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Stroke And Weakness
25 Answers
Can anyone tell me if they know whether full body strength has been regained after a stroke has occurred how long after.
My aunt had a stroke over a year ago and is confined to a wheelchair, she can if she tried walk with a stick.
I was so sure she would be more mobile than this after a year. Also she is very depressed which does not help.
We do leg exercises and water exercise.
My aunt had a stroke over a year ago and is confined to a wheelchair, she can if she tried walk with a stick.
I was so sure she would be more mobile than this after a year. Also she is very depressed which does not help.
We do leg exercises and water exercise.
Answers
Woofgang is a retired Occupational Therapist :) I do keep up a bit with latest research. Sorry but i don't have much to say that is encouraging. The problem with stroke is it doesn't just affect the nerves which control the muscles but also balance, the body's knowledge if where it is in space, concentratio
15:21 Fri 13th Apr 2018
-- answer removed --
Not enough information, but at a guess based on what evidence is available she has had a stroke involving the right arm and right leg ( because this is the commonest side to be affected)
The answer to your question depends upon how quickly the stroke was diagnosed and how energetically it was treated in the post stroke period.
In my opinion, strokes in the NHS are treated urgently or the patients are "thrown on the stroke scrap heap."
Woofgang is a physiotherapist and will give her opinion.
It all depends upon her mobility BEFORE the stroke..."you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
If she is 12 months on and still in a wheelchair....then this is as good as it will get.
The answer to your question depends upon how quickly the stroke was diagnosed and how energetically it was treated in the post stroke period.
In my opinion, strokes in the NHS are treated urgently or the patients are "thrown on the stroke scrap heap."
Woofgang is a physiotherapist and will give her opinion.
It all depends upon her mobility BEFORE the stroke..."you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
If she is 12 months on and still in a wheelchair....then this is as good as it will get.
-- answer removed --
Hi! danny...TIA is quite different from a stroke.
What can you do to avoid another TIA:
Stop smoking.
Exercise.
Take Aspirin.
if diabetic....make sure it is under control.
Take your BP tablets.
Take your statins if your GP has prescribed them and the side effects don't bother you.
Finally..........hope for the best....;-)
What can you do to avoid another TIA:
Stop smoking.
Exercise.
Take Aspirin.
if diabetic....make sure it is under control.
Take your BP tablets.
Take your statins if your GP has prescribed them and the side effects don't bother you.
Finally..........hope for the best....;-)
Bazile.....in a nutshell..YES. They both work on the platelets,one inhibits the enzyme and the other blocks the receptor.
You can either use one or the other OR both together.
I am not a cardiologist but it is a matter of personal medical opinion as to which to use.
In simple sqad terms...they both make the platelets less sticky.
You can either use one or the other OR both together.
I am not a cardiologist but it is a matter of personal medical opinion as to which to use.
In simple sqad terms...they both make the platelets less sticky.
Woofgang is a retired Occupational Therapist :) I do keep up a bit with latest research. Sorry but i don't have much to say that is encouraging.
The problem with stroke is it doesn't just affect the nerves which control the muscles but also balance, the body's knowledge if where it is in space, concentration, and so on.
Its absolutely correct that damage to the brain can be minimised by fast treatment but once that acute stage is over and the damage that is done is done; then its impossible to predict what or how much recovery there will be. To further complicate matters, as Sqad says it depends a great deal on what your Aunt was like before her stroke....additionally there may be previous damage from small unnoticed strokes which is now causing problems for the first time.
Actual neurological recovery happens first of all by the restoration of blood flow/nerve function to the affected areas of the brain. Inflammation and swelling goes down relieving pressure and temporary impedances to function resolve. This is where we see early "miraculous" recovery. After this sometimes other areas of the brain take over functions from the damaged parts This is where rehab of all kinds is important, practicing simple, and then increasingly complex body movements over and over again to encourage the brain to retrain. Thirdly there is what I would call "functional" recovery where the person learns to make the best of what they have left, learning new ways to do things with the remaining function that they have.
