Acclimating to a Catastrophic Injury -Part II: How Understanding the Stages of Rehabilitation Promotes Independence

Innumerable physical and psychological changes to an individual can accompany a catastrophic injury. The injury may have resulted from one or more of the following, or other, causes:

• A motor vehicle accident
• An occurrence causing a spinal cord injury
• A head injury
• A severe traumatic brain injury
• A mild traumatic brain injury
• Multiple trauma
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome
• A traumatic amputation
• A workplace injury

The consequences of an injury may include one or more of the following, or others:

• Behavioral changes
• Cognitive deficits
• Neurologic deficits
• Inability to attend to activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Mobility impairments
• Vision impairments
• Speech impairments
• Auditory impairments
• An inability to work in a past area of employment

Regardless of how the catastrophic injury or trauma occurred, or its results, your world has changed, if only for now. Understandably, there are psychological and emotional issues to work through in your path toward independence. The multidisciplinary team at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida understands and addresses these issues during the Client assessment and the formulation and implementation of his or her post-acute rehabilitation regimen.

It is important to understand that the psychological and emotional implications of a catastrophic injury can occur in stages, or phases. Yet, some individuals may not experience all, or any, of them. With individuals with catastrophic injuries, the stages or phases relate to the readjustment process from the injury. The generally accepted stages or phases are these:

• Shock and Denial. As the reality of the loss or disability is difficult to face, this may be the first reaction. At this stage, the individual is attempting to deny the occurrence or magnitude of his or her circumstances.
• There comes a point when the individual realizes that the reality of the occurrence cannot be denied any longer. Anger, rage and envy (aimed at himself, herself, others or at a higher power) may replace denial. Issues and questions of blame or “why me?” may arise at this stage.
• At this stage, a sense of hope may develop. The stage is called “bargaining” because it often involves negotiation for a cure (in the case of an illness) or a return to preceding levels of function in return for a reformed lifestyle. While not yet at the stage of acceptance of the disability and life changes, there is acknowledgement that the cause of the catastrophic injury cannot be reversed.
• “What is the point?” might be the hallmark of this stage. The individual at this stage begins to see the certainty and irreversibility of the physical aspect(s) of the catastrophic injury. The danger here is that things that were once valuable to the individual may lose meaning. He or she may become silent, refuse visitors or become sullen. The intervention of members of NeuLife Rehab’s multidisciplinary team, particularly psychiatrists, psychologists and neuropsychologists are especially important at this stage.
• At this psychological stage, the individual comes to grips with his or her injury, trauma and disability. A new reality sets in. At NeuLife Rehab, the Client recognizes that he or she is more that the catastrophic injury, whatever that injury may have been. Even more, he or she recognizes that the innovative post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab will make possible his or her renewed independence to the fullest extent that physical and mental capabilities allow.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” —  the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.

NeuLife’s philosophy is that healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best achieved in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourages, assists and supports each client so he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as goals to achieve function and independence.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757