist in brain injury (Clinical Neuropsychologist) - From personal experience I found that there is a lot of inaccurate diagnoses made in relation to brain injury by the general medical community. Good luck.

[Zoe2345]

Ye like I sleep 14 to 15 hours a night and into the day, it's changed from waking up at 6am to 2 in the afternoon, my right side us weak and I shake a lot.

[Zoe2345 in reply to Zoe2345]

It has days where it's bad like today but some are better

[SAMBS]

sounds very logical and having read all replies before I replied myself, all I can say is yes I can relate to the answers given. and think there should be a comprehensive study into cause and effects to give the Specialists a better idea of initial outcome and best course for immediate treatment. and if help is given, who know perhaps sometime in future with scientific studies/experiments it can help those who follow us achieve a better faster outcome.

I've now recognised my worst problems relate to vision, balance, confusion, - eating and and sleep habits - neither of which are good - almost non-existent - don't get hunger pangs - eat cos I know I should - sleep at whatever hour from fatigue for 3/4 hours or 10-12 hours depending on day I had. If I'm home I can pace myself - if I'm out I'm at everyone elses pace (rare occurrence for me to be out in company) . So many different aspects.

In my case country, language and culture none of which are native to me, yes I'm English - also make a difference. Yet another factor in the equation!