There are three main ways we can help manage your stroke recovery and rehabilitation:
- Medication
- Education
- Therapy
Medication
A stroke is a significant medical emergency and you may well need to be on medication for the rest of your life to prevent another one. Following a stroke, you may have been prescribed aspirin or another antiplatelet to help prevent another clot forming. Other medication you could be prescribed includes anticoagulants, antihypertensives and statins, although the exact medication is determined on an individual basis.
Whatever medication you are prescribed, we will monitor its efficacy and make any changes required to ensure you continue to receive the greatest benefit. Effective medicine management can play an important role in stroke prevention and rehabilitation.
Education
Following a stroke, you will need to learn new things. This may involve re-learning physical movements and ‘function’ (this is defined as the ability to carry out everyday tasks) but you will also need to learn more about your health and your diet.
There are certain risk factors for a stroke, including high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and being overweight. Your risk of having another stroke in the future can often be reduced by making a few simple changes to your lifestyle and our healthcare professionals will spend time talking with you about these changes and showing you how to implement them in your daily life.
While meaningful change can take time and effort to become habit, the seriousness of a stroke emphasises the importance of continuing with these healthy changes long-term.
Therapy
A stroke can cause physical changes, ranging from mild to severe. Walking, movement and speech can all be affected, and you will need expert help to adapt and improve. This is where our expertise in stroke management can really help, as we have the capacity to provide expert help in every therapy.
Physiotherapists
Providing exercise guidance, education and support, the Circle physiotherapy team will be heavily involved in your stroke management. From helping to get you moving again to helping you to strengthen muscles weakened by the stroke, the physiotherapists will be with you every step of the way.
Occupational Therapists
Working closely with the physiotherapy team, our occupational therapy team will help you adjust to the effects of your stroke and then to restore as much function as possible for everyday living. Occupational therapists are also expert in assessing and improving cognitive function, alongside the psychology team.
Speech and Language Therapists
Able to provide expert help and guidance should you be experiencing any changes in your speech, your language or your ability to swallow. Roughly one third of people who experience a stroke will experience communication difficulties and our speech and language therapists play a vital role in your stroke management.
Psychologists
Input from a psychologist can be incredibly important after a stroke. Our neuropsychologist will discuss your thoughts and feelings and explore ways to manage these appropriately. Our psychologists can also help those who are experiencing cognitive problems, and this can be of real help in delivering effective stroke management.