RehabFAQs

what happens with rehab after a stroke

by Derek Jacobi Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to help you relearn skills you lost when a stroke affected part of your brain. Stroke rehabilitation can help you regain independence and improve your quality of life. The severity of stroke complications and each person's ability to recover vary widely.

Medication

Nov 15, 2021 · Rehabilitation helps someone who has had a stroke relearn skills that are suddenly lost when part of the brain is damaged. Equally important in rehabilitation is to protect the individual from developing new medical problems, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, injury due to fall, or a clot formation in large veins.

Procedures

The long-term goal of rehabilitation is to help the stroke survivor become as independent as possible. Ideally this is done in a way that preserves dignity and motivates the survivor to relearn basic skills like bathing, eating, dressing and walking. Rehabilitation typically starts …

Therapy

Apr 17, 2019 · The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to help you relearn skills you lost when a stroke affected part of your brain. Stroke rehabilitation can help you regain independence and improve your quality of life. The severity of stroke complications and each person's ability to …

Nutrition

Activities of daily living (ADL) become the focus of rehabilitation after a stroke. ADL typically include tasks like bathing or preparing food. But you should also talk with your care team about activities important to you, such as performing a work …

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There are many problems that may happen after a stroke. Most are common and will improve with time and rehabilitation. Common physical conditions after a stroke include: Weakness, paralysis, and problems with balance or coordination. Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations. Fatigue, which may continue after you return home.

What is the chance of a full recovery after a stroke?

Apr 05, 2022 · Stroke Rehabilitation After a stroke, you may need rehabilitation (rehab) to help you recover. Before you are discharged from the hospital, social workers can help you find care services and caregiver support to continue your long-term recovery.

How can I Help Myself recover after a stroke?

Jan 21, 2019 · Paralysis or weakness of body parts, usually the limbs, is very common after a stroke. Ongoing physical therapy sessions are able to help regain balance and to strengthen the muscles. Patients can expect to use a cane or walking frame to assist with walking as part of their recovery. Numbness after a stroke

How soon after a stroke should treatment start?

Nov 10, 2020 · One of the most important things to do after stroke — and never stop doing until you’re reached your fullest recovery — is rehab exercise. Rehab exercise helps rewire the brain and improve mobility long-term. When patients fail to do rehab exercises, their mobility may deteriorate and cause a regression.

Can you make a full recovery after a major stroke?

Sep 06, 2016 · Often recovery involves treatment in a stroke “rehabilitation” facility, also called stroke “rehab.” In rehab, various medical professionals help people with a …

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What's Involved in Stroke Rehabilitation?

There are many approaches to stroke rehabilitation. Your rehabilitation plan will depend on the part of the body or type of ability affected by you...

When Should Stroke Rehabilitation Begin?

The sooner you begin stroke rehabilitation, the more likely you are to regain lost abilities and skills.However, your doctors' immediate priorities...

How Long Does Stroke Rehabilitation Last?

The duration of your stroke rehabilitation depends on the severity of your stroke and related complications. Some stroke survivors recover quickly....

Where Does Stroke Rehabilitation Take place?

You'll probably begin stroke rehabilitation while you're still in the hospital. Before you leave, you and your family will work with hospital socia...

Who Participates in Your Stroke Rehabilitation Team?

Stroke rehabilitation involves a variety of specialists.Specialists who can help with physical needs include: 1. Physicians. Your primary care doct...

What Factors Affect The Outcome of Stroke Rehabilitation?

Stroke recovery varies from person to person. It's hard to predict how many abilities you might recover and how soon. In general, successful stroke...

Stroke Rehabilitation Takes Time

Recovering from a stroke can be a long and frustrating experience. It's normal to face difficulties along the way. Dedication and willingness to wo...

How long does it take to recover from a stroke?

Rehabilitation typically starts in the hospital after a stroke. If your condition is stable, rehabilitation can begin within two days of the stroke and continue after your release from the hospital. The best option often depends on the severity of the stroke: A rehabilitation unit in the hospital with inpatient therapy. A subacute care unit.

How many stroke survivors recover?

Ten percent of stroke survivors recover almost completely. Another 10 percent require care in a nursing home or other long-term care facility. One-quarter percent recover with minor impairments. Forty percent experience moderate to severe impairments.

