Healing is possible after a brain injury. This is especially true with prompt medical care, and much of that healing may happen in the first few weeks or months after the injury.
But many people run into a sort of plateau where it doesn’t seem like the injury is getting worse, but it is also not getting any better. They may still struggle with personality changes, memory issues, decreased motor skills, excessive fatigue and much more. The exact symptoms usually depend on the severity of the injury and its location within the brain.
So why is it that healing levels out for some injury victims? Why wouldn’t a traumatic brain injury (TBI) continue healing?
The brain has limited healing abilities
The problem lies with the brain itself. It’s a very fragile organ, and for the most part, it cannot re-create lost neurons or brain cells. Other organs, such as your skin, are constantly generating new cells to repair tissue that has been damaged or lost. Your bone marrow is constantly making new red blood cells. But if your brain cannot regenerate its own cells or grow new neurons, there’s no way to replace those lost brain cells.
As such, the brain tries to look for new connections and new pathways. When these new neural pathways can be established, patients see a reduction in their symptoms. But there is a point where the brain can’t find any more pathways and the remaining symptoms may become permanent.
Seeking compensation
As you can imagine, this can be a life-changing condition. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, be sure you know exactly what legal options you have.