Rehabilitation is essential and critical to improved quality of life and recovery for a stroke patient. Experienced Physiotherapists Nicole D’souza and Kshitija Ghole from the Neurology Foundation address some of the common questions on stroke rehabilitation.
1. What is the aim of stroke rehabilitation?
The aim of Stroke rehabilitation is to help those affected to relearn essential skills lost due to damage to the brain. These could range from re-learning how to walk…
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A multifocal approach is required to address the symptoms and treat the cause while providing relief to the patient. Underlying Cause: This entails detecting and treating the original cause of the neuropathy, as that can then lead to recovery by first healing the damaged nerves and regrowth of destroyed nerves. For instance if it is a complication of diabetes, regulating the blood sugar levels, losing weight and exercising morewill be the aim of treatment. For vitamin deficiency, start on B12…
Neuropathy can have a major impact on one’s quality of life, hence incorporating daily management techniques along with treatment can be very helpful. These can be: Dietary changes to include healthy well-balanced meals rich with nutrients and vitamins to fulfill any deficiencies. Quitting alcohol and tobacco use can have immense benefits for the heart, kidney and liver. Loss of excessive body weight is known to greatly improve mobility and health. Daily exercise to strengthen weak muscles is…
A clinical examination is essential to the diagnosis of neuropathy. This will include a thorough medical history (social habits, alcohol/tobacco use, risk of infections, family history etc.), physical exam, and a neurological exam to test the reflexes of the motor and sensory nerves. If suspected of any specific diseases, a blood test may be ordered for diabetes, vitamin deficiency, liver and kidney function etc. In addition, scans such as CT or MRI may be done to investigate the cause of…
Lifestyle changes can prevent risk factors that are likely to induce neuropathy; these include smoking and alcohol cessation, avoiding exposure to toxins, losing weight, eating healthy and correct vitamin deficiencies. If you have a known chronic kidney, systemic or autoimmune disease, make sure to keep it under check. For diabetics, tight control of blood sugar level and daily foot care can be very advantageous. Early recognition and treatment of neuropathy can slow down progression and even…
Types and Complications of Neuropathy There are numerous types of neuropathies identified, based on the types of nerves damaged. There are 3 types of nerve fibers that can be affected and most doctors will use these terms to describe the diagnosis: Motor: these are nerves that control muscle movement e.g. walking, talking, holding etc. Sensory: these are nerves that transmit sensations e.g. pain, touch, temperature etc. Autonomic: these are nerves responsible for regulating unconscious…