What is the long term goal of rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation. The long-term goal of rehabilitation is to help the stroke survivor become as independent as possible. Ideally this is done in a way that preserves dignity and motivates the survivor to relearn basic skills like bathing, eating, dressing and walking. Rehabilitation typically starts in the hospital after a stroke.

What is the specialty of a physiatrist?

Physiatrist – specializes in rehabilitation following injuries, accidents or illness. Neurologist – specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of stroke and other diseases of the brain and spinal cord.

What is the job of a rehabilitation nurse?

Rehabilitation nurse – helps people with disabilities and helps survivors manage health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure and adjust to life after stroke. Physical therapist – helps with problems in moving and balance, suggesting exercises to strengthen muscles for walking, standing and other activities.

What is the job of a neuropsychologist?

Neuropsychologist – diagnoses and treats survivors who face changes in thinking, memory and behavior. Case manager – helps survivors facilitate follow-up to acute care, coordinate care from multiple providers and link to local services. Recreation Therapist.

What is the job of a dietician?

Dietician – teaches survivors about healthy eating and special diets low in sodium, fat and calories. Social worker – helps survivors make decisions about rehab programs, living arrangements, insurance and home support services.

Why is stroke rehabilitation important?

The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to help you relearn skills you lost when a stroke affected part of your brain. Stroke rehabilitation can help you regain independence and improve your quality of life.

How long does it take to recover from a stroke?

Therapeutic factors, including an early start to your rehabilitation and the skill of your stroke rehabilitation team. The rate of recovery is generally greatest in the weeks and months after a stroke. However, there is evidence that performance can improve even 12 to 18 months after a stroke.

How long can you stay in a rehab facility?

You may stay at the facility for up to two to three weeks as part of an intensive rehabilitation program. Outpatient units. These facilities are often part of a hospital or clinic. You may spend a few hours at the facility a couple of days a week. Skilled nursing facilities.

What are the best exercises to help with stroke?

Your rehabilitation plan will depend on the part of the body or type of ability affected by your stroke. Physical activities might include: Motor-skill exercises. These exercises can help improve your muscle strength and coordination. You might have therapy to strengthen your swallowing. Mobility training.

How does electrical stimulation help muscles?

Electricity is applied to weakened muscles, causing them to contract. The electrical stimulation may help re-educate your muscles. Robotic technology. Robotic devices can assist impaired limbs with performing repetitive motions, helping the limbs to regain strength and function. Wireless technology.

What is ankle brace?

The ankle brace can stabilize and strengthen your ankle to help support your body's weight while you relearn to walk. Constraint-induced therapy. An unaffected limb is restrained while you practice moving the affected limb to help improve its function. This therapy is sometimes called forced-use therapy.

How soon after a stroke can you go to the hospital?

Prevent another stroke. Limit any stroke-related complications. It's common for stroke rehabilitation to start as soon as 24 to 48 hours after your stroke, while you're in the hospital.

How long does it take to recover from a stroke?

Recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, but others have long-term or lifelong disabilities.

What happens if you have a stroke?

If you have had a stroke, you can make great progress in regaining your independence. However, some problems may continue: Paralysis (inability to move some parts of the body), weakness, or both on one side of the body. Trouble with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory. Problems understanding or forming speech.

What is the best treatment for a stroke?

Stroke Rehabilitation. Rehab can include working with speech, physical, and occupational therapists. Speech therapy helps people who have problems producing or understanding speech. Physical therapy uses exercises to help you relearn movement and coordination skills you may have lost because of the stroke.

How to help someone with a stroke?

Therapy and medicine may help with depression or other mental health conditions following a stroke. Joining a patient support group may help you adjust to life after a stroke. Talk with your health care team about local support groups, or check with an area medical center.

How many days after TIA can you get a stroke?

The chance of stroke within 90 days of a TIA may be as high as 17%, with the greatest risk during the first week. 2. That’s why it’s important to treat the causes of stroke, including heart disease, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (fast, irregular heartbeat), high cholesterol, and diabetes.

What are the symptoms of a symtom?

Trouble with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory. Problems understanding or forming speech. Trouble controlling or expressing emotions. Numbness or strange sensations. Pain in the hands and feet that worsens with movement and temperature changes. Trouble with chewing and swallowing.

