What is a “Challenging Diagnosis”?
Individuals who seek treatment for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) have all levels of general overall health. Some have very good overall health with no evidence of pre-existing conditions and some have poor overall health and have been regularly treated by a general physician and some have poor overall health and have not received regular care from a doctor. These are health concerns that must be considered when an individual comes to NeuLife and the multidisciplinary team, with the individual’s input whenever possible, collaborate to develop the customized Client Goal Plan that will ensure the individual receives the specialized rehabilitation required for maximum, sustained recovery. Addressing the needs of the whole person after the injury can be challenging for medical professionals. A few major health problems that can, also, occur with TBI and can complicate diagnosis, recovery and access to services, are spinal cord injury and mental health issues. In addition, heart disease, diabetes and epilepsy must be managed and considered when working with each individual.
Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are often overlooked for having a brain injury. Individuals who are rehabilitated after an SCI must learn numerous function skills, medical management techniques and acquire day-to-day survival skills. The cognitive trauma from a TBI may significantly delay or limit skills acquisition. Individuals with an SCI and TBI achieve smaller functional gains and require longer periods of rehabilitation. The research states from 40–50% of individuals with a SCI also have a TBI.
Mental health disorders are negatively affected by a TBI or can develop due to an injury. The disorders that are the most commonly affected are depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals who have a previous diagnosis of a mental health disorder have symptoms that can be exacerbated by the stress of a traumatic injury. Increase in depressive feelings, anxiety or substance use (alcohol or drug use) can occur. This often makes it challenging to diagnose, which symptoms are associated with the traumatic injury and which ones were pre-existing.
PTSD is often addressed when diagnosing a TBI. At first, the symptoms may be similar causing diagnostic challenges. Second, most individuals with a TBI also have PTSD. PTSD is a biological/psychological injury and TBI is a neurological trauma that presents symptoms of sleep disturbances, irritability, physical restlessness, difficulty concentrating and some memory disturbances. The major differences are that an individual with PTSD may have trouble with remembering the traumatic even, but is able to remember everything else and has an ability to learn. An individual with a TBI has difficulty retaining new memories and trouble with learning new things.
General health concerns that are present in some individuals seeking treatment for a TBI are cardiac disorders, diabetes and epilepsy. Individuals with pre-diagnosed cardiac disorders are at a higher risk of cardiovascular complications and associated with an increased risk for stroke and mortality. Diabetes and epilepsy are other health concerns that may need to be addressed when planning for treatment. An individual must be able to recognize his or her health conditions and be able to manage them by following medication guidelines or physician orders. It is important for individuals to provide treatment providers with all his or her medical history to help determine appropriate treatment.
NeuLife consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of specialized clinically relevant services to our clients with catastrophic injuries and other challenging diagnoses in order to produce superior outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served. Healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each one of our clients so each may achieve his or her specific goals.
2725 Robie Avenue
Mount Dora, Florida 32757
