What you should know about strokes & recovery

Dr. Stan Mathew, UnityPoint Health Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Medical Director.

Every day we take care of patients that have catastrophic diseases including massive strokes – they go from not being able to speak, walk, talk, or get dressed. Sudden symptoms of a stroke include: sudden onset of facial weakness, arm or leg weakness, changes in speech, visual deficits and blurred vision and headaches.
These symptoms that happen suddenly should make you think you need to go to an emergency room immediately. If you get to the emergency room quickly, the emergency room physician and a neurologist can evaluate you quickly – there are some lifesaving medications as well as procedures, which can make a huge difference in your outcome.
The brain continues to recover for about a year and with our rehabilitative team - including the physical, occupational, speech therapists and rehab nurses - we get them home and as independent as possible.