Health is Your Wealth Magazine ISSUE 6, 2017

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MEDICAL IDENTITY CARD

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I HAVE ……………………….

speech and visual issues etc. Opposite is a card which you can cut out and carry with you to help explain your condition.

Issue 6 - 2017

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MENTAL HEALTH

MANAGE YOUR CONDITION

IMPROVE COGNITION

IMPROVING AWARENESS

THERAPY

RELATIONSHIPS

Contents

1

Editors message

2

IMPROVING AWARENESS

MANAGE YOUR CONDITION Interdependence vs. Independence

6

Neurolinguistic Education

9

Importance of a Routine

14

Importance of Nutrition

16

Bariatric Chamber

40

HEADWAY Derby—Workshops

42

Insurance funded rehabilitation

45

RELATIONSHIPS Totally Exasperated

49

REVIEWS & SUBSCRIPTIONS

IMPROVE COGNITION Brain Training Application Reviews

19 23

MENTAL HEALTH Acceptance OR Putting up with it?

Book Review

51

Movie Review

52

Subscriptions

53

Key Contacts

54

27

Your Business Could Advertise

THERAPY How to Keep Motivated

30

or Sponsor This Magazine!

Cycling after brain injury

35

Find Out More by visiting 1

Www.HealthisYourWealth.co.uk

Editors Message

Readers Letters ‌ Send letters to: letters@healthisyourwealth.co.uk

Please note some of these articles are written by patients who are still in recovery. These articles are deliberately unchanged and may contain spelling,

Another year gone by! It

punctuation and grammar mistakes.

doesn't seem long ago that we were welcoming you to

A copy of our medical disclaimer plus

2017 and soon we will be doing the same for 2018.

terms and conditions is on our website.

We hope you have seen

We respond to each letter!

some

progress

since

January. Remember some

Errors and omissions are exempt from

progress, no matter how

this

small is better than none

conditions please see:

publication.

For

terms

and

at all. Our neurologist tells

www.HealthisYourWealth.co.uk

us that she patients that are ten years post injury and are seeing progress!

PLEASE NOTE THAT

Never give up.

THE ADVERTISING AND

David & Sharon, Editor

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TYPSCOPE / LETTERBOX Prevent the reader taking in unnecessary visual stimulus and help them keep their place in the paragraph by limiting the amount of text readers can see at any one time. This simple ‘cut out’ tool is sized to work on 10” tablets and also the printed version of the magazine. It will present the reader with only 3 lines of text and ensue they wont get

IF YOU FIND THIS MAGAZINE VALUABLE VISIT www.HealtisYouWealth.co.uk Or CLICK HERE TO DONATE AND KEEP US GOING! 4

Manage YOUR Condition

YOU Are In CONTROL

point of view.

Interdependence Vs

When people are newly injured then

Independence An

unfortunately there are often no easy answers. It takes time for situations to

occasional Article

settle down. These uncertain times make it more difficult to cope. Anxiety

Interdependence: ‘The dependence

and to some extent denial are common

of two or more people or things

place, support difficult to identify and

on each other’

source. The physical problems can be a little easier to establish.

Independence: ‘Self-sufficient, able to set

‘I can’t do ‘x’ at the moment’

own schedule and choices etc. Also means being in a position to help others’

‘I need some help to do ‘x’ Most of us aspire to be independent as soon as possible in our own lives. But

‘I may need this short-term or for

what happens when we’ve had it then

the foreseeable future’

lose it? How do we get it back? Will it

‘I can do ‘x’ but it makes me so

look the same as it did?

tired I’d rather spend my energy And what about Interdependence?

Do

on ’y’

we have to accept that? What will that be like? For me as a therapist, I come at

Can I get someone to help me?

this dilemma from both a practical

When will they help me? How

perspective as well as an adjustment

much will it cost?

6

Will they let me have some

We seek order from chaos, routine and planning are our bywords.

control or just take over?

Generally, many people are just living

Even in a simple scenario from a

from day-to-day. It is hard for them to

physical point of view there is a lot to

see the patterns set up from the spirals

consider.

of fatigue, failed tasks and anxiety.

Again as a therapist, I would argue that Many people will learn the most about

to set up assistance in a ‘patient-centred’

but from ‘burning their fingers’. How

injured person as is practical as possible

many of us listen to advice first time

is the way forward. Flexibility and

round?

choice are desirable, however, in these

How

many

of

mistakes?

austerity driven times sometimes these aspects are hard to put in place.

So what about needing support from a cognitive or behavioural point of view?

From what I see this sort of support requires great skill. To help people take an overall view of their needs but not overwhelm them or make decisions for

Have you got the t-shirt?

them is difficult.

7

us

repeat

Managing Your Condition

their abilities not from their therapist

manner, giving as much voice to the

In an ideal scenario, support will be

the main driver rather than guilt or

greatest in the initial stages and then

concerns about what anyone else thinks.

reduce down as people learn more

Makes you realise why it takes so long

accurately about their abilities and needs.

Sometime

this

scenario

to work out where you stand on

is

Interdependence V Independence.

reversed, however, as insight develops

Gerry White Team Leader Derby head injury team

and everyone becomes aware that more support is needed. This later scenario is poorly

understood

by

the

funding

agencies.

