Home
Treatment for a stroke
You may need to use assistive devices to help
you:
·
Eat. Large-handled silverware can be easier to grab
and use if you have a weak hand. If you have trouble swallowing, you may need
to change your diet or your doctor may provide you with a feeding
tube to use at home.
·
Get
dressed. Devices called reachers
can help you put on socks or stockings if you have weakness in one arm or hand.
·
Walk. Canes and walkers can be used to help prevent
falls.
Tips for a successful
recovery
·
Be as
involved as possible in your care. Although you may feel like letting a caregiver take charge, the
more you can participate, the better. Ask for help in dealing with any disabilities
you may have, and try to make people understand your limitations.
·
Recognize
and deal with depression. Depression is common in people who have had a stroke, and it can be treated. You may need medicines
for depression and pain to
help you cope.
·
Participate in a stroke
rehabilitation program as soon as
possible. After a stroke, a combination of physical, speech, and occupational
therapies can help you manage the basics of daily living, such as bathing,
dressing, and eating. A team that includes a doctor, a variety of therapists,
and nurses will work with you to overcome disabilities, learn new ways to do
tasks, and strengthen parts of your body impaired by the stroke. For more
information, see the topic Stroke
Rehabilitation.
Tips for dealing with
the effects of a stroke
·
Managing
getting dressed. Getting dressed may be
easier if you use stocking/sock spreaders, rings or strings attached to zipper
pulls, and buttonhooks. Talk with an occupational
therapist about assistive devices
that can help you get dressed.
·
Managing
vision problems. After a stroke, some
people have problems seeing to one side. For example, people with right-sided
paralysis may have difficulty seeing to the right.
·
Managing eating
problems. You may not be able to feel food on one or both sides of your mouth.
This increases your risk for choking. You may need further tests or an
evaluation by a speech therapist.
·
Managing
bowel and bladder problems.
Some people who have a stroke suffer loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) after the stroke. But this is usually
temporary, and it can have many causes, including infection, constipation, and the effects of medicines.
Tips for family
members and caregivers
·
Family
adjustment and support
will be important to your loved one's recovery. Strong support from the family
can greatly enhance recovery.
·
Help manage
speech and language problems with some simple tips. These problems may involve any or all
aspects of language use, such as speaking, reading, writing, and understanding
the spoken word. Speaking slowly and directly and listening carefully can help.
Although stroke rehab is increasingly successful
at prolonging life, a stroke can be a disabling or fatal condition. People who
have had a stroke may consider discussing health care and other legal issues
that may arise near the end of life. Many people find it helpful and comforting
to state their health care choices in writing with a living will or other advance directive while they are still able to make and
communicate these decisions. For more information, see the topic Care
at the End of Life.
Another link on strokes in general can be found
at: http://www.webmd.com/stroke/stroke-treatment-directory
No comments:
Post a Comment