Rest Is My Friend

One of my internet friends, Peter, is going thru recovery from a traumatic brain injury suffered May, 2014. He commented on my last post. Here is my reply to him, which shows, I hope, an increasing restraint in returning to activity based on both my current symptoms and advice I am hearing and reading on the nature of the injury I suffered. I’m learning that my best chance for a good recovery, and for preventing new injury, is to exercise restraint and patience during the initial 10-20 days following a TBI (traumatic brain injury) resulting from and ICH (intracranial hemorrhage).

The swelling is probably at its maximum extent right about now, 72 hours following the initial insult. Trying to force the brain to work normally when its activity is inhibited by that swelling might prolong and/or diminish recovery. So, for now, I simply have to sit around and, like Jake in Chinatown, do as little as possible. Tough task for me, but I;ll be surrounded by a lot of supportive friends and family while I’m being lazy. I’m going to embrace it.

Peter – thank you so very much for taking the time and thought to reinforce what I should/should NOT be doing now. I really value your perspective from hard won experience. Getting airlifted from the accident 200 miles to Denver, and then having the neurosurgeon force me to look at the blood spots in the CT image have driven home the truth of what happened to me. One of the things I wrote months after my spinal cord injury was how I wished someone had taken me by the collar and said in so uncertain terms how badly damaged I was, and to get those thoughts of quick return to my previous life out of my head. So I am (reluctantly, of course), heeding all the folks such as yourself who insist how imperative it is to to allow sufficient time for rest before attempting anything. This weekend, my job is to let my wife and friends here in Denver take care of my life for me, and to simply kick back and REST. “Luckily”, I have a reminder on my nose, lip and face about the fall. I have told myself to remember, when seeing the fat lip and abrasion blood, that a similar event has occurred in my brain tissue. I should not expect anything to even begin to improve until I see this external evidence of swelling and hemmorrhege has resolved. Only then will I try some easy swimming and indoor cycling. Naps and extended night time sleep will also be on my agenda.