Son's Recovery

[ppholmes]

My son who is 38 had a stroke on Sept. 25, 2009.  His left leg and left arm is paralyzed.  He has been in two different sub-acute rehab facilities since Dec. 2009.  The most recent one he has been there since Feb 10, 2010 but they only started the physical therapy on about Mar 7, 2010.  The physical therapists and doctors are now telling me he probably won't get any better and we should be getting ready to take him home.  Everyone before told us it was going to take time but that he was young and should do good.  I don't understand how 4 weeks of therapy can convince them he is not going to get better.  My son is over weight but has lost a lot his weight.  I want to bring him home but he can't get from a bed to a wheel chair now.  They have to use a hoist to move him out of bed.   My husband has heart problems and we are raising our three grandchildren.  I am still working.  Is it too soon for them to say he won't get any better?

[Linbonte]

Also read "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor.  An inspirational story for anyone on this site.

[oc1dean]

They are using the slowness in recovery - normally called plateau - inorder to stop treatment. This is a insurance/HMo term, not a medical term. Stroke recovery is extremely slow but it does keep going. You need to ask your medical staff about neuroplasticity, recovery can continue for years. Sinbce they say he is not going to get better, ask for a specific reason they are saying this(they will not be able to provide it but keep pushing). Most doctors have no clue on which people can recover past the standard 6-12 month spontaneous recovery. Read the book Stronger After Stroke by peter levine and a couple books on neuroplasticity by Sharon Begley.