Traumatic Brain Injury ~ WHAT IS IT?

I have come to learn the majority of the USA has not clue what a TBI is. When I have said my horse fell on me, leaving me with a TBI. The first thing people say is, “ Glad you recovered.”

People who have had a TBI, usually either laugh, ( such as myself) or some take offense at such a statement.

You see if I told you, I had a stroke the response would be “ Oh, are you doing ok?”

So what is a TBI ? As a TBI survivor, I hope I am able to shed some light on the subject.

A TBI, is when the brain is shook hard enough caused by trauma for a bleed or bleeds to occur. Along with the bleeding comes swelling. Blood is lethal to the brain, and kills cells. Swelling which occurs all over the brain, also kills cells. It is by a miracle that people live. For many years they did not when any of the above mentioned occurred.

Many of us, can rehab the physical disabilities. However, there is this ‘cognitive” side. That is a struggle. For me personally, I have said for the past year, the best I ever was “cognitively’ was 2009.

In 2010 , for some reason, I regressed ‘cognitively”. By early 2011, I was extreamly frustrated. As all that I had gained, slipped away like some cruel joke.

Riding, my horse, is what ‘cognitively’ rehabilitated me. Riding with instruction, made new connections on some level for me. Going back into steady lessons in 2011, has now rehabbed me again. I as of this moment am where I was in 2009. This time, however, a bit smarter. I know fatigue is a very big issue, and when I am tired, I go to bed. Often such a nap for me is 5 hours. I get up, eat, go back to bed and sleep another 9 -10 hours. When I have slept 9-10hrs, and go to the barn, I am cognitively “ok”. Again, a 5hr nap must occur and 9-10 hrs of sleep. Any sleep less than this, ask my trainer, I simply can not function.

It in my opinion, it worth research on behalf of the Medical Field to study the brain with an EEG, while one rides a horse, with instruction or during lesson’s. Most people do not receive rehab of any sort after a TBI. According to the BIAA ( Brain Injury Association of America) 60% of violent offender’s sitting in prison, have a history of a TBI, and have had no rehab therapy at all.

My hope deep in my soul, is that awareness of TBI’s is brought forward. I am so lucky, I live in a rural area. This helped much with the PTSD. I often think of those who live in a busy city and think with all the stimulus , how do they cope after a TBI? The stats show, not well, not well at all.

Just something for people to start thinking about.

~ Sallie Stewart