Many of us don’t want help; we much prefer to give it. Often we reluctantly accept help with a resigned shrug.

But what if support can be embraced and

all

those

negative

feelings

associated with accepting it put aside?

What can be achieved then?

I would suggest that this is when you know you are coming out the other side that you are coming to terms with your injury. Scenarios may be more settled and planning for needs easier. The desire for what you want to achieve is 8

successive times, the event stops of

Contributions of

being worrisome and bad for the person,

Neurolinguistic

and become something without threats

Programming in School

to the individual. Therefore, Brandler

Education

found that the way you think about something, makes all the difference in

(Part One of Two)

how you are going to experience it. This discovery was named by Neurolinguistic

Excellence,

and

consists

in

the

reproduction and transformation of behaviours and beliefs.

Enthused

by

studies

on

human

behaviour, Richard Bandler started a Gestalt therapy group made up of

Photo credit: Photopin, A Health Blog

students and members of the local

Neurolinguistic Programming, had its

community. John Grinder, professor of

origin in the 70s, with the studies of

linguistics

Richard Brandler, in mathematics and

at

the

University

of

California, agreed to oversee Brandler's

computer science, at the University of

therapy

California in Santa Cruz.

group.

Discovering

the

similarity of their interests, they decided

After some time, Richard decided to

to combine their knowledge in computer

study psychology and observed that

science and linguistics.

when a person thinks about a traumatic or difficult event, in a positive way

9

Managing Your Condition

Programming as Modelling of Human

Programming the minds of people

it in our daily life, reflects what we

through the use of language, is based on

think, feel and believe.

a set of models, strategies and changes

NLP allows the individual to change

in the beliefs that their practitioners use

their way of thinking and acting in order

in order to achieve excellence and

to achieve the desired and specific

personal and professional development.

results, through the interaction between

Based on linguistic and behavioural

the brain, language and behaviour.

patterns Richard Bandler and John

Neurolinguistic

Grinder built mental models that could

learning

be used by others in different areas of

model

Programming that

allows

is

a

the

individual to understand how thought is

life such as work, school, health,

processed (neurologically),

emotions, business and interpersonal

and the

impact of this in the behaviour and in

relationships:

the decision making as well. This

Programming: guides that our thoughts,

pedagogical tool allows the student to

feelings and actions can be programmed

know and understand how the brain

and modelled so that we can reach our

works and how to modifying the way of

objectives and goals.

thinking an acting in order to achieve the objectives that are expected from

Neuro: refers to the central nervous

any field of human activity.

system, which processes the information we collect through our five senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch.

What are the benefits that NLP can

Linguistics: suggests that language

bring to academic and professional life?

(verbal and non-verbal) and how we use 10



Motivation: in the work approach of NLP, the professional has the opportunity

to

improve

their

knowledge and skills in order to enhance the performance at work and in the academic area, which provides greater motivation and Photo credit: Photopin, uoeducation

Self-awareness: NLP allows a

projects and activities.

person to think about different



goals, in order to encourage them to

intelligenc e:

social

intelligence is the ability to know

reflect better on their options and

how to interact with different

preferences. From this point, the

groups

individual learn how to choose the

and

Through

best strategy to achieve the desired

people

in

society.

neuro-linguistic

programming, the individual learns

goal.



Soc ial

to develop better communication

Brain plasticity: NLP allows the

and empathy skills, through the

individual to think in different

transformation of thoughts and

strategies to each new situation or

attitudes, thus providing more

learning. This makes the human

balanced and healthy interpersonal

brain reorganize itself, and new

relationships.

connections are formed, resulting in



new skills.

Education and Training: In the classroom NLP helps the teacher to better understand how the student

11

Managing Your Condition



encouragement to develop new

learns, as the student's brain captures

the

knowledge



and

In the coaching process: Coaching with NLP allows individuals to be

processes the information. Besides,

more

values the different learning styles

confident about their objectives and

exist, and understands that each

values, through the use of attention

student is a unique human being,

and concentration techniques. The

and for this reason has his/her

learning with NLP

particular

makes it possible to overcome the

way

of

developing

learning.

productive,

creative

and

coaching ,

blockages and the most negative results in order to develop new



Vocational

skills and abilities.

Guidance:

Professional choice occurs at a time when young people are immersed in

Part two details how Neurolinguistic

doubt, either through the imposition

Programming can be applied in a

of parents, or for imperative reasons

classroom environment.

of their own institution of education.

Vocational orientation with NLP The next section of this article will be in

will help young people to think

Feburary 2018 (Issue 1 of 2018)

better about their options, values, beliefs and internal motivations, since neuro-linguistic programming

Authored by Daniela Silva

is a technique that develops selfknowledge and stimulates decisionmaking.

12

AUTHOR BIO—Daniela Silva

teaching practices in the classroom; emotions and learning; evaluation and school planning; learning disorders; homeschooling, brain child development, parenting, Montessori education, andragogy and people training. Additionally, she develops courses and training manuals for

contributes as a mentor in an online

and independent writer. She holds a

platform, answering questions about

BA in Pedagogy from Santa Cecilia

c a r e e r p l a n s , c o l l e g e d e c i si o n ,

University, Brazil, with concentrations in

personal development and

School Management and Business

professional skills.

