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Head Trauma Recovery

Head trauma can occur from a variety of causes--car accidents, slip-and-fall injuries and getting hurt on the job, among others. Some side effects can include headache, dizziness, blurred vision, problems with memory and fatigue. There are several ways to recover from a traumatic head injury.

  1. Ice

    • If the head injury is minor, it can be cared for at home with an ice pack. Place a bag of ice, cold compress or a bag of frozen vegetables over the wounded area for half an hour. Do this at least three times a day to reduce the size of the bump and to decrease swelling and inflammation.

    Pain Relievers

    • Headaches and pains almost always accompany a head injury. Take pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen as needed. Do not take more than recommended dose on the label.

    Severe Head Injuries

    • Those who have suffered severe head trauma will need more in-depth therapy than ice and pain relievers alone. A doctor may prescribe anti-seizure medication or antidepressants.

    Speech & Language Rehabilitation

    • A patient may need help with talking to and relating to people after a head injury. She may also need assistance remembering who her loved ones are, how to read or how to go about performing basic day-to-day tasks. Recovery may include working with a speech or language therapist.

    Surgery

    • For some patients, surgery may be the only way to heal properly. Surgery can reduce pressure inside the brain if it rises too high. Also, if the head trauma includes a penetrating wound and there is bleeding inside the brain, surgery must be performed to staunch the bleeding.

    Prevention/Solution

    • While head trauma injuries run the gamut from minor to severe, there are a few things that can be done to prevent them and protect you during recovery. Helmets should be worn during bicycling, skating or riding a motorcycle. Always hold to rails available going up and down stairs or escalators. Fall-proof your home by installing rails near areas where you are susceptible to falling, such as staircases and bathtubs.

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