Anoxic Encephalopathy: Big Name, Complex Condition: Get Innovative Post-Acute Rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida

Encephalopathy is a broad term that generically refers to a disease, damage, or malfunction of the brain. Symptoms may include an altered mental state and brain failure that can be attended by physical changes.

The term “anoxic encephalopathy” refers to brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. Encephalothopies can also involve the heart, liver or the kidneys In those cases, the medical reason for the encephalopathy precedes the term encephalopathy such as “cardiac,” “hepatic” or “renal”. The cause and severity of the condition dictate the degree to which the mental state of the individual is altered^[1].

A related condition is cerebral hypoxia that refers to a reduction of oxygen to the brain. However, when the individual’s catastrophic injury is one of total oxygen deprivation to the brain, the term anoxic is used. In turn, when there has been a total oxygen deprivation, it can be either hypoxic (caused by reduced oxygen availability) or ischemic (caused by oxygen deprivation resulting from a disruption in blood flow). Regardless, the resulting traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sometimes called hypoxic/anoxic injury.

Some of the potential causes of axonic encephalopathy include:

• Head trauma, including concussions, which can cause bleeding in and around the brain. In turn, this can cause increased pressure within the skull.
• Shear injuries to brain tissue can cause damage to neurons that connect brain cells together
• In addition to the direct brain trauma resulting from either traumatic brain injury (TBI) or mild brain injury (MBI) itself can caused increased internal pressure within the skull causing anoxic or hypoxic damage.
• Disruption of blood supply by a stroke can contribute to this condition. A stroke results in the blockage of arteries that carry oxygenated blood to the brain. Without oxygen that part of the brain affected is replaced with scar tissue. If sufficient cells are injured, permanent damage can result. Alternatively, a hemorrhagic stroke can occur when bleeding occurs in the brain itself resulting in damage[2].

Among the symptoms of anoxic encephalopathy include:

• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Muscle or other bodily weakness or numbness
• Diskinesia
• Seizures
• Any combination of these symptoms

When an individual becomes a Client of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida, he or she undergoes an independent functional evaluation administered by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that may consist of:

• Board Certified Neurologist
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst
• Board Certified Physiatrist
• Neuropsychologist
• Psychologist
• Board Certified Psychiatrist
• Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Nurses
• Certified Rehab Counselor

From the results of the independent functional evaluation, the professionals of NeuLife Rehab formulate a Client Goal Plan. The Client Goal Plan guides the clinically relevant services delivered by NeuLife Rehab. The Client Goal Plan guides the cognitive, psychiatric, neurologic, psychological and neuropsychological therapy of the Client. The goal of NeuLife Rehab’s innovative post-acute rehabilitation is the attainment for our Clients of independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and mental abilities permit.

NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served.

NeuLife Rehab consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceeds the expectations of all persons served. Our philosophy of that healing, wellness, and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in an uplifting, therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each Client so he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife Rehab believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as goals to increase function and independence.

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, 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

[1] WebMD, EMedicineHealth Definition of Encephalopathy

[2] http://www.emedicinehealth.com/encephalopathy/page3_em.htm