Hello and welcome back to the ThreeSpires Physiotherapy blog where we take a look at all things physiotherapy and health related. In this blog I thought we would look at how our home visit physiotherapy service is able to help patients who have had a stroke in Rugeley and surrounding areas such as Colton, Little Haywood, Armitage and Handsacre.

What is a Stroke?

Firstly it is important to know that a stroke is a medical emergency and if you are reading this and are suspecting that you or someone you know is having a stroke then you need to contact the emergency services immediately. Having a stroke can be a completely life changing event (as anyone who has suffered will be understand all too well) and can result in a wide range of disabilities and difficulties. However before looking at how our physiotherapists can help you after having a stroke in Rugleley it is probably best to look at exactly what a stroke is first. A stroke is when an area of the brain dies after oxygen and blood supply to that area is cut off. This can happen in two ways: firstly from a blood clot that blocks one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain, this is called an ischaemic stroke. The second way is when there is a bleed in the brain and this blood causes pressure to build up and cuts off blood supply to an area of the brain, this is called a hemorrhagic stroke.

What are the Effects of A Stroke?

Although there are general patterns to the effects of a stroke answering this question is not easy as the effects of a stroke can vary so much from a small change in strength or coordination to massive changes in mobility and cognition. Usually a stroke will affect predominantly one side of the body, this is because the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice-versa. As each area of the brain has a specific job and role (often involving control of muscles) if blood supply is cut off and that area dies then the person having the stroke will find that they can no longer perform that function. This can have catastrophic consequences for the person having the stroke leaving them unable to walk or speak. The most common side effects of a stroke are: weakness and reduced sensation in the upper and lower limb on one side. In more severe strokes, the person may lose the ability to sit unaided and may need to remain in bed or get a specially supportive chair (usually a tilt in space chair). Other side effects include difficulty swallowing and patients may need to be placed on a restrictive diet where the texture of their food or fluid is controlled - this will be done via the speech and language therapist at the hospital. For some patients they will be unable to regain control of their swallowing function and may need to receive nutrition via a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) which involves a tube being inserted through the abdomen and nutrition being delivered through this. Again in severe strokes bowel and bladder control may be significantly affected and patients may become incontinent. 

How Long Does Recovery from a Stroke Take?

For many of our patients this is one of their first questions and to be honest this is one of the most diffcult for anyone to answer as it will depend upon a range of factors such as the severity of the stroke itself, the area of the brain involved, age and previous level of fitness. In general the more severe the stroke and the older the patient the longer will be the recovery period. Another factor to consider when thinking about recovery from a stroke is that the majority of recovery from a stroke is made within the first 6 months. This is not to say that after this period no further recovery is possible but is simply a fact that most people make most of their recovery from a stroke in the first 6 months.

Who will Help with Recovery from a Stroke?

For many people this will be their very first experience of being in hospital and the recovery process from a serous illness. At times the number of medical and other professionals involved with their care can be very confusing. Below is a list describing the professionals most likely to be involved and what their role is in recovering after a stroke:

1. Neurological Consultant: this will be the doctor with overall responsibility for your case. In reality you may not see this person very often, especially if you are recovering well as they will have many cases to oversee. 

2. Doctor: most likely you will see either a registrar or junior doctor relatively often during your stay in hospital. Although the consultant is in overall charge, this doctor will be the one most closely involved with your recovery.

3. Nurses: during your time in hospital recovering from a stroke, the nurses on the ward will be a key part of your recovery. They will be responsible for administering any medication, observations and liaising with the doctors. Once home, you may also have involvement with the district nurse who may visit you at home if needed. 

4. Speech and Language Therapists: (often abbreviated to SALT), one of the common side effects of a severe stroke is difficulty with or even a complete loss of the ability to swallow and difficulties speaking. This is due to the stroke commonly affecting the facial and swallowing muscles. At this point you will have your swallow assessed by the SALT team and they will make reommendations as to what is safe to do with regards to eating and drinking. The speech and language therapists will also work with you to help you recover the ability to speak properly. After returning home or being discharged from hospital the SALT team may continue to visit you to work with you.

5. Occupational Therapists: as part of the therapy team the occupational therapists (OTs) will help you with recovering your ability to perform activities of daily living such as making a cup of tea, making breakfast, washing and bathing. This will usually be done by taking you to a kitchen area or wash area to practice these activities. On discharge from hospital the OTs may well visit your home to assess any equipment or adaptations that may be needed.

6. Physiotherapists: clearly physiotherapists will play a key role in your recovery both on the hospital ward and at home on discharge. The physiotherapists involved with your case will initially perform an assessment to establish what difficulties you are having and then will work daily with you to make a recovery. Whilst in hospital you are likely to be seen daily but on return home the frequency will depend upon resources in the community.

