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Therapy/Excersises to help brain recover after therapy
Mon, 05/02/2011 - 12:15I am 5 weeks post surgery. My doctor says I need to work on my memory. I live in Arkansas and he doesn't feel like there is effective therapy here. My wife is an RN and I guess he thinks we will just research and figure it out.
Any suggestions-it just feels like my brain is all over the place- having a hard time focusing on projects and remembering basic day to day stuff.
It's like wanting to train for a marathon and you can't find your tennis shoes!
Comments
Re: Therapy/Excersises to help brain recover after therapy
Submitted by peytonwelch on Fri, 2011-05-06 - 16:09
Thanks for the info. I am currently doing crossword puzzles, as well as a book that has similar pictures, but they are not 100% the same. I have to find the differences in a short period of time. They both seem to be helpfull. I'm not sure of my insurance re: a neurophsycologist, but I'll check into it. Thanks again and have a great weekend! Peyton
Thanks for the info. I am currently doing crossword puzzles, as well as a book that has similar pictures, but they are not 100% the same. I have to find the differences in a short period of time. They both seem to be helpfull. I'm not sure of my insurance re: a neurophsycologist, but I'll check into it. Thanks again and have a great weekend! Peyton
Re: Therapy/Excersises to help brain recover after therapy
Submitted by LindsayKT on Tue, 2011-05-03 - 16:11
That is exactly how I felt 5 weeks post surgery! My neurosurgeon told me to wait at least 6 weeks before returning to work but I went back at 5 weeks because I needed the money (I had just used up all my sick leave when I had my son 4 months prior to my surgery). Anyway, it was extremely difficult for me to concenrate and pay attention at meetings. I felt lost and like I was in a cload and started to worry if I'd ever be able to work again. Finally at about 7 weeks post-op my head started to clear and working became much easier. I still had to take TONS of notes, anything I didn't write down went in one ear and right out the other, and I couldn't spell anything. Finally after about a year of my extreme note taking I decided to start challenging my memory. I didn't take paper with me when I was going to ask someone a question and such. I'm still not back to the way I was prior to the surgery but I have made great improvement. I also just started testing with a neuropsycologist to make sure that I don't have any other issues going on such as ADD or OCD.
So basically I think the way you are feeling is normal for 5 weeks post-op. If you are planning on returning to work or school I think that is where you'll see the most improvement. Until then sudoku and crossword puzzles are always a good challenge.
~Lindsay
That is exactly how I felt 5 weeks post surgery! My neurosurgeon told me to wait at least 6 weeks before returning to work but I went back at 5 weeks because I needed the money (I had just used up all my sick leave when I had my son 4 months prior to my surgery). Anyway, it was extremely difficult for me to concenrate and pay attention at meetings. I felt lost and like I was in a cload and started to worry if I'd ever be able to work again. Finally at about 7 weeks post-op my head started to clear and working became much easier. I still had to take TONS of notes, anything I didn't write down went in one ear and right out the other, and I couldn't spell anything. Finally after about a year of my extreme note taking I decided to start challenging my memory. I didn't take paper with me when I was going to ask someone a question and such. I'm still not back to the way I was prior to the surgery but I have made great improvement. I also just started testing with a neuropsycologist to make sure that I don't have any other issues going on such as ADD or OCD.
So basically I think the way you are feeling is normal for 5 weeks post-op. If you are planning on returning to work or school I think that is where you'll see the most improvement. Until then sudoku and crossword puzzles are always a good challenge.
~Lindsay
Re: Therapy/Excersises to help brain recover after therapy
Submitted by bethy123 on Mon, 2011-05-02 - 18:59
Ok well probably the first and easiest, cheapest thing you could do is start doing crossword puzzles. Then in if you have good insurance you could always start going to a neurophsycologist. They have different ways they help. Mine also directed me to a website that I exercised my brain on every day. Sorry I can't remember the name, it's been awhile. I hope this helped. :)