How long does it take to recover from a stroke?

The 6-Month Mark and Beyond. After six months, improvements are possible but will be much slower. Most stroke patients reach a relatively steady state at this point. For some, this means a full recovery. Others will have ongoing impairments, also called chronic stroke disease.

What are the activities of daily living after a stroke?

Activities of daily living (ADL) become the focus of rehabilitation after a stroke. ADL typically include tasks like bathing or preparing food. But you should also talk with your care team about activities important to you, such as performing a work-related skill or a hobby, to help set your recovery goals.

What are the long term effects of stroke?

The long-term effects of stroke — which vary from person to person, depending on the stroke’s severity and the area of the brain affected — may include: 1 Cognitive symptoms like memory problems and trouble speaking 2 Physical symptoms such as weakness, paralysis and difficulty swallowing 3 Emotional symptoms like depression and impulsivity 4 Heavy fatigue and trouble sleeping

Why is speech therapy important?

Speech-language therapy is important for patients who have trouble swallowing due to stroke or aftereffects of having a breathing tube. Therapy sessions are conducted up to six times each day while the patient is at the hospital, which helps evaluate the damage caused by the stroke and jump-start the recovery.

What is spontaneous recovery?

During the first three months after a stroke, a patient might experience a phenomenon called spontaneous recovery — a skill or ability that seemed lost to the stroke returns suddenly as the brain finds new ways to perform tasks.

Does stroke recovery slow down?

Whether a full recovery is possible depends on a variety of factors, including severity of the stroke, how fast the initial treatment was provided, and the type and intensity of rehabilitation. Even though recovery does slow down, it is still crucial to continue following up with members of your care team, including:

What are the challenges of a stroke?

These challenges can have significant effects physically, mentally and emotionally, and rehabilitation might need to be put on hold.

What to do after a stroke?

Depression is a frequent problem after a stroke. Talk your doctor if you have concerns about depression. Antidepressant medicine may be available, or it may be better to get a referral for a psychologist or psychiatrist. Increasing the amount of socialization with other stroke patients may also help improve mood.

What are the physical conditions after a stroke?

Most are common and will improve with time and rehabilitation. Common physical conditions after a stroke include: Weakness, paralysis, and problems with balance or coordination. Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations. Fatigue, which may continue after you return home. Inattention to one side of the body, ...

What is a spasticity?

Spasticity. Spasticity is a frequent outcome of stroke. Your limbs may change position; your neck, arms, or legs can get stiff, painful, or shorten, limiting mobility and interfering with activities of daily living.

What is the best medicine for spasticity?

It can allow for excellent spasticity control, especially in the elbow and thigh muscles. Lioresal (baclofen): This medicine can be very effective in severe cases of spasticity.

What is a language disorder?

Language Disorder. Aphasia — A disorder of language processing that happens because of damage to the brain. Aphasia can be very frustrating for you and your caregivers. It's like trying to learn and use a foreign language when living in a foreign country.

What to do if someone has a stroke?

If someone you know shows signs of stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. The key to stroke treatment and recovery is getting to the hospital quickly. Yet 1 in 3 stroke patients never calls 9-1-1. 1 Calling an ambulance means that medical staff can begin life-saving treatment on the way to ...

Why is it important to treat strokes?

Your doctor may give you medications or tell you to change your diet, exercise, or adopt other healthy lifestyle habits.

How to stop bleeding in brain?

Medicine, surgery, or other procedures may be needed to stop the bleeding and save brain tissue. For example: 1 Endovascular procedures. Endovascular procedures may be used to treat certain hemorrhagic strokes. The doctor inserts a long tube through a major artery in the leg or arm and then guides the tube to the site of the weak spot or break in a blood vessel. The tube is then used to install a device, such as a coil, to repair the damage or prevent bleeding. 2 Surgical treatment. Hemorrhagic strokes may be treated with surgery. If the bleeding is caused by a ruptured aneurysm, a metal clip may be put in place to stop the blood loss.

What is the best medicine for a stroke?

If you get to the hospital within 3 hours of the first symptoms of an ischemic stroke, you may get a type of medicine called a thrombolytic (a “clot-busting” drug) to break up blood clots. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a thrombolytic. tPA improves the chances of recovering from a stroke.

What is a tube used for?