When I was a part of setting up stroke care protocols many years ago, it was, as Sqad says, believed that 12 months was the most likely cut off point for seeing neurological improvement....personally (and we did our research) I think that six months is more likely, especially for older people. In case anyone thinks we scrapheaped people, there was a clear path to get back to re assessment and active rehab if either neurological or brain retraining improvement seen after 12 months. We didn't see many takers :( Brain retraining improvement probably will also have occurred if it is going to, during that first year. Sadly depression is often a post stroke problem. It is usually a mixture of the bereavement following any seriously disabling event but it is thought that there is also a neurological element caused by the stroke damage.
The problem with stroke is it doesn't just affect the nerves which control the muscles but also balance, the body's knowledge if where it is in space, concentration, and so on.
Its absolutely correct that damage to the brain can be minimised by fast treatment but once that acute stage is over and the damage that is done is done; then its impossible to predict what or how much recovery there will be. To further complicate matters, as Sqad says it depends a great deal on what your Aunt was like before her stroke....additionally there may be previous damage from small unnoticed strokes which is now causing problems for the first time.
Actual neurological recovery happens first of all by the restoration of blood flow/nerve function to the affected areas of the brain. Inflammation and swelling goes down relieving pressure and temporary impedances to function resolve. This is where we see early "miraculous" recovery. After this sometimes other areas of the brain take over functions from the damaged parts This is where rehab of all kinds is important, practicing simple, and then increasingly complex body movements over and over again to encourage the brain to retrain. Thirdly there is what I would call "functional" recovery where the person learns to make the best of what they have left, learning new ways to do things with the remaining function that they have.
When I was a part of setting up stroke care protocols many years ago, it was, as Sqad says, believed that 12 months was the most likely cut off point for seeing neurological improvement....personally (and we did our research) I think that six months is more likely, especially for older people. In case anyone thinks we scrapheaped people, there was a clear path to get back to re assessment and active rehab if either neurological or brain retraining improvement seen after 12 months. We didn't see many takers :( Brain retraining improvement probably will also have occurred if it is going to, during that first year. Sadly depression is often a post stroke problem. It is usually a mixture of the bereavement following any seriously disabling event but it is thought that there is also a neurological element caused by the stroke damage.
...continued. As for walking with a stick, is this functional walking...ie does it make her more independent/happier or is it "exercise walking" which may maintain balance and muscle tone but is not, in itself, life enhancing.
I have saved the hardest bit till last but it has to be said. In older people, where the stroke leaves permanent damage ie its not a TIA (transient ischaemic attack) where residual damage to the brain is little or none, then I would say in my experience, its unusual to see complete or almost complete recovery.
There is a point where the patient and their loved ones do have to start the hard process of accepting that the condition is not temporary. IMO continuing to provide false hope in terms of rehab is neither kind nor sensible and its right for the patient and family to direct their attention to maintenance of the function that the patient has left and to enjoying and making the most of their life. I used to hear things like "We are waiting to get married until Dad can walk me down the aisle....aren't we Dad?"
Sorry, no good news or encouragement but I hope it has helped a little.
I have saved the hardest bit till last but it has to be said. In older people, where the stroke leaves permanent damage ie its not a TIA (transient ischaemic attack) where residual damage to the brain is little or none, then I would say in my experience, its unusual to see complete or almost complete recovery.
There is a point where the patient and their loved ones do have to start the hard process of accepting that the condition is not temporary. IMO continuing to provide false hope in terms of rehab is neither kind nor sensible and its right for the patient and family to direct their attention to maintenance of the function that the patient has left and to enjoying and making the most of their life. I used to hear things like "We are waiting to get married until Dad can walk me down the aisle....aren't we Dad?"
Sorry, no good news or encouragement but I hope it has helped a little.
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