Rehabilitation after a stroke begins in the hospital, often within a day or two after the stroke. Rehan helps ease the transition from hospital to home and can help prevent another 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 to expect after a stroke
If you 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
- 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
- Problems with bladder and bowel control
- Depression
What is 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.
- Occupational therapy focuses on improving daily activities, such as eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, reading, and writing.
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.
Support from family and friends can also help relieve fear and anxiety following a stroke. Let your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you.
How can I prevent another stroke?
If you have had a stroke, you are at high risk for another stroke. That's why it's important to treat the causes of stoke, including:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Atrial fibrillation (fast, irregular heartbeat)
- High cholesterol.
- Diabetes.
Your doctor may prescribe you medicine or tell you to change your diet, exercise, or adopt other healthy lifestyle habits. Surgery may also be helpful in some cases.