Traumatic Brain injury - learning to walk

[Sonm92]

Hi all, I'm new to all this (caring for someone and tbi knowledge)

I just want some advice really and maybe some success stories??

My mum had a serious car accident on the 30th July 2019 resulting in an acute axonal injury. She spent 3 week in a coma and a further 2 week in a vegative/minimally conscious state (along with several broken ribs, punctured lung, broken neck, arm and broken pelvis)

Fast forward to 10th October and she was discharged and is now living with me and my partner until she is able to be independent again.

Things are going well. No bouts of anger or major personality changes. Memory loss from months (possibly several years for some bits) but retaining new things well and is causing very few problems.

The reason I'm posting is for advice on learning to walk again. She walks around the house with a zimmer. Up and downstairs using 2 hand rails and her balance has massively improved meaning I don't need to keep hold of her at all times and we've even started allowing her to walk places in the house without following every step. She uses a wheelchair outside (I push) and goes to and from her commode (more and more often the en suite bathroom) independently through the night. I do still assist with her climbing in and out the shower as I'm very nervous she'll slip but so far so good.

We do the allotted exercises given by the physio several times a week which includes walking up and down the kitchen side using 1 hand on the side to support and t0his is also going well

I just wanted to know some success stories on learning to walk independently again or with just a stick? My mum sometimes gets herself down because physio won't garuntee she'll get out if the wheelchair outside (of course they can't promise anything) i understand its still early days and i personally think shes doing brilliantly! Just want to show her some personal experiences where possible? 6 week out of action, 1 week not able to use right leg at all and now were 4 and a bit months in and shes improving. Os there hope shell be walking independently again? Sorry for rambling and thanks in advance!!

[cat3]

Sonm, it was three months before I dared to sneak out of the house just to prove I could walk to the end of the road. I had to do it for personal achievement but knew I was being followed at a (not very) discreet distance by a concerned loved one.

It's challenging at first and some folk are back on track sooner than others. But I've seen several stories here on the forum where the prognoses have been bleak but where the individual has conquered walked unaided and progressed further after many months of determination.

It's impossible to predict any outcome, or timeline, even for the doctors. But all I can say is anything's possible, especially in your mum's case where she's progressed SO well in other areas. Signals from the brain can take many months to reconnect so please tell your mum it might be weeks or months more of patience, but not to give up !

All best wishes, Cat x

[Sonm92 in reply to cat3]

Thank you for this! In all honesty I'm pretty confident she'll get to the point of walking with a stick it's just going to take practice. She has walked a couple if steps without any aid at all (in her bedroom when I had kept her zimmer away so she would call me through night to assist to the bathroom.. when she first come home her balance was not great and she tended to stand up and go before thinking which resulted in a couple of falls). after a week of calling me through the night to help her to the loo I guess She felt bad for waking me so I was shocked to come in the next day to find out she'd managed a couple if steps! I now keep the zimmer next to the bed she she can go as she pleases.

[cat3 in reply to Sonm92]

It's partly trial & error at home before finding what works for you both.

From what I've seen so far m'dear, you're very caring and doing great ! Keep in touch with updates won't you ? I hope there are better days ahead for you and your mum. x

[sue-66]

Hi son, it sounds like your mum is doing well and you too 😊. I just wanted to ask, is your mum not getting any rehabilitation, like physio, occupational therapy etc? I know you are doing it and doing amazing, but my partner was similar fractures and brain injury and his memory isn't the best. He was in hospital for 4 months, but then rehabilitation for a further 7 months. He sees a neuropsychologist, who have helped with the constant questions and anxiety, he has given me ideas to help him too. He also has a support package, this now gives me breaks, the OT helps with memory exercises, she gives us some for home and he has a huge diary on the wall and address, to help orientated him.

For help and information headway free phone line is also a great place to start.

