brain stem stroke

[soko1970]

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

[soko1970]

hi thanks for your reply. My dad is in coma and he can only opens his eyes. Can he start therapy now??thanks

[Dr_Aparna]

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.