Stroke Rehabilitation

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• QWhat rehabilitation options are available for stroke victims?

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  A Discovery Health answered

  Many doctors think that the majority of healing occurs in the first three months after a stroke. Patients may encounter a mix of therapies, depending on their overall health, but the primary goal is to regain lost function and develop strategies to compensate for any shortcomings.

  Common prescriptions include physical, speech and occupational therapies. Many of the skills that a stroke can affect, such as speaking and walking, can be relearned. New therapeutic methods also are emerging all of the time. Robotic therapy can help incapacitated patients regain the use of their limbs. Constraint-induced movement therapy also can force the patient on rehabilitating an injured limb by constraining the use of the functional limb.

• QHow can stroke outcomes be improved?

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  A Dr. Steven A. Meyers, MD , Diagnostic Radiology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem

  The most important way to improve outcome is to limit the damage the stroke causes. This requires rapid medical treatment which is why it is critical that a stroke victim seeks immediate medical attention.

  Immediately after a stroke several measures can be taken to try to lessen the size of the stroke, including the use of clot busting medications in select patients.

  Avoiding medical complications such as infections and blood clots during recovery is important. Strokes can impair the ability to swallow leading to lung infections so a stroke patient may not be able eat immediately after the stroke. Medications may be given to prevent blood clots forming in the legs due to lack of movement. Rehabilitation specialists such as physical, occupational and speech therapists will begin working with the patient as soon as possible after the stroke which has been shown to improve the outcome as well.

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• QDo therapists and patients have different stroke rehabilitation goals?

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  A Discovery Health answered

  Studies have shown that therapist may be aiming for small steps to help a patient adjust to a disability, while patients may be aiming for a return to their before-stroke functionality.

  Reconciling these goals is important, so rehabilitation can be successful. In some cases, a goal may need to be as simple as learning how to properly operate a wheelchair.

• QWhat is stroke rehabilitation?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Depending on a person's needs after a stroke, rehabilitation can take place in an acute care and rehabilitation hospital, in a long-term care facility, at home (with assistance provided through a home health agency) and/or at an outpatient facility. Talk to your doctor about the best approach for your situation, and look for a care facility that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

  The most effective rehabilitation programs involve a multidisciplinary approach: physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, along with optimal medical care, in a calming environment and coordinated by a doctor with expertise in neurorehabilitation.

  The ultimate goal is for individuals who have suffered a stroke to achieve the greatest degree of independence in the least restrictive environment possible. Time will be spent developing self-care skills such as feeding, grooming, bathing and dressing; mobility skills including walking or self-propelling a wheelchair; speech and language skills; memory or problem-solving skills and skills necessary for social interaction.

• QWhen can I go home from the hospital after I've had a stroke?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Patients generally stay in the hospital for two to three days after a stroke.

• QCan I live at home after a stroke?

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  A Dr. Natalia S. Rost, MD , Neurology, answered

  For most people who have had a stroke, living at home is possible only if they can manage activities of daily living, such as dressing, eating, and using the toilet. You also have to follow medical advice and take prescribed medications. But you will probably need help even if you can perform routine daily activities. Don't try to do it alone, at least not right away. Plan to have a relative, friend, or home health aide stay with you for at least the first night that you're home, and possibly longer. If you've been in a rehabilitation facility, chances are that someone in charge of discharge planning will visit your home ahead of time to evaluate what equipment and assistance you will need.

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• QWhich stroke patients need rehabilitation?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  The need for rehabilitation after a stroke depends on the location and size of damage to the brain. Symptoms after a stroke can involve virtually any part of the body and can range from mild to severe. Early therapy directed at correcting deficits caused by a stroke gives stroke patients the best chance of regaining normal function.