Education; an M BA i n Personnel Management from Monte Serrat University Center, Brazil; and a

Working in collaboration with The New

postgraduate certificate in

Heights Educational Group, Inc., she

Neuroeducation from Estácio de Sá

has just published Unraveling Reading,

University, Brazil.

a book on literacy education and

Working with social projects in the area

learning disabilities in reading and

of

writing.

e-learning

and

people

development since 2009, Ms. Silva is a regular contributor to several educational websites, writing about

Email: danieducator@gmail.com 13

Managing Your Condition

teachers and students, and

Daniela Silva is a Brazilian educator

was compromised due to one of my lungs

“Importance of A Routine”

being squashed therefore a new exercise program had to be created for me to help remedy this.

What effects your routine?

Recently alongside ‘coming to terms and

I guess everyone has a threshold barrier

accepting a new me’ a combination of

for patience and at some point it is

financial pressures plus emotional

broken.

turmoil have significantly upset my

probably the best thing that happened.

‘routine’.

At of the point of total exasperation I

Reaching

boiling

point

is

just played the “So What?” game.

At first my sleeping pattern was disturbed and this had a knock on effect

I was at the point when I was receiving

to my fatigue which in turn affected my

‘bad news’ every day. Whenever I

balance and inability to consistently

came into contact with something

complete my stretch and flex exercise

negative instead of feeling deflated I just

routine.

asked myself

Consequently

my

posture

deteriorated and the quality of my

“So What is the worse that can

walking became poor.

happen?”

It got to the point where my wife said: Once I adopted this mindset life became

“Go and see your Physiotherapist

a lot simpler, I stopped thinking about

before this gets worse”

things and my sleep patter returned to rubbish ($ hours a night) rather than

Additionally because my posture was

diabolical (1-2 hours a night) !

awful my ability to breath effectively 14

EXERCISE & NUTRITION

“Importance of Nutrition”

baked potato but leaves the skin

Stop Treating Your Stomach Like a

This behaviour drives me insane and

(Jacket) which is the best part!

instinctively I will ask:

Dustbin

“Are you finished eating?”

This is one of the hardest things I have had to do! I cant stand waste and it

With the aim that they will pass across

pains me to throw things away but I do

the leftovers. It has taken nearly two

it. Food however takes the will power of

years to break this habit and not have

a god to throw away. To me its like

that ‘extra piece of garlic bread’ or

flushing money down the toilet, you just

‘just finish off the desert’ as its only

wouldn't do it deliberately.

going to be thrown away.

I grew up in a house where you finished Some of us had strict rules growing up.

everything on you plate. It was a polite

In some homes you couldn’t leave the

way of letting the person who had gone

table until you had finished your dinner.

to the trouble of preparing and cooking

I remember my mother commenting on

your food that you appreciated their

my eyes being bigger than my belly. I

effort and enjoyed the fruits of their

was told I couldn’t have pudding unless

labour.

I finished up my first course which I Therefore it pains me to see ‘good food’

know is a rule in many homes.

go to waste especially if it is nutritious.

At primary school we had a teacher who

A good example is when someone eats a

was very unhappy about wasting food 16

and she would tell us about the starving

it isn’t being used to nourish and fuel

children in Africa who would be grateful

our bodies.

for the food that we didn’t want. We

“Finding ways to stop overeating

even had dinner ladies who would stand

is one of the vital steps towards

over you to make sure that you ate all

achieving this.”

your lunch.

As we approach the festive season

Drink a glass of water when your

there’s likely to be more food going to

finished your meal Up-cycle your food by donate food

intentioned family members and friends

parcels to a food bank.

urging us to eat up and finish it off so we don’t let good food go to waste. We

Pack food into lunch boxes for family

often think of overeating as binge eating

members to take to school or work.

or emotional eating.

Put portions in boxes in the freezer for

“When we eat food our bodies

quick and easy meals. Re-purpose left-

don’t want or need that’s

over's into the next family meal in a variety of cunning disguises.

overeating too!”

In the meantime, it may help to

When we choose to throw excess food

reiterate that our bodies are not

away rather than eating it, we are

dustbins and that whether we throw

deciding not to treat our bodies like

excess food away or eat it, it is still

dustbins. When we eat food we don’t

wasted.

want or need our body stores it as excess fat and then it’s wasted anyway in that

17

Managing Your Condition

waste than usual and many well

IMPROVE COGNITION

“Exercises to Strengthen your Brain!”

The rules of brain training: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Try and do a minimum and maximum of thirty minutes each day.

Try and commit to doing for ten weeks. This duration requires that you set time to one side to complete this.

It has to be challenging to work. If it’s to easy there are no benefits.

To keep motivated set yourself rewards. If you complete an exercise give yourself a reward, something to look forward to!

As well as doing exercises on your own work with others to increase your social skills.

Improve Cognition

Word Search ABILITY KNOWLEDGE MEMORY PERFECT PRACTICE PROCESSING REACTION RETAIN SPEED TIME

19

This maze is much more complex than usual. You start on the left hand side and have to escape to exit on the right hand side.

However there are multiple dead ends and only one solution!