My partner is doing so well and his family and I, were asked to withdraw treatment twice, but he showed us with just odd things, that he wanted to live. It's taken him a while to get to using walking poles in the house, unassisted and I'm hoping to improve his stamina a bit more outside, with crutches. Keep doing what you are doing, but take care of you too and get any help you can. X

[Sonm92 in reply to sue-66]

Hi sue, yes she gets physiotherapy twice a week. Occupational therapist once a weekish. We are on the waiting list for neuropsychologist and speech therapist is starting in January (although her speech is clear just slower so that's not a massive concern) I just do the at home exercises with her several times a week too. Her balance has massively improved and I also take her into the kitchen once a day to so general daily tasks (making coffees etc) just to keep her busy and get some sense of routine. The OT does cooking with my mum and memory exercises generally. I'm glad your partner is also doing well. In all honesty I was most concerned about the broken neck (worried she'd be paralysed) brain injury didn't even cross my mind!

[sue-66 in reply to Sonm92]

It sounds like she is getting what she needs and your input will be making a difference too 😊 x

[WinB]

Sonm Hi,

I can feel my daughters anxiety in her voice when I say, I am just going for a shower, she is "should I wait Mum" I still sit and shower as standing does my back in xxx But considering I was told "What makes you think you'll walk again" by one of BIT peoples makes me more adamant . I should be grateful to him as he got my back up !! Good luck to Mom and keep her moving forward xxxxx

[Sonm92 in reply to WinB]

Hi winb sorry for the delay in replying in been busy woth work and caring for my mum. It's awful that someone said that to you however I'm glad it made you more determined and hope you are doing well

[sospan]

Hi,

Glad your mum is progressing and starting to gain a degree of independence.

If you exclude being a toddler, I have had to "learn to walk" about 5 times so far through various incidents. The current one at the age of 57 is through knee surgery that didn't go to well.

Interesting about the physio exercises, what you will find with your mother putting one hand on the units is for two reasons - it is safety mechanism, should she wobble she can hold onto it. But it is also a feedback mechanism for her balance. By touching the counter it helps your mothers depth perception.

One of the hardest things to do when learning to walk is to keep the head level and look where you are going. The biggest problem is that people tend to look about a metre in front, which then makes is harder for the balance mechanisms ears, eyes, feet and brain to work.

Hope your mother continues to progress

Seasons wishes

[lcd8]

Hi Sonm. Very best wishes to your Mum and I really hope things work out for her. Its not the same. But I had a Stroke Mimic in 2016 which left me with weakness on one side of my body and inability to walk. Due to this I also lost all my confidence. I managed to get round the house by holding onto things. But I didn't dare go out unless in a wheelchair. Fortunately I was put under the care of a community rehab team. They gave me a lot of exercises to do and I did them religiously every day even though they were a pain. They also walked me round the block, gradually further and further - although I didn't dare let go and was painfully slow. It took time but I got there in the end. I now walk with a slight limp but I do walk. And your Mum will too, I'm sure. All the best.

[Sonm92]

Hi all, thank you for all your comments I just thought I'd update you if interested.

My mum still lives with me and likely will for the next 9 to 12 months (no rush these things take time).

She now uses a walking stick in the house and we have started walking daily outside with it too. A walk that takes me less than a minute initially 4 days ago took my mam 5 minutes 30 however; today she nailed it. Fantastic technique. Heel to toe, left right march in 3 minutes 40 so massively impressed with that.

Her memory is improving. Although when she's tired it is worse she's also getting better at managing her tiredness.

This will continue to take time and she is a work in progress but she's doing amazingly well.

The intensive care unit has a photo of her in there ward as due to the severity of the Injury they did not expect a good outcome in the first 3 weeks. Now she's flying. She is also able to do a driving assessment in July to see about getting her license back to drive.

The individual who done this is meant to be up at crown court for dangerous driving causing serious injury on April however due to covid I doubt this will go ahead.

Keep hope and keep positive. My mam is a miracle on my opinion and each and everyone of your comments helped me in the early days when in all honestly I was clueless. I knew nothing about brain injuries and had never had experience or known anybody with one.

I have now taken an interest in becoming a neurological physiotherapist after the 6 months mam has lived with me and hope to pursue this. Although the occupational therapists offer an invaluable service too!

Thank you