![]() ![]() ![]() Generally, a minimally conscious individual should be able to follow instructions. This is referred to as a minimally conscious state. Minimally Conscious StateĪs the individual recovers, they may regain a sense of awareness of the world around them. It isn’t until individuals can demonstrate some purposeful behavior that they have transitioned to a minimally conscious state. Post-coma states can endure for months, even years, before the patient regains consciousness. While these may appear to be signs of consciousness, they are actually the result of involuntary, autonomic responses. If a person has eye movement but no other signs of consciousness, they are in a wakeful but unconscious state known as post-coma unresponsiveness.Īn individual with post-coma unresponsiveness has regained a normal sleep/wake cycle and should be able to open and close their eyes, as well as react to loud noises. Recovery can cease at any of these stages, and sometimes the person will skip directly from a coma to post-traumatic amnesia. It’s important to note that a person’s progression between these post-coma stages is not always linear. Below, we’ll address 3 common states of consciousness: post-coma unresponsiveness, minimally conscious state, and post-traumatic amnesia. What to Expect After Waking Up from Coma After Brain InjuryĪfter an individual awakens from a coma, they may experience various states of consciousness. In the next section, we will discuss post-coma unresponsiveness and additional states of consciousness that may occur after a coma. Instead, individuals who remain unconscious for prolonged periods typically progress to a wakeful but unconscious state called post-coma unresponsiveness. However, a coma rarely lasts over a month. Due to the unpredictable nature of consciousness in the early stages of traumatic brain injury, it is nearly impossible to predict when a patient will awaken from a coma in the first 24 hours after a traumatic brain injury. Other times, unconscious individuals may gradually regain consciousness. Sometimes, a patient may suddenly lose consciousness after being fully alert. Generally, the more severe the brain damage, the longer it will take for the individual to recover. How Long Will It Take for Someone to Awaken from Coma After Brain Injury?Įvery brain injury is unique and as a result, every individual will regain consciousness from a coma at a different rate. In the following section, we’ll discuss how long it takes to wake up from a coma after brain injury. While in a coma, a person is unresponsive and cannot wake up, even when stimulated. These are the primary characteristics of a coma. Regardless of the event that triggers the coma, the same chain of events tends to occur: the brain swells, pushes up against the skull, and damages the reticular activating system (the part of the brainstem that controls arousal from sleep).Īs result, individuals will exhibit no eye-opening, no verbal response, and no purposeful movement. secondary damage from the shifting of structures inside the brain.damage to the arousal areas of the brain. ![]() Typically, coma after brain injury is attributed to: However, there are various events that can cause a coma after brain injury. Generally, the loss of consciousness that occurs when an individual falls into a coma is associated with damage to the brainstem.
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