Stroke: The Process

Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States will suffer a stroke. This includes clots or blockages in the arteries of the brain (Ischemic Stroke), a rupture of an artery in the brain that results in blood being released into the brain (Intracerebral Hemorrhage), and a rupture that occurs in a location of the brain that results in blood leaking into the area between the skull and the brain (Subarachnoid Hemorrhage). While many people are now surviving all three kinds of these strokes, it's a debilitating medical condition that is the leading cause of severe disability in the United States today.
There have been, and continue to be, huge advancements in the immediate treatment of stroke that include both surgical procedures and drug treatment in the case that the stroke victim is taken to a hospital in an adequate amount of time post-stroke. The first 2 hours following a stroke are most important, allowing doctors the opportunity to immediately treat the underlying cause of the stroke, and cease any bleeding that is continuing to occur in the brain. It is normally determined a stroke has occurred by noticing factors such as confusion, slurred speech, weakness on one or both sides of the body, and pain such as severe headache. Once these factors have been noted, a stroke is normally confirmed by a CT scan and/or an MRI.
Once the stroke has taken place and initial treatment has been administered, recovery time is needed to allow the brain to heal the site of the stroke, and allow for swelling to go down in the brain. Doctors and nurses often monitor the patient very closely in an intensive care unit to ensure another brain attack does not occur, and to make sure all bleeding has ceased. Once it has been determined that the stroke patient is stable, that person is often transferred to a regular hospital room where they will continue their recovery, and will be seen by Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapists a few times a day to monitor their progress, and to determine the prediction for the outcome of the recovery. Normally, the therapists will meet with the doctors monitoring the patient to determine what the next course of action will be, and often, a date will be set for the patient's release, either home, into an adult care facility, or into a special rehabilitation program meant for those patients who appear to have a promising recovery in their future. Many factors can contribute to the recovery plan such as age, and severity of the stroke.
Rehabilitation programs tend to begin as in-patient, where a variety of therapists will assist the patient in re-learning how to do the very basic everyday things we take for granted. Family and friends are encouraged to participate in the rehabilitation in any way they can. A support system can do wonders for the overall outcome. Support from rigorous physical therapy takes place to build muscles back up on the affected side(s) of the body, to regain balance, and to overcome any physical obstacles that now stand in the way due to the stroke. This can sometimes mean learning to walk again, and learning how to do things like go up and down stairs, or up and down an incline. Occupational therapists work with the patient to regain their independence to do things on their own such as bathe, get dressed, cook and do laundry. Since stroke can severely impair a person's physical abilities, its shocking how certain things can be such a challenge, seeing as how a stroke survivor's legs, arms, or hands often don't work nearly as well as they did before. A simple task like opening a jar is frustrating for someone who has lost the function of their own physical direction. Speech therapists do very well with assisting a patient with regaining normal speech, as well as improving memory quality, improving reasoning, and improving logic.
When all goals have been met, and physical health has been maintained, the patient will go from there to either a care facility if they are still not able to achieve independence, or they will be released back into their home, and they will often continue outpatient therapy a few times a week to work on the issues they discover they have when they return to the 'real world.' A person may discover they are having some muscle pain in the affected side of the body (very common) and will want to work on strengthening that part, or they may find they can't get down the stairs in their home as easily as they thought they would, and may want some more practice with that. With a situation like a stroke, where a person's brain is directly affected, the brain stutters and stalls when it comes to very common actions. Though the person may fully intend on completing a certain action, the body doesn't always physically follow through in the initial stages of recovery. Luckily, the brain is an amazing part of the body, and can find a way to heal itself, and to re-teach itself.
The time table for the recovery from a stroke is different for every person. It can take well over a year to completely see all of the changes. While the initial obstacles such as extreme physical impairment and speech can rapidly return with the proper attention in the initial months following the stroke, small changes to personality and mental function can be noted over 12 months from the initial date the stroke took place. Once the patient is discharged from all therapies, it is important to monitor the health perspective of the patient's stroke indefinitely. The initial cause of the stroke should be closely monitored. This sometimes includes monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and being medicated for medical issues. Follow ups with initial neurologists, and rehabilitation doctors is necessary, as are future brain scans and tests. Long term care will be provided by a primary care physician to ensure another stroke will not occur in the near future. Recovering from a stroke is a grueling process that can take time. It's a very frustrating situation that can truly challenge a person, however the more determination the person has for recovering from this bump in the road, the better the recovery will be. There's always the chance for becoming a stroke survivor rather than a stroke victim.