Although the results are temporary, patients can use the improved mobility to practice rehab exercises. That will address the root cause of the spasticity, leading to long-term results. Electroacupuncture is a treatment that combines electrical stimulation with acupuncture. When combined with physical therapy, it has been found to help improve spasticity in patients during massive stroke recovery.
Alternative treatments are making their way into the stroke rehabilitation field. Learn more about acupuncture for stroke recovery ». If you have some ability to speak, but you need help improving your speech and cognitive abilities, then speech therapy can help. Working with the experts Speech-Language Pathologists can also help you regain the ability to swallow, too. There can be a great need for speech therapy during massive stroke recovery.
Many patients will receive help from an SLP for several months after stroke, and then need to continue with therapy at home to continue rehabilitation. Learn more about speech therapy ». If a stroke patient cannot talk at all , they might be able to sing their words. Singing therapy takes hard work, but it provides hope for getting your voice back. Learn more about singing therapy ». If you struggle with changes in sensation after massive stroke, like numbness or tingling, then sensory reeducation exercises can help.
They retrain the brain how to process sensory input, which may help improve sensory issues like numbness. Learn more about sensory reeducation ». Vision restoration therapy can help improve vision problems in some stroke survivors. These programs utilize eye exercises to help retrain the brain how to process visual input.
Learn more about vision restoration therapy ». A massive stroke is a significant medical event that can alter major abilities, such as movement and communication. Although the side effects can be severe, the brain is capable of recovering from the damage through therapy. Patients who survive a massive stroke should participate in rigorous rehabilitation programs to recover as much movement as possible. Other therapies recommended by the medical team, such as speech therapy, should also be pursued.
The road to recovery will look different for each massive stroke survivor. Get our free stroke recovery ebook by signing up below! It contains 15 tips every stroke survivor and caregiver must know.
I first came across FitMi on Facebook. I pondered it for nearly a year. I got a little more serious about ordering the FitMi when that all ended 7 months after his stroke. He enjoys it and it is quite a workout! It is a wonderful product! In addition, Puerto Ricans show greater impairment after stroke, and African Americans show less impairment at discharge from the hospital when compared with Caucasians.
Not necessarily. Only Recognition of all symptoms and knowledge of when to call were comparable by gender; however, ethnic minorities, adolescents, senior citizens, current smokers, and those with less education were less likely to diagnose a stroke and seek appropriate care. If the stroke is severe enough and focused in certain locations of the brainstem, a victim can experience a coma or die.
After four minutes without blood and oxygen, brain cells become damaged and begin to die off. Many doctors will refer to a stroke as massive based upon the outcome of the victim after an attack. A massive stroke commonly refers to strokes any type that result in death, long-term paralysis, or coma. These strokes are created by blood clots that are either embolic or thrombotic.
Embolic refers to a blood clot or plaque buildup that places itself somewhere within the body and travels to the brain. Once it arrives there, it can block up the inside of a small blood vessel and cut off oxygen. Thrombotic refers to a blood clot that forms inside of an artery that sends blood to the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes account for only 15 percent of stroke cases; however, they cause 40 percent of all stroke-related deaths. Afflictions of this kind are created by either a blood vessel leak or a brain aneurysm burst.
The brain begins to fill with blood that creates an extreme amount of pressure and swelling that damages brain tissue and cells.
Two types of hemorrhagic stroke are called intracerebral and subarachnoid. Intracerebral hemorrhages take place when a blood vessel within the brain bursts open and leaks blood into the brain tissue. The bleeding begins to kill brain cells, and the corresponding brain functions of that area stop responding.
Factors such as high blood pressure and weak blood vessels are the main reasons why this type of hemorrhage occurs. Another factor that may cause this type of hemorrhage is called an arteriovenous malformation AVM. AVM is a genetic abnormality of connections among veins and arteries found within the brain and spine.
The brainstem connects all of the nerve impulses that go from the brain to the body, and controls many important functions, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate; it also contains the brain's awareness center, which allows us to stay conscious. Brainstem strokes can be caused by a clot or a hemorrhage. A brainstem stroke, even a small one, may lead to hemiplegia, paralysis, or changes in vision. Depending on the location of a stroke within the brainstem, a brainstem stroke can result in long term unconsciousness.
The key signs of a stroke of any kind are:. The most severe outcomes of a massive stroke include:. A massive stroke frequently results in complete paralysis on one side of the body, called hemiplegia. Hemiparesis, which is defined by weakness on one side of the body, is a less severe complication. A stroke that affects the left side of the brain will result in paralysis or weakness on the right side of the body, and vice versa.
Brainstem strokes in particular can cause a patient to end up in a coma , a state of unconsciousness. Sometimes severe strokes can produce so much damage to the brain that the brain becomes unable to function in a way that sustains life, which is a condition called brain death. This may occur after a very large stroke or after a stroke in a vital region of the brain, such as a brain stem stroke. Stroke is the number five cause of death in the United States.
In some cases a stroke can be lethal instantly, or within days or weeks. A person who has already had a stroke is at an increased risk of having another stroke, and a recurrent stroke is more likely to be fatal than the first one. Causes that are common to all types of stroke include:. Causes of hemorrhaghic strokes in particular include:. Recovering from a stroke can take several months or longer, and may involve the following:.
The first three months after a stroke are the most important and where the most significant improvements in regaining function are made, though gains can continue to be made for up to a year. 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. If you or a loved one has had one of these types of strokes, you may have a long recovery or even a long-lasting and substantial change in your abilities. Many people do experience a degree of recovery, even from severe strokes.
It may take some time for the stroke to stabilize and for you and your loved ones to gain an idea of what to expect as far as the long-term stroke outcome. Make sure to talk to your doctor about medications and lifestyle changes that can help prevent you from having another stroke.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel leading to the brain is either blocked by a blood clot or ruptures. When a stroke is lethal, or leaves a person severely impaired, it is considered a massive stroke. Signs that someone may be having a stroke include sudden drooping of one side of the face, slurred speech, weakness in one arm, vision problems, trouble walking, and a severe headache with no known cause.
Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Risk factors for stroke include being overweight, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, heavy use of alcohol, and use of illegal drugs, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some medical conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease, can put you at risk as well.
Men have a higher risk of stroke than women. However, women are usually older when they have strokes and are more likely to die of strokes than men, according to the Mayo Clinic. Early warning signs to look for are a sudden onset of dizziness or severe headache. Other symptoms include difficulty speaking, confusion, weakness, numbness, vision problems , trouble balancing or walking, and paralysis on one side of the face or body.
As we mentioned before, treatment within three hours of the first symptom is crucial. If you're worried you or someone you know could be suffering a stroke, dial
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