Perhaps time yourself to see how long it takes you, take a note of the time and try it again a few weeks later.

Have fun!

START

20

Cris-Cross Across 2. Practice makes ….

4. The brain is ...

6. You store things here!

7. A positive disability 8. Ability to remember

Down 1. Encyclopaedias are full of ...

2. “Something” makes perfect 3. Measured in miles per hour 5. Another word for “response” time 9. “Something” flies

Improve Cognition

21

APPLICATION REVIEWS

- The exploration training presents you

DREX

with a number of targets and you must find the target that is different from the rest by size, shape or colour.

DREX training is self-adapting and increases in difficulty as you learn.

DREX is the Durham Reading and Whilst undergoing the DREX training

Exploration training. Through regular

you will be assessed at regular intervals.

training and assessment this application

partial visual loss.

1. Visual Field 2. Visual Search

You can also choose to share your data

3. Reading

with your doctor, occupational therapist or clinician. This enables them to track

4. Short Term Memory

your progress and suggest other ways to

5. Quality of life

maximise your compensation.

How friendly is it?

What will it do?

Easy to use and requires no training

The DREX training consists of two

What phone/system is it compatible

parts:

with?

Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible

- The reading training requires you to

with iPad

decide whether a word is a real word or

Cost? - Free

a non-word.

23

We give this a ★★★ rating

Improve Cognition

5 assessments are used:-

will teach you to compensate for your

How friendly is it?

The Pain Toolkit

Very friendly and easy to use. Most intuitive What phone/system is it compatible with?

Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The

PainSense

Pain

Toolkit

App Cost?

provides a set of practical, easy to use self-management tools for people with

Extended functionality can be accessed

persistent pain. The Pain Toolkit App is

via an in-App purchase for stand alone

based on proven methods developed

use with no link to a clinical system,

with the help of people living with

Or by a registration ‘token’ generated

persistent pain.

from a participating primary care area and providing a link to the clinical system.

What does it do?

We give this a ★★★ rating

Extended functionality in the App includes 12 self-help tools, a diary function, and a set of self-assessment tools that take users through key aspects of persistent pain, so they can learn more about how pain is affecting their life.

24

My reminders allows you to set up a

Epilepsy Tool Kit

reminder alarm for when to take your medication.

First aid instructions tell you how you can help someone when they have a seizure, and when to dial 999.

Step-by-step recovery guide shows you

new and interactive way to help manage

how to put someone into the recovery

your epilepsy.

position.

How friendly is it?

About me pages gives you space to

Easy to navigate the menus

record

you

and

your

healthcare

professionals’ details, information about

What will it do?

your diagnosis and tests, a reminder

My seizure diary allows you to record

function for questions you might want to

the details of your seizures, including

ask (with an audio record function).

what they are like, what happens and What phone/system is it compatible

how often you have them.

with?

Export function means you can package Requires iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible

and send your seizure diary by email to

with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

your healthcare professionals.

Cost? Free, no subscription fees.

My Medication allows you record details

We give this a ★★★★ rating

of the medication you take, including photographs, to help ensure you get the same medication all the time.

25

Improve Cognition

Epilepsy Society’s free epilepsy app is a

MENTAL HEALTH

that you are now disabled. Comments from other people. People speaking to

Mental Health

you wife about you as if you aren't there.

Someone's persona that comes across as

Is it Acceptance after brain injury

patronising or treats you as if you are

or is it just putting up with things ?

stupid.

I guess for a period of undetermined

But the worst is when you get a

time life is on hold while you and

concession or are made to feel like your being done a favour because of your

your family come to terms with

situation.

It maybe cynical but sometimes the

However some people will never be able

words “there is no such thing as a

to accept their new life and find it easer

selfless act” ring in my head. This

to:

person is really only doing this to make

“Not Acknowledging Their

themselves feel better. Of course I never

Disability”

say anything because then you labelled Than actually accept it as part of life

“Ungrateful”

and move on.

It’s similar to being told you are

Short term this can be a good coping mechanism however there are some stark

reminders

that

come

“Inspirational”

from

multiple sources that reinforce the fact 27

Mental Health

the new normal.

What like the other 1.5 million people

remaining stages. Having said that not

who have a head injury each year?

everyone has to complete all the stages and complete a full cycle in any given

Now I just accept the compliment, smile

time frame.

and change the topic of conversation.

“it takes as long as it takes”

Forgetting that you have a disability is one of the first steps to acceptance

No one can rush you or force acceptance

however this phase should be relatively

to move quicker. You have to take it in

short as long term you will get stuck at

and draw your own conclusions in you

this stage and never really move on.

own time.

In the last issue we outlined the various

Eventually you will get there when you

stages of guilt and highlighted that

are ready, regardless of how long this

these are neither linear or sequential.

takes!



Denial



Anger



Bargaining



Depression



Acceptance

However if you get stuck on the ‘Bargaining’ stage for example this could prevent you from moving through the 28

MOTIVATION

I’ve usually used the method of trying to

“How to KEEP

work out what is the worst that can happen.

Motivated?”

After that, anything else is a bonus.

