Brain Injury

Brain Injury - How we can help you

Rehabilitation and Case Management

Following brain damage new neural pathways have to be created to improve efficiency in general cognition.  This is sometimes called neural plasticity.  It is often a long process and a good outcome often depends on early rehabilitation, in particular in developing coping and management strategies.

The recovery period

The first six months are typically spent understanding the precise impact of the brain injury on function and cognition. Most improvements are typically seen in the first 12 months. After then progress is much slower. So the importance of rehabilitation in the first 12 months cannot be under-estimated, as the brain learns new ways of adapting.

After the first year many patients reach a plateau so the key to long term functional improvement is to set new realistic goals by taking small steps. Working with a dedicated occupational therapist is critical in setting and achieving these goals.

Treatment

Rehabilitation normally takes place whilst a person is in hospital and in cases of severe brain injury, a patient may be discharged to a specialist rehabilitation facility. Unfortunately, due to pressures on the NHS, all too often patients are discharged too early with little or no support once they arrive home.

Every brain is different and rehabilitation is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Typical types of treatment which may be required are:

  • Occupational therapy – focuses on ensuring the individual is able to meet certain daily living skills and regain as much independence as possible, by adapting to the home environment. Treatment will often involve learning coping strategies to make activities of daily living easier, like showering, preparing food, getting dressed
  • Neurological physical therapy – focuses on balance and coordination, using exercises which aid nerve regeneration. This type of treatment improves functional impairments.
  • Cognitive Therapy – focuses on improving the ways in which people think and how they retrieve information. This can help an individual overcome any difficulties they are experiencing by highlighting and repairing dysfunctional behaviors, thought processes and emotional responses.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – aims to help the individual move away from heavily polarised thought processes which amplify negativity and minimize positivity. The goal is to create a more realistic way of thinking and so reducing stress.

Compensation in our view is only part of the solution. We prioritise rehabilitation for our clients from the very outset and select the best rehabilitation providers to work with you to identify what treatment you require. We will appoint a case manager who will be a nurse with expertise in managing brain injury to carry out an Immediate Needs Assessment. After this assessment, your case manager will co-ordinate your rehabilitation package and work with you and other professionals to identify what treatment you require.

The Immediate Needs Assessment will often take place in your own home and may identify areas where you need support or more help, such as:

  • physiotherapy or hydrotherapy
  • occupational therapy
  • adapting or buying a home more suited to your needs
  • adapting or buying a more suitable vehicle
  • psychological therapy
  • employment rehabilitation
  • educational needs

If your assessment makes recommendations we will advise how we can help you access and fund them to get the support and care that you need.

Our specialist head injury case managers will look after your interests to help get you all the help you need as soon as possible.

For more advice please call 0345 111 5050 or contact us online.

 

           

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3 Waterfront Business Park
Brierley Hill
West Midlands, DY5 1LX

Email: law@higgsllp.co.uk
Call Us: 0345 111 5050

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