As your journey on the road to stroke recovery progresses, there are significant patterns that you need to keep your eyes on. Find below a list of the most common patterns and signs of stroke recovery:
- The first three months is the rapid recovery phase
A large number of stroke survivors witness their fastest recovery gains during the first three months after suffering a stroke. After that time, progress slows down or “plateau’s”.
Although everyone recovers from stroke differently, this pertain is generally acknowledged as part of stroke recovery signs. It is known as stroke recovery plateau as discussed in the past. So bear in mind, that as long as the survivor continues rehabilitation, progress will generally continue although, at a slower pace.
This happens to almost everyone going through stroke rehabilitation and recovery. So, if you or your loved one reach a plateau, don’t despair, don’t give up hope. Rather use it as a sign to increase your motivation and keep on going.
Increase in functional independence
When an individual suffer a stroke, the survivor may become largely dependent on others to take care of his or herself. Activities revolving around self-care is known as the “activities of daily living”, and may include; brushing of teeth, shaving, eating or bathing. When a stroke survivor begin to perform these activities more independently, it is termed an important sign of recovery after stroke.
Occupational therapists make independence with activities of daily living the primary goal of stroke rehabilitation. When a survivor begin to need less support in these areas, it is a good sign of recovery.
The ability to cross legs early
Although this is not a conventional method for assessing stroke recovery outcomes. The ability to cross your legs within 15 days after a stroke was found to be a good sign of recovery. Being able to cross the legs can be an initial remarkable sign of regaining movement in the limbs. Family members and caregivers can easily notice it and should see it as evidence that their loved one is making recovery gains.
However, it does not suggest a poor recovery prospect if you cannot cross your legs after a stroke. What this means is that you may need to work harder.
For a formal stroke recovery prospect, medical professionals will always use the NIH Stroke Scale. This is the most generally accepted means of measuring stroke recovery.
Sleepiness, fatigue or tiredness
After the brain experience a trauma, it takes a lot of time and energy for it to heal. Sleeping gives the brain time to recover and lay foundation for neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s natural ability to create and strengthen new connections through it’s rewiring process.
As the brain is recovering after stroke, the survivor may get physically or mentally tired easily. This in itself can be a good sign of recovery. It could mean that the brain is working hard and needs rest to recover. So always listen to your body to know when your body needs sleep. If your body is asking for it, then it is obvious, you need it.
Some caution need to be exercised regarding excessive sleep after stroke. If it go beyond the early stages and extend into several months, it will interfere with rehabilitation process. Again, it might suggest some underlying health conditions that needs attention.
Minimizing use of compensatory techniques
This can be another great sign of stroke recovery when survivors progresses from using compensatory technique to doing things the way they did before having stroke. What we mean about compensatory techniques are aids or “shortcuts” that stroke survivors use to perform their activities in different ways from how they did before the stroke. Examples may include; the use of a walker, a cane or walking-stick to get around is a compensatory way. Cooking with one hand is also a compensatory technique, because normally we use two hands.
It is advisable to minimize the use of compensatory techniques from the early stages to make transition much easier as you progress in your recovery. There may come a day when you can conveniently do things with your two hands, but you may miss the opportunity if you are not careful and give attention to your recovery. One way to do this is to by keeping record of your progress and celebrate any success you achieved.
- Muscle twitching
This is another sign that can help a survivor or caregiver get signals of recovery after stroke. One thing it can show is that spasticity is improving.
Spasticity is a condition that is characterized by stiff, tight muscles. It occurs when the brain cannot effectively send signals to the affected muscles due to the neurological injury such as stroke.
According to information from some rehabilitation sources when spasticity improves, muscles may start to twitch. In view of this it may be a good sign of recovery from stroke.
It is important to be sure that it is not of other after stroke effects. This is because, sometimes muscle twitches have shown to be a sign of other post-stroke complications such as tremors.
To avoid wrong conclusions, it might help to talk with your therapist when new signs that have other medical connections are observed, even if you think it is a good sign of recovery, just to be double sure.
- Level of negative emotional expressions
Stroke is a life changing event that often results in losses; such as those connected with performing independent daily activities. This can cause survivors some degree of grief.
Ordinarily, negative emotions are often viewed as something bad. But when it comes to stroke recovery, the stages of grief often need to be experienced, at least for some time. Two important stages to mention here are anger and depression.
Emotions like anger and depression can be viewed as a sign of recovery from stroke. Because when stroke survivors experience these emotions, it could mean they are moving through the stages of grief; and this can also mean they are close to the final stage of grief, which is acceptance.
When stroke survivors are going through the various stages of grief it is important to take the right steps to get support. Family members, friends, caregivers and even therapists can provide first-line support.
Providing needed encouragement will help them not remain stuck in anger or depression. Other helpful ways of getting support are joining stroke support groups or seeking the help of a psychotherapist.
Summary
Recovery is possible at any age and any stage after an individual suffered a stroke. Current studies, indicate that the brain is capable of improving through all stages of recovery, including the late stages.
Book to link: “How to recover from stroke after 5, 10, 15 years or more”.