Rehabilitation after Brain Tumor Surgery

The key to recovering from brain tumor surgery is rehabilitation by a specially trained team of clinicians.

The incidence of brain tumors is increasing, especially in older people, and some speculate that the increase is the result of exposure to electromagnetic fields or industrial hazards. Others believe that advanced imaging technology has led to better detection and, therefore, more reported cases.

“Approximately 63,000 new cases of primary brain tumors (those that originate in the brain) were diagnosed among Americans in 2010,” says Deborah Kimmel, MD, medical director, Brain Injury program at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. More evidence is needed to account for the rise, but a key to recovering from successful brain tumor surgery is rehabilitation by a specially trained team of clinicians.

Regardless of a patient’s age, a tumor can impact a patient’s speech, movement, vision, balance, thinking and memory. While the brain is able to heal itself, it is a slow process that varies greatly from patient to patient. Most brain tumor patients require physical, speech and/or occupational therapy to regain function, mobility and cognition.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation offers inpatient and outpatient care for patients who have had a brain tumor surgically removed. A specialized clinical team of physicians, rehabilitation nurses, therapists and neuropsychologists work together to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient.

“Our brain disorder team’s goal is to work together to help the patient achieve the highest quality of life possible,” says Dr. Kimmel. “We also work very closely with the patient’s family to help the patient return safely to home and the community.”

Click here to learn more [1]at  or call 1-888-44-REHAB (73422).