Connect
Are thinking exercises and brain games useful for TBI recovery?
Providers of brain care are often asked this, along with what exact games or on line programs are best. In the end, anything and everything we do throughout the day and week that forces or encourages us to problem solve, focus, learn, remember, and so forth are worthwhile. @mugglemary mentioned Lumosity, what other online programs or apps do you find fun, helpful, useful? What do you do in your day to day life that challenges your brain?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group.
Connect
What a creative and beautiful work around.
She’s the one of the three who is part Satan. A cute one.
The photo on my profile is one I took myself with my phone at the hospital. I wasn’t doing too well. I was also pretty infamous as the patient with blue hair. And two black eyes.
I fell on November 28, 2018. Black ice on a walking path was the culprit. I didn’t take an ambulance ride because I didn’t want a huge bill.
Friends took me to the ER the next day.
In the ER, lots of doctors came in. I had many scans. The doctors said I was lucky I wasn’t dead. I had broken all the bones in one ear, which is pretty hard to do. Two bleeds, concussion plus TBI. In the hospital 2 1/2 days. Sent to old folks home to transition. Cut loose from there after a week. No suggestions for what to do for myself. The MN Brain Injury Alliance sent me some info, I went to one meeting, and found out about the Mayo study and was thrilled to be accepted!
As the bills pile up, I go to the specialists recommended by Roger at MNBIA. I filed a lawsuit against the management company and the condo board. Just settled in July of this year, my attorney sent $$$$ to my debtors and of the $10,000 award, I got $1,000 from the settlement. Recently I got $4,000 back, because Medicare goofed up. (,!!!) what I have now is permanent. No sense of smell, too. At least the crystals in my ear went back where they were supposed to be.
Sorry if this is TMI, but I did edit a lot out!
@totto, arranging your baking ingredients in an assembly line to remember which ones have been added by moving them down the line is such a simple yet creative solution. In fact, French chefs call this "mise en place" which literally translates to "put in place." So you're not accommodating a brain injury, you're baking like a gourmet chef! Way to go. Is there any other part of your life that you've been able to apply a similar method?
@hevykevy, I have to admit that real physical puzzles in the form of outdoor work suits me best too. I had a whale of time piecing together the flagstones for our back garden. Who knew it was so challenging and very rewarding. I get to admire the fruits of my labor every day - well until the snow covers it. What winter projects are you looking forward to?
@mugglemary, sounds like you're less keen on the winter weather coming. It must be a comfort to have a variety of indoor activities like stitching, beading and jigsaw puzzles. My mom has been doing online puzzles. She's using a fee online version that sends her a puzzle a day. That might help with reducing the cat's involvement in your puzzle destruction. Onwards with the mental victories.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@frontrunner, the free courses on Coursera have been a real blessing for so many people during the pandemic. A lot of people are finally getting to study things they've always wanted to learn more about. What subjects did you take courses on?
What's one area that you're hoping for more improvement?
The solution just popped into my head, once I was done being mad I couldn’t use the floss. I am a jeweler and I have more beads than I can use in my lifetime. All the colors are there. What it’s going to say is” OMG Please make it stop, 2020” I have another of a dumpster fire with 2020 on it. Was hoping to get a couple of them done before the election.
Hey, Colleen!
I used to do the online jigsaws, but have found my dexterity too hampered to have fun with them.
Yes, I dread winter. I have the ice shoes and the walking poles, but am still afraid.
Went to the labyrinth and it wasn’t shoveled well, and ice melt was pooling on the surface.
I have been taking "The Science of Well Being," originally a course at Yale. Their most popular course ever. It examines what we think makes us happy, what actually makes us happy, and how to reconcile the two. None of the courses have helped me (I don't think) with what I'm having the most trouble with lately, that being multitasking. If I'm working on something and someone throws me a casual "Hi," it pulls me out of my zone so much I have no idea what I was once I process the greeting.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have a four-wheeler of a friends that is un need of quite a bit of repair, but more important, is my late '50s two-wheeled garden tractor that I have owned since 1971 and nearly used to death. I'm going to completely tear it down and restore it. I have already restored the tiller attachment and have transformed a lawn tractor push blade into a rear blade for grading driveways.
I will be getting a load of firewood soon that will need to be cut, split & piled. I split with a maul, so that keeps me in shape. I have saved up some inside work on the house for this winter and more organizing to do in my shop. A friend just bought a house that needs a lot of work, so i will be spending some time on that too.
If we get good snow this winter I'll give my blower a good workout, and I hope to do a lot more ice-fishing this winter also. That should get me through March, then it's time to start plants for the garden next summer,
Retirement is awesome, It's so relaxing.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi. I am so glad you got some money to help you. I was so excited when I got into the treatment group at the Mayo Clinic. I feel really blessed. My accident happened on August 22 of 2019. I was living on the beach in Florida. It was the year anniversary of my fathers's death, and I was walking the beach thinking of him. I have walked the beach barefoot for years. Anyway, I stepped on something that cut the end of my big toe off. I fell and hit my head. I tell people I hit my head and woke up to an entire new life. Thank You for sharing your story with me!!!
Thank-you Colleen