Brain injury and neurological conditions # Regain Independence with Expert Brain Injury Medicine Rehabilitation A brain injury changes how your body moves, how you think, and how your family lives alongside you. At our Chicago clinic, we treat the medical side of that recovery: the stiffness, the swallowing changes, and the shifts in memory and mood that follow a brain injury, a stroke, or another acquired brain condition. Our goal is to help you regain independence, with expert medical care. We include your family in your care. [Request an appointment](https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/contact.html#appointment) (773) 312-4423 ## Personalized treatment for TBI, stroke, and the changes that follow No two brain injuries are identical, so every care plan we write is built for one person. We look at the whole picture: your culture, your daily habits, your household, and the goals that matter most to you. From there we manage the medical symptoms directly, coordinate the therapies you need from trusted partners, and keep adjusting as your recovery moves. [Dr. Kopp](https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/team.html) stays at the center of your care, so the pieces stay connected instead of scattered. What we manage ## Three areas we work on most ### Targeted support for memory and behavior The invisible symptoms are often the hardest ones. Mental fogginess, slow thinking, difficulty multitasking, inexplicable fatigue, mood swings, and irritability can strain relationships and make an ordinary day feel overwhelming. We help you understand why these changes happened, and we support you with therapeutic coaching built on the principles of cognitive therapy, along with medication management where it is appropriate. When behavior puts someone at risk, we build a practical plan with the family so everyone at home knows what to do. ### Managing spasticity and muscle stiffness After a stroke or TBI, muscles can become tight, painful, or hard to control, and comfortable movement starts to feel out of reach. Dr. Kopp combines lifestyle adjustments with targeted medical treatment to improve positioning, reduce spasticity, ease pain, and open up your range of motion. We work with specialists to evaluate whether injections that relax a tight muscle, a baclofen pump that delivers medication directly to the spine, or bracing would help you, and we refer you to trusted partners for the hands-on physical and occupational therapy. ### Specialized care for dysphagia and swallowing Safety and nutrition are the foundation of recovery. Swallowing difficulty, called dysphagia, is common after a neurological injury, and it is one of the things families worry about most. That worry is reasonable, and it is treatable. We assess what has changed, guide you and your caregivers on managing it day to day, and connect you with trusted partners for speech therapy who can carry the treatment forward. Sharing a meal is part of being human, and we want you back at the table safely. Conditions ## Which conditions do you manage? We care for adults with any type of brain injury or acquired brain condition, including TBI, stroke, dementia, encephalopathy, diffuse axonal injury, and anoxia, at every level of severity. - **Traumatic brain injury (TBI)** - A sudden impact to the head that damages the brain. We treat all severities, from mild [concussion](https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/services/concussion-management.html) to severe injury. - **Diffuse axonal injury (DAI)** - A stretching and tearing injury caused by speed and force, such as a car accident, a fall from a height, or a fall from a horse. Recovery is often harder and slower than with other brain injuries, and it needs patient, long-term management. - **Anoxic brain injury** - Damage caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain, for example after cardiac arrest, drowning, or a period without breathing. - **Stroke** - A loss of blood flow to part of the brain. We focus on helping your brain rebuild the connections it needs, a process called neuroplasticity, so the gains you make hold. - **Concussion** - The cluster of problems that can follow a knock to the head, such as headaches, blurred vision, dizzy spells, or trouble concentrating. - **Neurobehavioral changes** - Changes in mood, memory, attention, and behavior after a brain injury, including irritability and difficulty with emotional regulation. ## Questions about brain injury care ### What does a physiatrist do for brain injury and stroke recovery? A [physiatrist](https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/services/physiatry-pmr.html) is a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). Our focus is restoring function and quality of life for people living with a disabling injury or illness, and in our clinic we concentrate on conditions affecting the brain, nerves, and muscles. Dr. Kopp treats the whole person without surgery, managing complex symptoms such as spasticity, pain, swallowing difficulty, and changes in thinking and mood. She also coordinates the rest of your care, so your therapists, specialists, and primary care doctor are working from the same plan. ### Do you provide physical, occupational, or speech therapy at the clinic? Our clinic does not provide those therapies. Dr. Kopp evaluates what you need, writes the rehabilitation treatment plan, and refers you to trusted partners who deliver the hands-on therapy. We stay involved throughout, reviewing progress with you and adjusting the plan as your recovery changes. ### How long does brain injury rehabilitation take? Recovery timelines vary with the severity of the injury, your individual overall health status, and how you respond to treatment. Your first visit is a comprehensive evaluation lasting about one hour. From there you move into an active treatment phase, followed by less frequent visits for ongoing support and coaching. We set clear, measurable goals with you and reassess regularly, so you can see real progress rather than guess at it. Related ## Where to go next ### [Concussion management](https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/services/concussion-management.html) Headaches, dizzy spells, and mental fogginess that will not settle after a knock to the head. Read more → ### [Physiatry and PM&R](https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/services/physiatry-pmr.html) What a physiatrist is, and how physical medicine restores function without surgery. Read more → ### [Referrals and community](https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/referrals.html) The trusted partners we connect you with for therapy, home health, and community support. Read more → Source: https://wellnessbyphysiatry.com/services/brain-injury-rehabilitation.html