Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.

Stroke Community

This patient support community is for discussions relating to stroke, rehabilitation, ability to eat/swallow, alertness, bowel/bladder control, depression, motor skills, nutrition, orthotics/braces, pain, prevention, senses, and spasticity.
 | 

brain stem stroke

by soko1970, Jun 18, 2008 01:19PM
Hi everybody,
My dad had a brain stem stroke 18 days ago. He is in coma. He opens his eye when we call his name. He has small movements on his leg but nothing else. He is diabetic as well with high blood pressure. Does anybody knows what sort of food would be good for him? I read some where that therapy helps. what sort of therapy? and when can they start it? is there any medicine that can help? i appreciate any suggestions.
does it help talking to him?sometimes he cries. is it really crying or is it only reaction?
thank you
Member Comments (2)

by Dr_Aparna, Jun 19, 2008 08:01AM
To: soko1970
Hi,
Stroke rehabilitation, or, , stroke recovery, is the process by which patients with disabling strokes undergo treatment to help them return to normal life as much as possible by regaining and relearning the skills of everyday living. It is multidisciplinary in that it involves a team with different skills working together to help the patient.
For most stroke patients, the rehabilitation process includes nursing, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), therapeutic recreation (TR) and speech therapy (or speech language therapy, SLP). OT involves exercise and training to help the stroke patient relearn everyday activities, sometimes called the Activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating and drinking, dressing, bathing, cooking, reading and writing, and toileting.
Speech and language therapy is appropriate for patients who have problems understanding speech or written words, or problems forming speech. Speech therapists also assess a person's ability to safely swallow after a stroke.
Stroke rehabilitation can last from a few days up to several months. After a stroke, control signals from the brain often cannot reach some muscles, typically in the hand or foot. Without these signals, the level of electrical activity in these muscles is too low for them to contract adequately on their own. This causes them to become increasingly weaker.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke_recovery
You can ask the hospital staff to get you acquainted with them before the patient is discharged.It is common to see them behave totally different from sed to be.This is due too the damage done to the brain tissue.

by soko1970, Jun 20, 2008 08:11AM
To: Dr_Aparna
hi thanks for your reply. My dad is in coma and he can only opens his eyes. Can he start therapy now??thanks
Post Comment
To
Comment
Post Comment
Recent Activity
joemin joined this community
Welcome them!
Sep 04
Comment on Running backwards.....
Sep 04 by mamita00
Comment on Running backwards.....
Sep 04 by medchick0523
Comment on Running backwards.....
Sep 03 by mamita00
Comment on What are you Really...
Sep 03 by dave2003
Floyd1 joined this community
Welcome them!
Sep 03
Comment on Early Diagnosis of ...
Sep 02 by Bornsickie
Comment on Early Diagnosis of ...
Sep 02 by Jesse1188
Expert Activity
Early Diagnosis of Peripheral Arter... 
Aug 31 by Lee Kirksey, MD
5 Steps to Medical Debt
Aug 30 by Adam R. Tanase, D.C.
Coronary Artery Disease - Risk fact... updated
Aug 26 by Cleveland Clinic