Help with Strokes in Sutton Coldfield

Hello and welcome back to the ThreeSpires Physiotherapy blog where we take a look at all things physiotherapy and health related. In this blog I wanted to take a look at an extremely serious and often disabling condition and look at where you can access help and some services available in Sutton Coldfield plus also highlight how our physiotherapy service can help anyone living in Sutton Coldfield. A stroke is one of the most common and also can be the most severely disabling neurolgical condition that we as physiotherapists encounter. Patients are often fit and healthy and leading an independent life and then they have a stroke which reduces their ability to move one side of their body, walk and lead an independent life. This can be a catastrophic experience and at this point it is vital to get access to as much high quality rehabilitation, understand where you can access help and also get as much physiotherapy as is possible.

What is a Stroke?

So before looking at what help there is available in Sutton Coldfield after having a stroke and how physiotherapy can help after a stroke it is important to be clear exacty what a stroke is. A stroke is when something causes an area of the brain to lose blood supply which in turn causes those cells and areas of the brain affected to die. There are two types/underlying causes of stroke: the first is an ischaemic stroke in which a clot blocks blood supply to an area of the brain and causes the patient to experience a stroke. The second is a hemorrhagic stroke in which there is a bleed in the brain and pressure builds up from blood and fluid inside the skull which in turn compresses some areas of the brain and stops blood getting to them. The effects of a stroke can range from mild symptoms of slight weakness in one area of the body to a catastrophic loss of all movement on one side of the body and difficulties with speech, swallowing and comprehension. Usually a stroke will affect predominantly one side of the body, this is because the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice-versa.

What Happens After Having a Stroke?

Well, firstly a stroke is a medical emergency and you will be taken straight to hospital (if you live in Sutton Coldfield this will most likely be Good Hope) and they will perform a series of tests and procedures aimed at identifying what is happening and providing the correct treatment. Certainly you are likely to have a CT or MRI scan of your brain. After this it depends upon the severity and impact of your stroke but often it will involve a significant period in an acute stroke or neurological rehab ward where you will receive intensive therapy from a variety of professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists (SALT) and also physiotherapists. Of course there will be a large amount of help and medical work done by doctors and nurses to ensure that you become medically stable and recovered enough to be discharged. 

What Are the Usual Effects of a Stroke?

This is a very difficult question to answer as the effects of a stroke are very variable and depend upon how long the blood supply to a particular area of the brain was cut off and the area of the brain involved. Age and general fitness also play a key role in recovery and how well patients recover from the effects of a stroke. In general, strokes affect one side of the body (there are some exceptions to this) as one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body and if the left sid of the brain has been affected by a stroke then the right side of the body will be affected. Common side effects of a stroke are: weakness and loss of sensation in the arms, hand and leg on one side affecting a person's ability to sit and walk. In severe strokes, patients may lose the ability to sit upright and may need to either stay in bed or get a specially supportive chair (usually a tilt in space chair). Other side effects include difficulty swallowing and patients may need to be placed on a restrictive diet where the texture of their food or fluid is controlled - this will be done via the speech and language therapist at the hospital. For some patients they will be unable to regain control of their swallowing function and may need to receive nutrition via a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) which involves a tube being inserted through the abdomen and nutrition being delivered through this. Again in severe strokes bowel and bladder control may be significantly affected and patients may become incontinent. 

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Stroke?

Again this is an enormously difficult question to answer and will depend upon a range of factrs including: severity of stroke, area involved, age and previous level of fitness. In general the more severe the stroke and the older the patient the longer will be the recovery period. Another factor to consider when thinking about recovery from a stroke is that the majority of recovery from a stroke is made within the first 6 months. This is not to say that after this period no further recovery is possible but is simply a fact that most people make most of their recovery from a stroke in the first 6 months.

What Professionals Will be Involved with Recovering from a Stroke?

Often, the first experience some people will have of being in hospital and the recovery process from a serous illness will be when they have a stroke and the number of medical and other professionals involved with their care can be very confusing. Below I have attempted to describe the most likely people involved and what their role is in recovering after a stroke:

1. Neurological Consultant: this will be the doctor with overall responsibility for your case. In reality you may not see this person very often, especially if you are recovering well as they will have many cases to oversee. 

2. Doctor: most likely you will see either a registrar or junior doctor relatively often during your stay in hospital. Although the consultant is in overall charge, this doctor will be the one most closely involved with your recovery.

3. Nurses: during your time in hospital recovering from a stroke, the nurses on the ward will be a key part of your recovery. They will be responsible for administering any medication, observations and liaising with the doctors. Once home, you may also have involvement with the district nurse who may visit you at home if needed. 