The tube is then used to install a device, such as a coil, to repair the damage or prevent bleeding. Surgical treatment. Hemorrhagic strokes may be treated with surgery. If the bleeding is caused by a ruptured aneurysm, a metal clip may be put in place to stop the blood loss.

How to recover from a stroke?

Planning and preparation are key if you want to recover from stroke as quickly as possible. As you or your loved one are leaving the hospital after stroke, be sure to keep your bases covered. Here’s a checklist of best practices when it comes to stroke recovery: 1. Know the warning signs of another stroke.

What to do after a stroke?

One of the most important things to do after stroke — and never stop doing until you’re reached your fullest recovery — is rehab exercise. Rehab exercise helps rewire the brain and improve mobility long-term. When patients fail to do rehab exercises, their mobility may deteriorate and cause a regression.

Why is every stroke different?

“ Every stroke is different .” You’ll hear this saying often during the recovery process because the brain is extremely complex; and the side effects of stroke vary greatly from person to person.

What is the first step after a stroke?

Immediately after a stroke, emergency medical treatment is necessary to stabilize your medical condition, then begin rehabilitation. During this initial time in the hospital, a team of therapy specialists initiate the rehabilitation process to regain lost function.

What are the warning signs of a stroke?

Therefore, it’s important to know the warning signs of stroke: facial drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, vertigo, sudden dizziness, changes in vision, or a severe headache. Education and awareness of these warning signs is crucial for timely treatment if another stroke occurs. 2.

How long does it take for a stroke to heal?

Often, there is spontaneous recovery during the first 3 months after stroke or even later during the recovery process. This means that the brain is naturally healing itself, and can be increased with attention/awareness of the affected side and exercises provided by your therapy team.

How to help a stroke victim with depression?

10. Invest in psychological care. Another type of therapy that often goes overlooked is psychotherapy, or “talk therapy.”. Many stroke survivors struggle with depression and anxiety — for various reasons that can include changes in independence, financial strain, or fear of another stroke.

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What to Expect After A Stroke

Stroke Rehabilitation

Preventing Another Stroke

More Information

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment is based on the type of stroke. For ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, medication or surgery or both can be recommended and for hemorrhagic stroke, surgery is recommended.
Medication

Clot dissolver: To dissolve clots and reopen arteries.

Plasminogen activator (tPA)


Anticoagulants: Has the effect of retarding or inhibiting the coagulation of blood.

Aspirin . Clopidogrel

Procedures

Catheter mediated intra-arterial thrombolysis: To attain reperfusion in case of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Angioplasty and stent placement: Widens the blocked artery and a stent is placed.

Aneurysm clipping: To treat a balloon-like bulge of an artery wall known as an aneurysm.

Coil embolization: To treat aneurysm that may have caused hemorrhagic stroke.

Carotid endarterectomy: To correct stenosis (narrowing) in the common carotid artery or internal carotid artery.

AVM removal: Carried out in case of hemorrhagic stroke.

Therapy

Rehabilitation:The rehabilitation is advised to start as early as possible upon recovery. Rehabilitation program will be decided as per the necessity and usually focuses on speech therapy; cognitive therapy; sensory and motor skills; and physical therapy.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Fruits and vegetables: eat plenty of fruit and vegetables; between 5-7 servings per day
  • Whole grain breads and cereals containing fiber and vitamins: They may reduce the risk of stroke
  • Lean protein: Limiting the amount of cholesterol is another important step in reducing the risk of another stroke
  • Choose low-fat meats or other protein
  • Limit salt: Eating too much salt/sodium may cause you to retain water and raise your blood pressure

Foods to avoid:

  • Heavy cholesterol foods
  • foods rich in salt and sugar
  • Alcohol

Specialist to consult

Neurologist
Specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves.
Neuroradiologist
Specializes in the use of radioactive substances, x-rays and scanning devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system.
Occupational therapist
A healthcare professional who helps in development, recovery, or management of everyday activities, or occupations.
Speech therapist
A health professional who specializes in evaluating and treating voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorders.
Physical therapist
A health professional who helps patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.

References

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If you have had a stroke, you can make great progress in regaining your independence. However, some problems may continue: 1. Paralysis (inability to move some parts of the body), weakness, or both on one side of the body. 2. Trouble with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory. 3. Pr…
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