How do people recover from coma after a head injury do they have amnesia or dramatic personality changes?
485740
my wife had a brain injury 10 weeks ago coma for 3 weeks is recovering slowly but recovering don't seem to be any brain damage just a lot of slow memories but seems to be all there so far BUT brain damage is different in all people i hope you have a lot of good luck & get back the person you love the way thay were
901371
after head injury, you may continue to have headache (post-concussion headache) & dizziness.\nthis will resolve with time although it may take several months.\neven if you had a skull fracture, its not important as long as there was no bleeding into the brain as showed by CT-scan.\nyou are lucky you didnt have any brain injury or seizures.\nits a good practice to check for any associated neck injury (cervical spine injury) as this may contribute to the headache..\nI hope you will get over it soon.
669926
There are those who will tell you that there is - but most likely it's not possible unless your under a drug induced coma. You don't want to be in a state of complete relaxation or you wouldn't recognize danger when needed.\nAs long as your brain is functioning properly you will be aware of what is happining around you, which is normal and good. The big question is why do you want to be in a state of total relaxation in the first place? It's not natual! One of the best methods I found is to relax in a chair or bed and imagine it part of your body has dissapeared starting with the feet until you reach finally the head. When you head disapears then you will find your self completely relaxated.\nI have taught relaxation exercises for many years at a local "Adult Center" and I have found great success with several methods. But again there isn't such a thing as "total" relaxation.
387548
A stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed in some way. As a result, brain cells are starved of oxygen causing some cells to die and leaving other cells damaged.\n\nThe presentation of the stroke depends on what part of the brain was affected. One site of  common strokes affects the left middle cerebral artery, often resulting in speech deficits and right hemiplegia (paralysis). \n\nI have worked with many people who have suffered from strokes - ranging from very mild to very severe.  Yes - it is possible to recover - like the others said with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy (if there are speech, swallowing, or cognitive impairments). It depends on the severity of the stroke and the persons committment to work as to if they will recover.  I have worked with some who give it their all, and others who give up. \n\nGenerally, the most rapid amount of recovery occurs within the first three months.  After that, by the end of the first year after the stroke, the majority of function that returns is done.
1131240
If truely the diagnosis is a mild stroke,  the area that was damage will never be fixed.  However, please remember that the brain is an incredible organ.  People who have had strokes in the past whether it affected there body, speech, swallow, or memory have rehab to regain some function back.
576240
There's still so much we don't know about how the brain compensates for the damage caused by stroke or brain attack. Some brain cells may be only temporarily damaged, not killed, and may resume functioning. In some cases, the brain can reorganize its own functioning. Sometimes, a region of the brain "takes over" for a region damaged by the stroke. Stroke survivors sometimes experience remarkable and unanticipated recoveries that can't be explained. General recovery guidelines show:\n\n10 percent of stroke survivors recover almost completely\n25 percent recover with minor impairments\n40 percent experience moderate to severe impairments requiring special care\n10 percent require care in a nursing home or other long-term care facility\n15 percent die shortly after the stroke\n\nCheers!
798078
any time there is an injury to the brain, there is a potential for seizure activity associated with that trauma.  You should be seeing a neurologist and getting a work up done which includes, EEG, CT and MRI.
688238
I have known a few people who have had head injuries. It basically depends on what part of the brain is injured. I would suggest finding a book or website that shows you the different areas of the brain to see what functions could be impaired. You can also ask his doctor or his family to try to get the answer. Good luck, and I hope he's ok.
60696
Mind is Reconstructive:\nEvents are imperfectly remembered. Many events are not remembered at all. Some events are remembered initially but later gradually forgotten. \n\nA trigger (e.g. an article in a newspaper, a photograph of a friend etc) might bring back a recently forgotten memory. However, most events eventually become permanently lost and can never be retrieved. \n\nIt is impossible for the brain to store complete details of every event. It simply does not have the storage capacity to hold that amount of data. Rather, only a minimal amount of information is actually stored in the brain. \n\nWhen we recall a memory, our mind will automatically "flesh out" the recollection by inventing details of the event, based on previous similar experiences. This process is largely unconscious; we are not generally aware of it happening. \n\nOne interesting phenomenon can occur when the memory is being recalled as a result of questions by a therapist or interrogator. Their suggestive questions can distort this "fleshing out" process. The mind can add new components to the memory that are unrelated to the original event. Even more interestingly, these distortions will later re-enter the client's memory, and will probably emerge during subsequent recalls.
290148
Yes,have you never heard of stories of people, who while in a coma can remember you visiting them in the hospital, and everything you said to them? Being comatose doesn't always mean you don't feel anything, or not being aware of what is happening around you, all it means is that you AREN'T ABLE TO RESPOND.
705615
I know someone who was in a car accident about 2&1/2 years ago & had complications. Remembers most everything before 11 or 12 years ago well enough with a few gaps here and there (probably remembers as well as anyone else does in their life from 12+ years ago). \nBut still can't remember anything from 11 or 12 years ago to 2&1/2 years ago. \nThe fortunate thing: can't remember what's been forgotten. \nFamily members and friends have tried to help by showing photos or telling stories but it's just not there. None of us realized how much wasn't remembered until this past Summer -- then had to admit not remembering anything at all between 11-12 years ago to 2&1/2 years ago (when woke up in the hospital).\nRemembers which photos have been seen and which stories have been heard over the last 2&1/2 years but there's no memory of the actual person or event, and there's no emotion at all attached to the photos/people/events.
