Stroke Recovery

When should stroke rehabilitation begin?

The sooner you begin stroke rehabilitation, the more likely you are to regain lost abilities and skills. However, your doctors' first priority is to stabilize your medical condition and control life-threatening conditions. They also take measures to prevent another stroke and limit any stroke-related complications.

It's common for stroke rehabilitation to start as soon 24 to 48 hours after your stroke, during your acute hospital stay. If your medical problems continue for longer, your doctors may wait to begin your rehabilitation.

Stroke Recovery

Stroke affects everybody differently. Many stroke survivors continue to improve over a long time, sometimes over a number of years. Recovery from stroke involves making changes in the physical, social and, emotional aspects of your life. You will make changes to prevent additional strokes as well as to facilitate your life-long recovery. It is normal to feel angry, anxious or depressed after a stroke. You may feel worried about work, money and relationships, and the tiredness caused by stroke can make things worse.

Rehabilitation is about getting back to normal life and living as independent a life as possible. It involves taking an active approach to ensure that your life goes on. This can mean learning new skills or relearning old ones. It may involve adapting to new limitations and post-stroke conditions. Or it can mean finding new social, emotional, and practical support to live your best life post-stroke.

With good care and rehabilitation, there is life after stroke.

First Steps to Recovery

Treatment following a stroke usually begins with care in a hospital, called acute care. During that time you are stabilized, assessed, and a treatment plan will be developed for your recovery. An important part of the road to recovery is your return to community living after leaving the hospital. Some of you will spend time in a rehabilitation center before returning home, but many stroke survivors return directly home following their time in the hospital.

As you start on your journey to recovery it is important to maintain your safety, seek rehabilitation services and immediately reduce your risk of having another stroke.

Safety after Stroke

Moving around safely and easily is not something you may think about, until you have had a stroke. Many areas of your life will be impacted and adaptations will need to be made to be safer. For example your home can be safer by modifying your home environment to prevent accidents as you move around the house or apartment. There are many different ways to accommodate your life after stroke that will depend on your strength, ability, judgment, and support.

Home Safety

• Clear paths to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom
• Wear nonskid shoes and avoid slick surfaces
• Remove loose carpets and runners in hallways and stairwells, or fasten them with nonskid tape to improve traction
• Install handrails for support in going up and down stairs

And most importantly, be on the safe side and don’t take chances. Listen to the advice of healthcare professionals and experienced caregivers. Regaining independence requires patience.