Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries

The majority of head and spinal injuries have the same cause: impact! This impact might come from hitting a windshield, landing on cement, or falling in the shower. No matter how the injury occurs, the same simple “formula” tends to be true: The force of the impact + the exact location of the injury = the severity of the injury.

BRAIN INJURIES

A traumatic brain injury comes from a direct blow to the head and tends to damage a specific area in the brain. A non-traumatic brain injury develops on a cellular level in the brain, so it affects cells throughout the brain.

People who suffer from a brain injury may have some or all of the following complications:

Cognitive deficits, especially short term memory loss.
Motor deficits, like weakness or balance issues.
Sensory deficits.
Language difficulties.

SPINAL INJURIES

A spinal cord injury (or SCI, for short) is defined as damage to the spinal cord resulting in a loss of function—such as mobility or feeling.

Loss of sensation and movement are the most common effects of spinal cord injuries. However, there are other physical changes that may result from an SCI, including:

Bowel and bladder dysfunction.
Sexual dysfunction.
Low blood pressure.
Problems controlling blood pressure and body temperature.
Chronic pain.

SOME KEY TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH INJURED CLIENTS

Remember that emotional outbursts or intense mood swings are common after a brain injury. Stay calm during such times and praise your clients when they keep control over their emotional responses.
If your client develops seizures after a brain injury, keep him or her safe during a seizure, but don’t restrain the person. Get help ASAP.
Report any physical, emotional, or mental changes as your clients recover from their brain injuries so that their plans of care can be adjusted accordingly.
Take your time when moving or positioning clients who are paralyzed. Rapid, rough movements can trigger muscle spasms, so go slow and be gentle.
After a spinal cord injury, keep your client’s skin clean and dry, and help them change position at least every 2 hours. Help prevent pressure sores by watching closely for skin that is red or discolored.