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Stroke Rehab Information


About this topic


A stroke can be a very serious event. It can affect you in many ways. You may have trouble speaking or not be able to use your arm. You may have trouble walking or moving your leg. You may not be able to sit up by yourself. You may have memory or thinking problems. You may have a loss of feeling or pain in a body part. The part of your brain where the stroke happened determines what kind of signs you have. ‚  
You may need to have rehabilitation before you are able to go back home. This is also called rehab. It is best to start rehab right away after a stroke has happened. You may need rehab for only a few weeks or it may last for a long time. This is based on how severe your stroke is. ‚  
You may not fully recover from your stroke. It is possible to relearn skills and to learn new ways of doing things. The goals of rehab are: ‚  
  • Getting you able to do as much as you can do on your own
  • Teaching you how to function safely
  • Helping improve your problem areas as much as possible
  • Teaching your family how to safely help care for you once you are home

During rehab, a team of people will work together to help you. You may work with: ‚  
  • Doctors ¢ ˆ ’ This may include a rehab doctor called a physiatrist. You may also work with a neurologist. This is a doctor who specializes in strokes and brain injuries. You will also still see your normal doctor.
  • Nurses ¢ ˆ ’ They often have special training in caring for people who have had strokes.
  • Physical therapists ¢ ˆ ’ Their goal is to help you get stronger. They also help you move about and work on your coordination.
  • Occupational therapists ¢ ˆ ’ Health care experts who focus on activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They will work with your shoulders, arms, and hands to help get back your strength and motion. You will also work on hand skills, like holding a pencil.
  • Speech therapists ¢ ˆ ’ An expert trained to help you work on your speech and language as well as writing. You may also work on memory, communicating, and understanding.
  • Psychologists or counselors ¢ ˆ ’ They will help you cope with the physical and emotional changes caused by the stroke.
  • Social workers ¢ ˆ ’ Experts who will make arrangements for going back home. They also help find resources that will help once you are home.
  • Dietitians ¢ ˆ ’ A nutrition expert to help you learn about any special diets you may need. They can also teach you how to eat healthy.
  • Vocational therapists ¢ ˆ ’ Trained experts to help you with going back to work. They can also help you learn new work skills.

There are many types of places where you can go for rehab. Work with your doctor to decide which is the best place for you. You will think about things like your total health, injury, and motivation. You will also want to think about your family support and your insurance coverage when deciding where to go for rehab care. You may have rehab at: ‚  
  • The hospital as an inpatient. You may have therapy for 3 or more hours each day.
  • A nursing facility. You will have therapy a few hours each day.
  • Your home. Therapists come to your home or where you are staying. You must meet certain rules of being homebound.
  • An outpatient rehab center. A few times each week you go to the rehab center to work with a therapist. This is often done right away for mild strokes or after leaving one of the other types of rehab.

Where can I learn more?


National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ‚  
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/poststrokerehab.htm ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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