Feeling Deflated

There is a snag though. If you are not in the right frame of mind, suffering from

This is about expectations.

depression say, then you could tie How many times have you gone in to an

yourself up in knots and convince

appointment with a doctor,

yourself that the worst will happen.

bank,

benefits office or some other meeting If you can defocus a bit and try to work

where you are expecting to be given

out what good could come of it, then

some good news?

than could help.

A few I should imagine It’s a bit like trying to see one of those

‘magic’ pictures.

And how many times did the news you got make you feel bad?

It doesn’t work for everyone.

Same again I would think.

Getting someone else to explain to you could help.

It doesn’t happen all the time but its best to be prepared.

There

is

‘deflated’.

30

another

way

of

being

Sometimes I will try to do more than

‘set realistic

one thing at a time. Before my injury it was easy enough to multi-task. However

goals’

now thing are different so I plan to complete one thing a day. Keeping it simple and doing one thing well is better

But it’s not a perfect world and there is

finishing any of them.

rarely a magic wand to be waved.

Sometimes I set a goal that’s a bit too

Mostly though something good comes

ambitious.

out of it even if it’s only to say ‘Ah well,

I won’t be doing that differently

So, when something goes wrong, it feels

next time.’

awful.

I thought this might not be so tricky to

My solution to this, when I remember, is

write.

one thing at a time and

Got that wrong.

“Taken a while but, through dogged determination it is finished”.

Phil Smith, TBI Survivor

31

Mental Health

than trying to do multiple tasks and not

information

Mental Health help and SUPPORT Services

services.

With

support

and

understanding, Mind enables people to make informed

choices.

The

Info

line

gives

information on types of mental distress, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative

health

therapies and advocacy. Mind also has a

problems or need urgent support, there are lots

network of nearly 200 local Mind associations

of places you can go to for help.

providing local services.

Samaritans

Saneline

Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to

Telephone: 0845 767 8000 (6pm-11pm)

call)

Website:

If

you

are

experiencing

mental

www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/

support/helpline Email: jo@samaritans.org Saneline is a national mental health helpline Website: www.samaritans.org Provides

confidential,

providing information and support to people with mental health problems and those who

non-judgmental

support them.

emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those

ChildLine

that could lead to suicide. You can phone, Telephone: 0800 1111

email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.

Email:

Pages/Email.aspx

Mind Info line Telephone:

0300

http://www.childline.org.uk/Talk/

123

3393

Website: www.childline.org.uk

(9am-5pm

Monday to Friday)

ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of

Email: info@mind.org.uk

nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine Web site: www.mind.org.uk/help/advice_lines

counsellor for free about anything - no problem is too big or small.

Mind provides confidential mental health 32

We started this self help

We have published:

magazine at the end of

Advertising

2014 following a severe

Social network posts

head injury in 2011. We did not anticipate the effect that the

BLOG activity

injury would have on our family and

Print and Distribution

underestimated the long term overall

Digital distribution

outcomes.

www.HealthisYourWealth.co.uk

The feedback that we have received has enabled us to continue to improve the

EVERYONE LOVES SOMETHING

publication and the submission of

FOR NOTHING. HOWEVER LONG

articles by subject matter experts has

TERM IS NOT SUSTAINABLE

enabled us to deliver good quality

THEREFORE IF YOU FIND THIS

content.

MAGAZINE VALUABLE VISIT OUR

We have been thanked by readers for

WEBSITE TO KEEP US GOING - OR

creating a meaningful and easy to read content. This magazine is read not only by survivors / families and carers but also by support workers / therapists and medical professionals.

However we have become victims of our own success !

We are at the stage where we have more articles resulting in a larger magazine.

More pages requires a different binding (spine) and costs more to print plus deliver (due to an increased weight).

33

THERAPY

BE AS GOOD AS YOU CAN BE

achieving ‘extended

Cycling following a Brain

daily living’.

Injury or Neurological

Such activities may include returning to

Condition

work;

Hospital Based in-patient rehabilitation

their

is driven primarily by a person’s desire to

return home.

activities of

resuming hobbies; improving general

improving

Often people then

fitness

and

handwriting;

health;

improving

problem solving skills amongst many

return home having achieved their

other skills. Their rehabilitation may be

primary goals, but what is next?

aimed at alleviating social isolation through supporting them to attend

Services are often stretched to capacity.

suitable activities in the community.

Out-patient

rehabilitation

is

often

In our experience, it is often these

targeted at the higher priority issues such as those termed ‘activities

‘extended activities of daily living’ that

of

can help a person adjust to their

daily living’ which is a terms used to

changed

describe a person’s ability to complete

importantly these activities provide a

their ‘self-care’ tasks of washing and

focus for a person to

dressing;

or improvement of their

recovery and vitally through doing

abilities and mobility within the home.

something THEY wish to do! Activities

In some geographical areas, out-patient

which challenge areas of the brain to

teams or specialist multi-disciplinary

deliver

teams can offer over and above this.

concentration; judgement; coordination;

Rehabilitation can

physical movement and relying on

then be designed

towards a person’s goals

towards 35

situations

the

and

most

continue their

necessary

skills

of

Therapy

Statutory Community Rehabilitation

reflexes, can be a valuable part of a

someone wishes to return to a previous

person’s continuing recovery.

or new hobby such as cycling.

