Hi, my brother recently suffered a hypoxic brain injury. He's biting his bottom lip very severely. I'm bothered about him biting him through it. Has anybody had the same experience who can give me some advice about prevention etc? He is currently still in hospital!
Thankyou
I don't know if it would help, but you can buy shields that go over the teeth that are meant to help people who clench and grind their teeth in their sleep. Ask at a good pharmacy and give it a try. At least it would spread the area where he was biting and hopefully cause less damage.
Thankyou for the reply! Hopefully speak to a private dentist and see what they say! X
There was someone asking recently about problems with tongue biting after a brain injury. I remember suggesting a gum shield to cover the teeth, but it all depends on whether your brother is aware enough to use it safely. What do the doctors say Leanne ? x
We've told the hospital staff every day, they seem too completely dismiss us over it. It's so bad there's literally nothing left of his lip. It's infected too. Is it worth speaking too a private dentist? He is being fed through a peg, and still has a trachy in! Thanks for your reply x
It's astonishing that no one is treating this issue as serious and, if I were you Leanne, I would ask for an urgent apoointment with the consultant responsible for your brother's care, and question why this isn't being treated as an urgent matter.
You could alternatively contact PALS (Patient Advice And Liaison Service) who should have a representative within the hospital and can raise this as urgent, directly with staff. There should be contact details for them at the hospital reception desk.
There are various agencies who will step in to assist you, such as Citizen's Advice or the Health Services Ombudsman, but for immediate action PALS is probably the best place to start.
And your suggestion of bringing in your brother's private dentist could possibly shake staff into action by bringing the issue into sharper focus, though I suspect the dentist would be concerned enough to speak to someone at a higher level.
I really hope you'll find support for this problem very soon Leanne. The situation sounds quite bizarre and I can fully appreciate how disturbing it must feel seeing such an issue remaining untreated.
Please come back and let us know how you get on. Best wishes, Cat x
Thankyou so much for all the info x
This is a stress response and done unconsciously. Distraction helps and as he becomes less stressed with his situation it will lessen. It's like hair pulling, thumb sucking and the like, even head banging.
They should help with this at the hospital you may need to be really forceful to make them help.
Janet
Yes it's when he gets really agitated he clamps down on it. They've said it's an involuntary movement! Thanks for your reply xx
Hi Leanne. My son sufffered a hypoxic brain injury and he used to clamp down and bite, not on his lip, but his t-shirts and pj tops. He could shred one in a matter of hours!! The hospital staff thought it was quite funny, I however did not, aside from the cost (which was phenomenal), to see him doing it was very distressing for his sister and myself. The above responses have just about hit the nail on the head, it can be frustration, boredom etc, but it can also start as an involuntary movement which then becomes habitual. I used to try to distract my lad and also to chastise him and distract him. The good thing though is that it does pass as the brain begins to re-wire itself. Contacting PALS is a very good suggestion, sometimes it appears in this world you do have to stamp your feet and bang doors to get the help you need. Good luck with everything. Victoria
Thanks for the reply Victoria. Yes doctors have said its involuntary movement which you said. They've had plastics down to see if there is anything they can do. He's finally got a bed on a neuro rehab ward now. He seems a bit more chilled as he's got a room of his own and he's not on a ward. Hopefully he will be less agitated now. X
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