4. Speech and Language Therapists: (often abbreviated to SALT), one of the common side effects of a severe stroke is difficulty with or even a complete loss of the ability to swallow and difficulties speaking. This is due to the stroke commonly affecting the facial and swallowing muscles. At this point you will have your swallow assessed by the SALT team and they will make reommendations as to what is safe to do with regards to eating and drinking. The speech and language therapists will also work with you to help you recover the ability to speak properly. After returning home or being discharged from hospital the SALT team may continue to visit you to work with you.

5. Occupational Therapists: as part of the therapy team the occupational therapists (OTs) will help you with recovering your ability to perform activities of daily living such as making a cup of tea, making breakfast, washing and bathing. This will usually be done by taking you to a kitchen area or wash area to practice these activities. On discharge from hospital the OTs may well visit your home to assess any equipment or adaptations that may be needed.

6. Physiotherapists: clearly physiotherapists will play a key role in your recovery both on the hospital ward and at home on discharge. The physiotherapists involved with your case will initially perform an assessment to establish what difficulties you are having and then will work daily with you to make a recovery. Whilst in hospital you are likely to be seen daily but on return home the frequency will depend upon resources in the community.

How Much Rehab Will I Get after my Stroke?

This again is not an easy question to answer especially once leaving hospital and will to no small extent come down to the level fo resources available. It wil also depend upon exactly how the stroke has affected you and if you are able to keep making progress. Whilts in hospital according to NICE guidelines you should reeive at least 45 minutes of therapy each day from each of the 3 disciplines of Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language and Physiotherapy. Obviously this is needs based and if you have no swallow or speech problems then you clearly won't see the SALT team! However it also depends upon what you are able to tolerate after your stroke as fatigue is usually a large problem and some patients after a stroke will simply not be able to tolerate 45 minutes of physiotherapy each day. 

Upon return home it is extremely difficult to determine how much input you will receive from NHS physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy after having a stroke in Sutton Coldfield. It very much comes down to how much demand there is and how you are recovering after your stroke. It is certainy at this point that our home visit physiotherapy service in Sutton Coldfield can really help with your recovery after a stroke as we are able to see patients extremely quickly after discharge from hospital and can supplement the stretched resources of the NHS physiotherapists in helping you recover from your stroke in Sutton Coldfield. 

What Resources Are There to Help Recover After a Stroke in Sutton Coldfield?

In this section I will try and signpost you to some key services that are available to help you after your stroke in Sutton Coldfield:

1. Your GP: yes I know this is obvious and is freely available by the NHS but your GP will be one of the most important people involved in your recovery as they act as gatekeepers and referrers for lots of other NHS services. So it is important to realise that after having a stroke you need to keep your GP informed of any changes or things you would like help with.

2. Stroke Club: meeting up with people who have been through similar experiences and being able to share stories and resources is vital to your recovery and in Sutton Coldfield there is a great stroke club for anyone to join. More details can be found here: 

3. Hydrotherapy: technically this is not in Sutton Coldfield and is actually in Walsall but it is such a good resource that I really have to include it. In fact I have previously written a whole blog on the subject of hydrotherapy (click here) and how much help it can be for someone after a stroke. Walsall at both Oak Park and the Brine Pool runs a fantastic community hydrotherapy scheme that is extremely good value for money with lots of different sessions running at various times. For more details click here: 

4. Seated Exercise Classes: After a stroke, mobilising and balance can be difficult which can make attending an exercise class difficult and intimidating. Seated exercise classes can be really helpful in these situations and many of my own stroke patients attend seated classes. A large range of classes can be found here: 

 

How Can ThreeSpires Physiotherapy Help with my Stroke in Sutton Coldfield?

We can help in a large number of ways and have a large number of testimonials available via our website, Facebook page or google plus page which clearly show how we have been able to help many patients after a stroke. Our chartered physiotherapists are all experienced with helping patients recover from a stroke and are able to provide a physiotherapy service at home in Sutton Coldfield to anyone who has had a stroke. Often we work alongside and in conjunction with NHS physiotherapists to maximise the possible recovery for patients and our physiotherapists are able to liaise directly with NHS staff in order to reduce the burden on families. Our physiotherapists are able to assess patients at home in Sutton Coldfield after a stroke (usually within a few days of contacting us) and then provide a management plan of how best to help with recovery after the stroke which may include further sessions of physiotherapy and an exercise program individualised to the patient. 

If you or anyone you know has had a stroke and lives in Sutton Coldfield then please get in touch to have a chat about how we might be able to help with recovery and physiotherapy. We can be contacted via email: enquiries@threespiresphysiotherapy.co.uk or phone: 07884281623