Where needed, a period of formal

We have experience supporting people to

therapy can help a person to understand

return to cycling following a brain injury

more about how their bodies and minds

or with a neurological condition. In our

are recovering. There will be key points

experience, the first part of this process

to be considered in relation to their

involves a

further recovery. For example, a person

potential benefits and risks involved. It

may not be able to use their right hand

is important to be clear about which

so well; a person may find that their

kind of cycling a person is expecting to

visual space perception may have been

achieve and it is advised that the

affected; another person’s balance may

approach of exploring cycling as a hobby

be poor.

and not using roads is a starting point.

healthy debate about the

There may be factors to consider such as the risk of exacerbating a condition, such as muscle spasticity linked to too much effort being placed on muscle groups. It may be agreed to delay at this time.

In regard to cycling following a brain In such cases, it is important that advice

injury we would like to mention a few

is sought from the relevant health professional.

further points. From a medical point of

These effects need to be

view,

taken into consideration, especially if

people

awaiting cranioplasty

should wait until their operation and for 36

all

o t he r s,

a

cycle

he l m e t

is

possible risks, putting measures in place

recommended.

to minimise these.

officer will consider a person’s needs and

It is possible that people may not have been

linked

with

the

The inclusive cycle

try to match these to a particular type

relevant

of cycle and where needed, the or

professionals or perhaps it has been a

controls adapted.

long time since their injury or illness took place. In this event, we advise for a person to make an appointment with their GP to review their general health and fitness, as would be required for a referral to a gym.

Therapy

The second step is to seek advice of a Cycle Trainer or Inclusive Cycling Officer. An inclusive Cycling Officer will For example, changing the operation of

be able to offer experience and advice on

the back brake from left to right handed.

the most suitable cycles to provide the

Specialist seating may also be required

chance to try these. They can also offer

to promote improved posture as without

cycle training and advice on how to ride.

this, peddling is unlikely to be possible.

It may be necessary to use an adapted

Where needed the cycle officer will

cycle. A typical inclusive cycle session,

consult

with cycle Derby, will be held on a park with

with

the

relevant

health

professional, with a person’s consent, to

staff and volunteers who will

seek further advice and guidance in in

support a person to try out a cycle, with

relation to their health condition.

supervision. They will first consider the 37

The challenge for anyone returning to

wheelchair users and the fleet of

cycling, is to view this as all other

adapted bikes.

challenges since their injury or illness, one step – or one pedal! -

If you are interested please see their

at a time.

website for details:

Those closest to a person wishing to try

prospect of their loved ones cycling,

www.cyclederby.co.uk Or email Christine.kelly@derby.gov.uk or telephone 01332 641747

especially if this is how the original

For any other health related cycle

injury was sustained.

queries you may contact Jane Warbrick,

cycling again, will likely be scared at the

Occupational

It is very important to be clear about

Therapist

dhft.headinjuryteam@nhs.net

expectations with anyone taking these

on or

telephone 01332 258081

steps. In our experience it would not be a realistic expectation for someone with

WE STRONGLY ADVISE THAT YOU

balance problems to return to riding a

SEEK THE APPROPRIATE ADVICE

two wheeled cycle on the road, whereas

BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CYCLE IF

using a trike for a few weeks as a step

YOU HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY

towards this, should be seen as a way to

SUCH AN INJURY OR ILLNESS.

gain skills such as steering and braking

Authored by Jane Warbrick &

in a safer position to start with.

Christine Kelly

Cycle Derby run Instructor led cycling sessions. These take place on Markeaton

HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist at

Park, Derby with access to a pathway

Derby Head Injury Team and Derby Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust

around the entire site which is ideal for

I n c l u s i v e

Cycling Officer, Cycle Derby, Derby City Council 38

IMPROVING AWARENESS

fact, there are more than 155 conditions that are treated by Hyperbaric Oxygen

Bariatric Chamber

Therapy throughout the world under standard medical practice.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy essentially

What is a Bariatric chamber?

kick-starts the body’s natural healing In it’s basic form it’s a chamber you sit

capabilities. As a result, it is often used

in for approximately an hour and breath in

pure

oxygen.

The

chamber

to treat slow-healing wounds, as well as

is

sports injuries, auto accident injuries,

pressurised and oxygen is pumped into

brain trauma, burns, strokes, and much

it, originally used by divers who had ‘the

more. These conditions include:

bends’ it’s now used in a variety of



Non-healing wounds



Carbon monoxide inhalation



Necrotizing soft tissue infections



Complications of radiation therapy / radiation tissue damage

Therapy



Thermal burns plus Skin grafts and flaps

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is approved



Crush injury abscess



Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

medical fields to aid recovery from trauma to the skin, brain, muscle, bones etc as a method to speed up recovery.

Uses for Hyperbaric Oxygen

by

the

U.S.

Food

and

Drug

Administration (FDA) for the treatment

and

and

Intracranial

of numerous conditions. However, there

Interestingly

are also many other conditions that can

treated by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

be effectively treated by this therapy. In

include: 40

conditions

smoke

commonly





Traumatic brain injury and Closed head injury

The patient lies down or sits comfortably in a chamber



Cerebral palsy



Parkinson’s disease

breathes in pure oxygen that has a



Stroke or Coma

higher level of atmosphere pressure



Chronic fatigue syndrome



Chemotherapy recovery Multiple sclerosis



Migraines / headaches



Dementia

While in the system, the patient

(usually 2 to 3 times higher).



