What are the chances of recovery after a stroke?
Recovery from stroke is a long process that can continue over several years. Most of the recovery occurs in the first 2-3 years, and especially the first 6 months. Rehabilitation needs to continue in hospital, rehabilitation services via organization support, home and residential care.
Approximately one-third of stroke patients recover their lost functions fully or almost fully, and get back to their pre-stroke activities within a year.
About 50% of stroke survivors under the age of 65 return to work.
However at one-year after a stroke, about two-thirds of stroke survivors will have some level of disability, ranging from light and moderate to very severe.
What are the possible medical complications after a stroke?
If a person does survive a stroke, as many people do, they may have permanent or temporary disability due to the damage to the brain caused by the stroke.
Possible effects after a stroke are:
Approximately two thirds of stroke survivors have partial or complete loss of movement and strength in a hand and/or leg on one side of the body. Partial loss of movement and strength is called paresis, complete loss is called paralysis.
80-90% suffer from confusion, and problems with thinking and memory.
30% have communication problems such as an inability to speak or understand spoken language.
30% have difficulty swallowing, called dysphagia.
10% have vision problems such as complete or partial blindness, or double vision.
10% have impaired coordination, called ataxia.
30% have problems in right-left orientation.
Up to 70% suffer from mood disorders, including depression.
20% develop pain in the shoulder.
Less that 10% may develop seizures or epilepsy, especially after an intracerebral hemorrhage.
Without adequate prevention, 20% develop a chest infection within one month of stroke and 10-20% develop bedsores and/or skin infection.
Other possible complications are falls, joint deformities and contractures (where joints cannot fully bend or stretch), urinary tract infection, constipation, pulmonary embolism and heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Ask Dr Charway-Felli and the professionals( We are here to provide the support you need on your road to recovery after a stroke .
Stroke hits us all in a sudden. Don't panic. Submit your questions and let's find out how to help. click on the link below to sign up and send your questions to the professionals (No financial implications require in using the service)
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