Hemorrhagic Stroke Recovery

[Shrish]

My 55 yr old mother had a "massive" hemorrhagic stroke Feb. 18/05. The neuro surgeon said it was a large deep bleed in the left side of her brain, apparently she is lucky to have survived it and without surgery. The latest CT scan 3.5 weeks after the stroke the blood has started to re-absorb and swelling is going down. She is currently in a rehab hospital (March 18) with paralysis on the right side (arm and leg) and has aphasyia - she understands us but has a hard time getting her words out (she does put small phases together at times).A speech therapist works with her and she can read, write some (copies words) and has progressed with food (a feeding tube to puree foods to soft - ground foods). The speech therapist has positive prognosis for speech improvements over the next year. I'm wondering how paralysis recovery works? She has physio and Occupational therapy working her muscles but do people with paralysis get some motor function back and if so what type of time frame (3,6,12, months?)Is there any recent research or therapy to aid in the motor recovery process such as magnetic stimulation or emg that we should be considering or inquiring about? Any questions I should be asking the rehab or dr.'s to find out about my mother's prognosis for it....or is it giving her brain time to heal and see if rehab can help?

Thank for your time and any comments/direction are appreciated.

Shrish

[SandyWalker111]

Hi Keith,

    I know it's been a while since you posted but my mom had a hemorrhagic stroke on May 30th and I have some questions for you.  You said you had vision issues.  What kind of issues and how long did it take for them to go away?  Also, how long before your short term memory loss cleared?  I keep reading these posts looking for how long it took before the blood reabsorbed back into the brain and what if any improvements came along with that but so far no luck!  

                                   Thanks,

                                        Sandy
                                      

[michniak]

Shot.. I do not know the answer to that.  My Mom had a massive stroke to her brainstem.  She opened her eyes a few times during the week she was in the ICU, but it didn't appear that she heard me.  I videotaped a conversation I had with her and when I asked her to blink her eyes, it looked like she did, but it could have been coincidental.  She had a blank stare... it was very sad, but we talked to her anyway.  We decided to bring her home on hospice after 5 days in ICU.. she was 80yo... and we did not want to put a feeding tube in her and send her off to a nursing home in the shape she was in.  She would not have wanted that.  It's been a very hard 6mo for my family.

Does your niece follow you with her eyes?  Any recognition to the outside world?

[michniak]

I am so very sorry about your brother... so very sorry :(  I lost my Mom in October due to a massive stroke to her brainstem... it is heartbreaking. My prayers go out to you and your family during this time of loss.  We have no answers... I know it's so very sad, I'm sorry.

[Shot123]

Day 11 for my niece she had a blank stare moves her right arm somebody tell me will it ever get better. Can the see anything, are they in pain?

[Shot123]

It's good to read a good report. Thank you Lord

[Shot123]

Same with ny 40 year old niece I am praying for a miracle. I am praying for you as well