Because of the higher pressure, the oxygen is dissolved into all of the fluids in the body instead of just the hemoglobin in the red blood cells.



A higher level of oxygen is delivered to all of the tissues in the body — as

HOW DOES IT WORK?

much as 25 times more oxygen than In Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT),

usual. Because the delivery occurs

the patient is placed in a special

through additional fluids, even areas with poor blood flow are able

chamber where he or she is able to

to receive oxygen.

breathe in oxygen at a much higher atmospheric pressure. This form of

There are a various chambers in

treatment allows for more effective

hospitals around the world however

delivery of oxygen throughout the body,

your

which in turn ‘turbo-charges’ the

unaware of where you nearest one is so

body’s natural healing mechanisms.

its best to double check whether your

general

practitioner

my

be

local hospital has one and be guided by Here’s a breakdown of how the chamber

your medical provider.

process works: 41

Improving Awareness





Thursday afternoon. The new initiative

Short workshop series at Headway Derby

was launched in November with a wellattended workshop on managing fatigue, which was run by Lucy Graystone. Lucy explained the different types of fatigue

As covered in a previous article,

to the attendees and led them through

Headway Derby have been offering a

exercises to help them prioritise tasks in

weekly drop-in advice service since May.

order to keep energy levels fully

This has proved to be very successful,

charged! One attendee said “It was great

with over 60 people attending so far this

to see everyone participating, it was a

year. Many people who attend the

really interactive workshop that got

service are looking for advice about

people talking and there were lots of

benefits,

ideas to take away.”

or

coping

strategies

for

different situations. For others though,

The drop-in service is still running, but

the drop-in has become a regular place

will be based from the City and Royal

to go where they can meet people in

Hospitals on different days of the week –

similar circumstances.

contact Headway Derby for dates.

In response to this, the charity are now

This is the fourth new project to be

providing a series of mini workshops at

launched by Headway Derby this year,

their centre on George Street every

it is being launched in addition to the Young Group, Community Garden and Drop-In services. Interestingly, all of these services have been developed since their local council stopped funding charities in 2016, which saw a reduction in the size of existing services. Chair, Debra Morris, said “Last year we had no choice but to discontinue our services for 42

many people, who we knew would be

everyone’s efforts, we’re now supporting

isolated and potentially vulnerable

more people than we ever have.”

without our support. This made us take a long look at how we could support Headway

more people in discrete ways.”

Derby

have

lots

more

interesting workshops planned for the rest of the year, including equine But this wasn’t a simple road to take for

therapy, Qi Gong and Music Therapy.

the charity, even these discrete services

For more details, contact Lyn Palmer on

have cost implications, which was a

01332 986350.

Improving Awareness

challenge in austere times. Business and Development Manager, Paul Clarke, said “We’ve had to be really creative this year to raise funds, we even threw some

of our trustees out of an airplane to

If you are not local you can find your

fundraise! But we’ve had great support

nearest Headway group or branch,

from the business community too, who

visit www.headway.org.uk or contact

have

the free phone helpline on 0808 800

been

undertaking

their own

2244

fundraising activities for us. Thanks to 43

E-mail: helpline@headway.org.uk

44

2015 Rehabilitation Code, and the

Insurer Funded

Serious Injury Guide, the insurers of a

Rehabilitation

company

or

individual

potentially

responsible for an accident are legally

After a Serious

obliged to consider rehabilitation of the accident victim, even if blame for the

Accident

accident has not yet been sorted out.

All too often the focus after an accident

The purpose of the Code is to help the

caused by someone else is, “how much

understandable

reaction

That is an

quickest

because

medical,

social,

vocational and psychological recovery.

accidents can have a devastating impact

This means ensuring that his or her

upon finances and cause huge, financial

need for rehabilitation is assessed and

pressures.

Whilst

possible

addressed as a priority, and that the process is pursued on a collaborative

compensation is important,

basis.

including the need to obtain speedy interim payments, it is all too easy to

The purpose of the Code, and the

overlook the importance of involving

importance of your solicitor cooperating

your solicitors, and the insurers, in

with the insurers, is to provide a

rehabilitation at a very early stage.

framework for cooperation to ensure the accident victims health, quality of life,

At Barratts Solicitors we place a huge

independence and ability to work are

emphasis upon early rehabilitation of our seriously injured clients. Under the 45

Improving Awareness

compensation will I get�.

injured Claimant make the best and

restored before, or alongside, the process

It is all too easy for the accident victim,

of assessing compensation.

and their family, to assume that NHS/ state provision following an accident will

In a case involving a serious head injury

be sufficient to cover their needs but

then a case manager would carry out an

experience has shown that this is often

immediate needs assessment (INA),

not the case and that the provision for

would liaise with the NHS clinicians and

care and support varies significantly

others involved in the treatment process

throughout the country.

and would take active steps to assist with

the

treatment

process,

the

The support from a case manager, in

discharge home, care needs and needs

addition to privately funded care and

for specialist equipment.

medical

treatment,

can

make

an

immense difference to both the speed of The

case

manager

will

make

recovery following a serious injury and,

recommendations with regard to all

importantly, the chances of being able to

aspects of care and support, would

maximise the prospects of recovery.

highlight the services that are available through the NHS or local authorities

Compensation is only one part of the

and, crucially, establish what additional

picture and if, through the compensation

services are available and which can

process, it is possible to improve the

potentially be funded by the insurers so

accident victim’s recovery and quality of

as to try and maximise the potential for

life then that opportunity must be

recovery in the vital, early stages

grasped.

following a serious injury.

