stroke rehabilitation

  First I would like to thank you for your reply to my questions on 6/30/98 in regard to brain hemmorhage.  You answered some questions that were really important to me.
  Now I pose a few more questions that I really need answers to, as well.  I will try to be as brief as possible as I know there are many others whose questions are as important as mine.  The stroke I spoke about in my first post has left me disabled to the point that I have no functional use of my right arm, (I was previously right handed) and I can walk a little with a quad cane.  It has been 17 months since my stroke and the Drs here tell me that I will probably not get much better.  I am only 47 years old and I am not satisfied with that.  I have an appointment with a neurologist in a larger city in about 2 weeks.   My questions are,  is there hope that I can still regain some functional use of my right side,  what are the chances of this happening again, and lastly does your hospital offer any new, (even experimental) help for people like me?
  Thank you and God bless you for offering this service!
  Kay
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Dear Kay,
After a stroke, patients will generally see more rapid improvement in the
early weeks to months, after which the improvement tapers off.  Generally
speaking, about 90% of improvement will be seen within the first 3 months.
At 17 months out you have probably seen the major portion of your neurological
improvement, but we are always surprised and pleased at how well some people
recover.
Good luck.