ABSTRACT

Every year, 8,500 people in the UK will have a subarachnoid haemorrhage, of whom about 50 per cent will survive this traumatic brain injury which often occurs without warning. Survivors can make a ‘good’ neurological recovery but the psychosocial impact can be longer lasting.

Drawing from her own experience of surviving a subarachnoid haemorrhage, together with other people's journeys of recovery and recent research findings, Alison Wertheimer covers:

  • themes of recovery
  • leaving neurocare and early days of recovery
  • looking for help
  • physical, sensory and cognitive effects
  • the emotional impact of subarachnoid haemorrhage
  • the survivor’s relationship with family and friends
  • returning to work
  • what helped the survivors with their recovery
  • subarachnoid haemorrhage as a life-changing event.

A Dented Image will be of interest to a wide-ranging audience: survivors and their families and friends; health professionals working with people recovering from acute brain injury in hospital and community-based services including doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other members of rehabilitation teams. It may also be of interest to people recovering from other traumatic illnesses or injuries.

chapter |22 pages

PROLOGUE

part |2 pages

PART I Setting the scene

chapter 1|8 pages

BACKGROUND

chapter 2|7 pages

SUBARACHNOID HAEMORRHAGE: An introduction

chapter 4|15 pages

ASPECTS OF RECOVERY

part |2 pages

PART II Recovery

chapter 5|14 pages

LEAVING HOSPITAL

chapter 6|20 pages

LOOKING FOR HELP

chapter 7|14 pages

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY EFFECTS

chapter 8|11 pages

COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING

part |2 pages

PART III Family, friends and work

chapter 10|17 pages

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

chapter 11|12 pages

SOCIAL LIFE AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

chapter 12|17 pages

EMPLOYMENT: Changes and alternatives

part |2 pages

PART IV Making sense of it all

chapter 13|18 pages

FINDING WAYS THROUGH RECOVERY: WHAT HELPED

chapter 14|21 pages

CHANGED LIVES