46

If you have been involved in an accident

stage then that opportunity may be lost

and suffered serious injury then do not

forever and you may have a very

delay in getting legal advice as this will

different quality of life in the future.

give you access to the Rehabilitation Code.

David Tomlinson

If your chosen solicitor has not

heard of the Rehabilitation Code, or does

Serious Injury Solicitor,

not think that it is important then, quite simply, do not use the services of that

Barratts Solicitors

solicitor, as if you miss out on the

Improving Awareness

possibility of rehabilitation at an early

47

RELATIONSHIPS

I hate turning down invitations, I hate

Totally

not achieving what I set out to do, I hate not getting jobs around the house done,

Exasperated

that, in my mind, are simple little things that should take no time at all, I hate the utter lack of motivation and I hate

You cant be positive

being so utterly bloody exhausted that I can’t function.

all the time !

I sit here now, looking around the room at the shelves, still in their packaging,

half full kind of girl; no problem was

that need to be put up, at the pile of

insurmountable

a

ignored post that I really need to sort

challenge. I used to work as a manager

through, at the floor that really needed

in a high paced, highly targeted sales

vacuuming yesterday, and I could cry. It

environment, and I thrived on smashing

all just seems too much, yet I know,

targets

once, in what seems like another life, I’d

and

impossible

and

finding

situations.

I

enjoyed

solutions I

never

to let

have been on top of it all.

anything beat me, and would carry on But I also know that I’ve cooked a roast

for as long as it took to reach my goal.

dinner, done 3 loads of washing and Immediately after my brain injury, I

walked the dog, and that I’m over the

carried on as normal. I went back to

limit of what I can actually do. I know

work, I socialised, I pushed myself, I

that

ultimately burnt out.

knackered, yet my son’s on an inset day 49

tomorrow

I’m

going

to

be

Relationships

Prior to my brain injury, I was a glass

tomorrow, so I can’t even have a nap

you’d have to be a saint to not feel

once he’s gone to school, and that I’ll

frustrated and resentful at times!

really suffer from still being up at I still feel I’m a sensible, intelligent, well

midnight in the morning when I have to

rounded individual and I think it’s only

be mum and sort out the day. It

natural that I get frustrated when I

exasperates me that I can no longer

can’t quite manage things that have

burn the candle at both ends, have a

been second nature to me for my whole

visitor ready house at all times, and be

adult life, and I allow myself an

super mum to boot.

indulgent whinge when I get really fed

but I’m aware that is now my life.

up;!

After all you can’t be

Majority of the time, I would say I’m fairly accepting of my limitations and

positive all the time!

am pretty good at pacing myself and not giving a stuff if things don’t get done on

Jill Hughes, TBI Survivor, UK

time, but, some of the time, if I’m being honest, it totally pees me off..

I get frustrated with seeing the positives - yes, it could be worse, yes, I know I’m lucky to be alive, yes, I know, there’s plenty worse off than me, but when you’ve had that ordered, successful, busy life and it gets snatched away, I felt 50

Book Review I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility emergency room in a comatose state and has lost so much blood that her doctors believe it’s a miracle she's still alive. The book details a humans strength and recovery. Recounting how she learned how to read, write, walk, talk, and love again...and turn horrifying violence and certain death into extraordinary healing and victorious life. With moments of unexpected grace and insights into life’s challenges….Meili’s story.

We give this book a ★★★★ rating

Reviewer, David, UK, TBI Survivor

A story of healing and recovery from the victim of a crime. Shortly after 9:00 p.m. on April 19, 1989, a young woman jogs alone near 102nd Street in New York City's Central Park. She is attacked, raped, savagely beaten, and left for dead. Hours later she arrives at the

51

Movie Review Recovery Desperately worried about him, Tricia is delighted when he comes round - only to discover that the man she loved has disappeared. His behaviour's changed, he's lost all of his inhibitions and he veers from angry and frustrated to vulnerable and childlike.

Simple tasks like making toast and

Alan and Tricia Hamilton are very

getting dressed are beyond him, he's

happy. He's the head of a building firm

unable to hold down the job he loves and

and on top of his game. She's a part-time

he plays and laughs with his sons as if

beautician and mother to their two sons.

he's a child. Alan's behaviour puts his r el atio nshi p

One day their perfect, if unremarkable,

wi t h

T ri ci a

under

intolerable pressure. She longs to find

life is torn apart when a last-minute

the

decision to pop out for a quick drink

husband

she

loves

in

there

somewhere - but fears she may have lost

with a colleague sees Alan step out in

him forever.

front of a passing car. The resulting accident leaves him in a deep coma but

Eerily familiar we give this film a

with remarkably few physical injuries.

★★★★ rating 52

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