Stroke Awareness Month: Good Stroke Recovery Care

A stroke is a devastating emergency. It calls for quick medical intervention and professional care, without which the situation could get out of hand. But how do you deal with the situation in the subsequent days or weeks after you or your loved one has suffered a stroke?

Sometimes the recovery process may be slow since different patients respond to treatment in different ways. Although recovery may vary from one patient to another, understanding the recovery timeline and the best stroke recovery care is important. It helps you understand how stroke recovery works under different circumstances. It also helps you know what to expect if your loved one has suffered a stroke.

Recovery After Stroke

After a stroke experience, the first step to recovery is always the initial treatment. You or your loved one will most likely be admitted into emergency care to assess your condition and determine the type and magnitude of your stroke. For instance, if you suffered an ischemic stroke caused by clotting of blood, then the doctors can administer clot-busting medication to mitigate the long-term effects of the condition.

Depending on how severe your condition is, the doctors might suggest a few days in intensive care. Typically, you could be out of danger after around seven days in intensive or specialized care. This is also dependent on whether you received the correct stroke diagnosis and treatment.

As you embark on your journey to recovery, the following are common effects of stroke you might experience and, which could make the idea of going for rehab more important.

• • Severe joint pains.
  • Numbness or painful sensations.
  • Difficulty with chewing and swallowing food.
  • Inability to control bladder and bowels.
  • Depression

• Speech Problems: You may experience trouble controlling or eloquently expressing your emotions.
• Memory Problems: It’s normal to develop problems with thinking, attention, awareness, judgment, and memory lapses after a stroke.
• Paralysis: Paralysis is the inability to move certain parts of the body, such as the neck or arms. You may also experience weakness on one or both sides of your body.

Once you’ve received the necessary treatment for stroke, rehabilitation is an important phase in stroke recovery. Typically, you should begin rehabilitation as soon as 24 hours after a stroke.

A team of neurologists, psychiatrists, physical therapists, and speech or language pathologists together with their nurses should conduct the rehabilitation treatment. Every hour, for the two to three days, they will administer some form of therapy, assess your condition, monitor your progress, and recommend new treatment options that may be deemed necessary.

Why Rehab is Important for You

The goal of rehabilitation as part of stroke treatment and recovery is to help you improve your physical or cognitive bodily functions. It is aimed at helping you relearn whatever skills you have lost or help with your memory problems.

Typically, you should begin rehabilitation as soon as 24 hours after a stroke.

Overall, rehabilitation enables you to regain and improve your quality of life and go back to your normal independent self. Recovering from a stroke may take time. However, recent studies have shown that early, and effective rehabilitation treatments can significantly speed up recovery. Therefore, knowing this, your stroke rehabilitation journey will most likely begin as soon as your condition has stabilized and continues until the day of your discharge.

Importance of Skilled Nursing Care

Since a stroke is a delicate situation, it calls for professional care to ensure a smooth and successful recovery. Having skilled nurse care for you or your loved one after a stroke may be beneficial in the following ways.

Knowledge And Experience

When dealing with a stroke patient, it’s vital to know the impact and normal side effects of stroke. A skilled nurse is better placed to properly prepare for any potential side effects that may arise. The nurse will be able to assist the patient professionally and efficiently.

They will also ensure the patient has the right medication and necessary tools to mitigate the side effects from escalating. Skilled nurses are available to care for the patient at any time, so this can assure you that your loved ones are in safe hands and will get better.

How to Tell if Stroke Recovery Care is Good

After some time in rehab, you might want to be certain that your loved one is receiving proper care and is on the right track to recovery. Here is how to tell if the stroke recovery care is effective and good for your loved one:

• Notable progress after a few weeks of rehabilitation
• Increased independence with daily living activities. For example, the patient might not request assistance to visit the toilet after some time in rehab
• Ability to cross legs within the first few weeks of rehab care
• Improved quality sleep and increased appetite
• Improved emotions and reduced signs of depression

Benefits of the AlterG! Anti-Gravity Treadmill™ in Rehab

Anti Gravity treadmill, otherwise known as the AlterG®, is new equipment designed for everyone recovering from a stroke or surgery. It helps improve the body’s natural mechanics, among other benefits. The benefits of an Alter G machine in rehab for stroke treatment include:

• A minimum of three hours a day of uninterrupted rehab with psychiatrist services and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
• 24-hour access to nurses and doctors. This ensures quick medical response in case of emergencies.
• An inpatient rehab facility can be within a large health facility. This proximity ensures unlimited access to any medical service.

Why Skilled Nursing is the Best Option for Stroke Recovery

In certain circumstances, skilled nurses can be a better option for you or your loved one who’s recovering from a stroke. Here’s why.

• Caring for a stroke survivor can be emotionally draining, time-consuming, and mostly need specialized care.
• A skilled nurse can effectively take the worry and burden off your hands as you focus on other important areas of life.
• Nurses have professional skills to detect potential future outcomes and risks and prepare for them accordingly.
• Skilled nurses can effectively monitor and measure their progress to tell if they are on the right recovery path.

Contact us for more information.