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Stroke Recovery and Treatment Guide
Stroke treatment and recovery involves IV medications in the beginning, and oral meds during the recovery phase of rehab. Initial goal is to restore blood flow and begin the recovery process. It is important to get medical treatment preferably within 3 hours. An undiagnosed stroke can lead to severe brain damage and even death.
Two types of blood clots that cause a stroke are embolus and thrombus. The embolus is a piece of a blood clot that broke off and travels to another part of the body. A thrombus forms inside the artery and does not travel.
Medications:
Stroke medications are utilized to restore blood flow to the body. Certain medications are administered to dissolve clots and other medications are used to prevent cells from adhering to each other and forming a blood clot.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator ( tPA): Is a clot busting medication given through an IV line, administered within 3 hours of symptom onset. It works by breaking down the fibrin strands, and can only be given for ischemic strokes.
Antiplatelet Meds: Prevent platelet cells from adhering to each other. Aspirin Aggrenox Plavix: Is an antiplatelet to slow clotting time. Aggrenox and Plavix replace aspirin when it is contraindicated. The inhibition of clotting can lead to severe bleeding episodes, and is a side effect of using these drugs.
Anticoagulants:
Heparin Warfarin (Coumadin)
Anticoagulants are used to prevent blood clots from forming in the heart due to atrial fibrillation. However, they do come with some risk of side effects including hemorrhage and bruising.
Vitamin K is essential to the body for natural clotting so this should be monitored closely by a physician in a patient currently taking Heparin or Coumadin as it can inhibit its effects. This vitamin is commonly found in green vegetables. While this doesn't mean the patient should stop eating green vegetables, it does mean that the medication may have to be adjusted in order to accommodate this vitamin intake.
Recovery:
Once a patient is stable they will be released from the hospital to either a rehab facility, home and outpatient therapy or home where therapy can commence. There is no set timeframe for recovery and treatment. It can last six months or longer and is a lifelong endeavor for the patient.
If the patient is to be cared for at home, everyone must be willing to accept the changes that are bound to take place. The patient and the caregiver must settle into a routine to make the transition as non traumatic as possible. Special home modifications may be required to accommodate the patients needs, such as hand rails in the bathroom and wheelchair ramps.
If the patient is bed ridden, a hospital bed may be necessary. Special beds will help to prevent the incidence of decubitus ulcers from forming on the bony prominences of the body such as the elbow, heels, and pelvis bones. To prevent ulcers, make sure the patient is turned on to the left side and right side, alternating sides, propped on pillows every 2 hours. This is very important not only to prevent bed sores, but prevention of pneumonia as well. Elevating the feet to keep heels free from any type of pressure will prevent ulcers in this area.
Any reddened areas on the skin indicate a need for repositioning to prevent further skin breakdown. Be sure to notify the physician if skin break down occurs.
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