TIMELY REHAB KEY TO REGAIN FULL MOBILITY

"Patients always think that medicines are the cure. They are, but rehabilitation plays a critical role," said Dr Madhukar Bharadwaj, director & HOD of neurology, Aakash Healthcare, Delhi.

- ASHISH SRIVASTAVA @New Delhi

"Patients always think that medicines are the cure. They are, but rehabilitation plays a critical role," said Dr Madhukar Bharadwaj, director & HOD of neurology, Aakash Healthcare, Delhi.

"Many stroke patients miss out on good stroke rehabilitation, which is extremely essential for stroke recovery, as recovery continues for weeks to months after an acute stroke. For stroke survivors, recovery is a journey that demands both medical intervention and a steadfast commitment to rehabilitation," he added.

"We talk a lot about preventing a stroke and about early treatment, once somebody has had a stroke, especially if they're within the four-and-a-half-hour treatment window, where we try to maintain the blood supply to the brain. But sometimes this is not possible, or this is unsuccessful, leading to permanent injury to the brain. To recover from the deficits caused by a stroke, in the form of either weakness, loss of sensation or loss of balance, rehabilitation is one of the important tools," said Dr U.M. Sreenivas, consultant, neurologist, MGM Healthcare Hospital, Chennai.

According to Bharadwaj, there are five types of disabilities that strokes can cause. "Paralysis or movement control problems, difficulty in sensing pain, temperature or position disturbances, language difficulties (both spoken and understanding), memory problems, and emotional liability - where a person loses control over their emotions," he explained.

How rehabilitation works Rehabilitation for stroke survivors is a multidisciplinary process aimed at minimizing disabilities and enhancing physical, emotional, and social well-being. It typically begins as soon as the patient's condition stabilizes, often within 24-48 hours after the event.