After experiencing a stroke, many patients quickly shift their focus to getting better as quickly as possible. Understandably, stroke survivors want to recover a certain amount of functioning and minimize the effects on their day-to-day lives.
Stroke rehabilitation is essential to this goal. Getting sufficient therapies and needed assistance in an appropriate care setting will help stroke survivors recover as much of their previous level of functioning as possible.
Timeline of stroke recovery
When planning for your stroke rehabilitation journey, it can be helpful to consider what recovery timeline can be reasonably expected in your case. Your doctor can give you a rough estimate of what to expect, as the timeline can vary from patient to patient depending on severity.
While the specific recovery time frame differs by patient, it is known that the brain has the most effective neuroplasticity in the three months immediately following a stroke, producing the most significant gains during this period. That’s why it’s crucial to begin stroke rehabilitation as soon as possible.
That being said, stroke survivors can see continued improvement for a year or more, although those longer term changes tend to be more incremental in nature.
Options for stroke rehabilitation
Patients can complete the physical therapy and occupational therapy needed for stroke rehabilitation and receive other necessary post-stroke care in a number of different settings, including:
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- Acute inpatient unit
- Skilled nursing facility
- Home health services
- Outpatient centers
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The setting that will be most appropriate and effective for each patient is determined by the treating physician and is based on severity of the stroke’s effects, along with the patient’s care needs.
Patient attitude and motivation
How you think about your stroke rehabilitation will have a significant influence on the ultimate outcomes of the process. Keep these ideas in mind.
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- It’s normal to experience some discouragement/frustration, but those feelings should be temporary. If you recognize and expect this to happen, you can actually reduce your levels of frustration.
- Consistency in recommended exercises is important. You are practicing skills to retrain your brain, and repetition is the best way to make that happen.
- Enlist your support team and tell them what you need.Stroke rehabilitation is far from a solo effort, so make sure that the people around you know how to best help you.
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Your stroke rehabilitation experience will set the stage for your quality of life moving forward, so it’s important to make sure that you get everything you need from this process. Work closely with your care team to make sure that happens.