How Much Rehab Will I Get after my Stroke?

This again is not an easy question to answer especially once leaving hospital and will to no small extent come down to the level fo resources available. It wil also depend upon exactly how the stroke has affected you and if you are able to keep making progress. Whilts in hospital according to NICE guidelines you should reeive at least 45 minutes of therapy each day from each of the 3 disciplines of Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language and Physiotherapy. Obviously this is needs based and if you have no swallow or speech problems then you clearly won't see the SALT team! However it also depends upon what you are able to tolerate after your stroke as fatigue is usually a large problem and some patients after a stroke will simply not be able to tolerate 45 minutes of physiotherapy each day. 

Upon returning home it is extremely difficult to determine how much input you will receive from NHS physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy after having a stroke in Rugeley. It very much comes down to how much demand there is and how you are recovering after your stroke. It is certainly at this point that our home visit physiotherapy service in Rugeley can really help with your recovery after a stroke as we are able to see patients extremely quickly after discharge from hospital and can supplement the stretched resources of the NHS physiotherapists in helping you recover from your stroke in Rugeley. 

What Resources Are There to Help Recover After a Stroke in Rugeley?

In this section I will try and signpost you to some key services that are available to help you after your stroke in Rugeley:

1. Your GP: yes I know this is obvious and is freely available by the NHS but your GP will be one of the most important people involved in your recovery as they act as gatekeepers and referrers for lots of other NHS services. So it is important to realise that after having a stroke you need to keep your GP informed of any changes or things you would like help with.

2. Stroke Club: meeting up with people who have been through similar experiences and being able to share stories and resources is vital to your recovery and there are great stroke clubs in Staffordshire for anyone to join.  

3. Hydrotherapy: technically this is not in Rugeley and is actually in Walsall but it is such a good resource that I really have to include it. In fact I have previously written a whole blog on the subject of hydrotherapy (click here) and how much help it can be for someone after a stroke. Walsall at both Oak Park and the Brine Pool runs a fantastic community hydrotherapy scheme that is extremely good value for money with lots of different sessions running at various times. For more details click here: 

4. Seated Exercise Classes: After a stroke, mobilising and balance can be difficult which can make attending an exercise class difficult and intimidating. Seated exercise classes can be really helpful in these situations and many of my own stroke patients attend seated classes. 

 

How Can ThreeSpires Physiotherapy Help with my Stroke in Rugeley?

We can help in a large number of ways and have a large number of testimonials available via our website, Facebook page or google plus page which clearly show how we have been able to help many patients after a stroke. Our chartered physiotherapists are all experienced with helping patients recover from a stroke and are able to provide a physiotherapy service at home in Rugeley to anyone who has had a stroke. Often we work alongside and in conjunction with NHS physiotherapists to maximise the possible recovery for patients and our physiotherapists are able to liaise directly with NHS staff in order to reduce the burden on families. Our physiotherapists are able to assess patients at home in Rugeley after a stroke (usually within a few days of contacting us) and then provide a management plan of how best to help with recovery after the stroke which may include further sessions of physiotherapy and an exercise program individualised to the patient. 

Our physiotherapists see a large number patients in Rugeley and surrounding areas that have had a stroke were fit and are now trying to regain their indpendence, mobility and strength. Having high qulaity and regular physiotherapy is vital to helping them gain as much function and recovery as is possible.

Often patients who have had a stroke will have great difficulty with mobilising and getting out of the house to a physiotherapy clinic. This is where our home visit physiotherapy service really makes a difference. One of our experienced neurological physiotherapists can visit these patients at home in Rugeley and remove the need for them to get out and spend a lot of time getting to a physiotherapy clinic. The physiotherapist is also able to see the patient at home and devise an exercise and management programme that they can conduct at home. Our chartered physiotherapists are all experienced with helping patients recover from a stroke and offer a physio servcie at home in Rugeley, Colton, Litte Hawyood, Armitage and Handsacre to name but a few of the areas that they visit. Often we work alongside and in conjunction with NHS physiotherapists to maximise the possible recovery for patients and our physiotherapists are able to liaise directly with NHS staff in order to reduce the burden on families. Our physiotherapists are able to help improve movement and strength in whichever area has been affected by the stroke. For example it could be that hand movement is the major concern in which case they will be able to work on exercises and strengthening activities designed to improve movement, co-ordination and function of the hand.

If you or anyone you know has had a stroke and lives in Rugeley then please get in touch to have a chat about how we might be able to help with recovery and physiotherapy. We can be contacted via email: enquiries@threespiresphysiotherapy.co.uk or phone: 07884281623

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At ThreeSpires Physiotherapy we aim to provide the highest standard of physiotherapy in Staffordshire and the West Midlands. Our services are available 8 am - 7pm Monday to Friday. Call Us Today on 07884 281623

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