137006
yes its called "temporary amnesia" and its actually quite common.\ni think it occurs mostly when the blow to the head is in the side of the face /jaw area, but not exactly sure.\nsoo do a search for temporary amnesia check it out.
1145474
First thing is to make sure there is no major fracture. Generally you KNOW if there is a major fracture. The skull will be sunken in at some point. \n\nPrimarily the Docs are worried about internal bleeding or clotting.  If there is blood spilling into the the skull itself. This causes lethal pressure on the brain that has to be relieved to prevent perm damage and clotting which causes essentially a stroke.  \n\n# Moderate to severe head injury (requires immediate medical attention):\n\nI've had several concussions in my lifetime.  It takes months to fully heal up from one. If it is a child playing a competitive sport a concussion prob means the end of the season for them or should. A good knock on the head is different from a concussion. I've had lots of good knocks on the head. A day or two later it might be sore where I got hit but everything else is fine. With a concussion things will seem strange. Sensory inputs may feel blurred or like they are coming from far far away. Reactions and thought processes are much slower. For a few days they may seem lethargic. Strong headaches will come periodically. Vision may be not quite right. The worst is over in a few weeks but some mild symtoms will usually persist for a few months. \n\nWatch for these signs. Especially the pupils, bleeding into eyes, ears noses, Severe headache. Obviously if thier have siezures you'll take them to the hospital.  Unless the Docs see this or they are being overly cautious that's all they'll do. Send you home with a list like this and say come back if any of these symtoms happen. \n\n    * loss of consciousness\n    * blurred vision\n    * severe headache\n    * vomiting\n    * loss of short-term memory, such as difficulty remembering the events that lead right up to and through the traumatic event\n    * slurred speech\n    * difficult walking\n    * dizziness\n    * weakness in one side or area of the body\n    * sweating\n    * pale skin color\n    * seizures\n    * behavior changes including irritability\n    * blood or clear fluid draining from the ears or nose\n    * one pupil (dark area in the center of the eye) looks larger than the other eye\n    * deep cut or laceration in the scalp\n    * open wound in the head\n\nIf you get these symptoms get themt to the doc ASAP.
938610
Any head injury should always be treated as serious, and should seek medical attention immediately, even if been unconscious briefly.\n\nSymptoms and signs of head injury\nHistory of injury (how it happened)\nLoss of memory (particularly of event)\nHeadache\nBlurred vision\nAltered/abnormal responses\nWounds to scalp/face\nBlood/clear fluid from eyes or ears\nPupils unequal in size.\n\nManagement of Head injury\n- Reassure casualty\n- Manage as if unconscious\n- Support head and neck during movement\n- If face badly injured, keep airway open \n- Control bleeding; do not apply direct pressure to skull if fractured\n- Blood or fluid from ear - cover lightly with sterile dressing\nturn on injured side down\n- nausea\n- vomiting\n\nSEEK MEDICAL AID URGENTLY.\n\nPost concussion\nThinking and behavioural disorders such as: memory, mood, attention, concentration, depression, fatigue, headaches and visual problems, can follow a concussion, and can last some months.
750006
i'm hoping that as i am writing this-you have already called someone to take you to the emergency room\n\ni work in trauma icu-we specialize in head injuries. from the sound of it-you have sustained a severe concussion and need to seek medical attention NOW. \n\nthe fact that you are having changes in your pupils indicates there is injury to your brain-this could indicate a bleed and in severe cases-these require surgery!!\n\nplease,please have someone drive you to the hospital (do NOT drive yourself), if there is nobody to take you CALL 911!!\n\nhead injuries are very serious and can worsen rapidly with no warning at all. you need to have a ct scan of your head done to make sure there is no bleeding or swelling going on inside your brain
349174
I'm epileptic and have had the same reaction right after I have a grand mal.Sometimes I don't regain consciousness for a few minutes other times when I wake up I'm lucid. Sometimes when I've had a seizure here at home I wake up in my bed - don't know how I got there. I've been told by my son that I just get up after the seizure and go to bed. Sometimes I wake up with a headache and I'm confused - after a while it goes away - other times I can't remember what day and/or time it is. It's scary, but what your saying sounds about the same as what happens to me. There are times when I have trouble keeping my balance when I first stand up and try to walk after a grand mal. It's probably because of all the electrical activity that's going on in the brain during a seizure and it disorients me. Have you spoken with your neurologist about this? If you wish you may e-mail me. Dilantin and Phenobarbitol didn't work for me or Depakote. I'm on Keppra and Lamictal right now.
490769
There's no way to predict how much recall a person will have.  One of my patients was expected to have no memory of past and family yet she had a surprising amount of recall and knew family members immediately.  It may help matters to sit bedside during the coma period and talk to him.  Speak about past experiences and memories, people you have both known, significant events you have shared and so forth.  Your loved one will hear you and after he comes out of the coma may even mention parts of the conversations you had with him.  I also suggest you speak to his family about your concerns.  They may share these concerns.  You all may need to consult his Neurologist for more information.