intensive rehabs

[BenSM]

hi,

I’m 18+ months post abi/stroke. My lower limb is pretty much back and active (just slow).

my left arm and hand are purely there for visual but don’t do anything, well they do but it’s such a small amount .

my nhs community based physio has ended as it can’t just go on forever and I’m pretty self sufficient. I do pay for 2 private physio sessions a month. At a high fee.

I’m thinking I’d like a try at intensive rehab. Maybe a week, or longer, to just keep trying rehab.

has anyone got any thoughts or experiences of similar?

[skydivesurvivor]

ask go if anything available. I took part in NICE research study into brain injury. Watched a video for .5 hour and had to write what it was, place, date etc. spent a week in Hammersmith hospital to attend intense training. Kicked my brain back into memory, logic etc!! Made for more useful me?!

[BenSM in reply to skydivesurvivor]

There is a very interesting upper limb study happening near me currently however I’m excluded on a safety concern and can’t be changed. It’s a real shame as it looked promising too

[skydivesurvivor in reply to BenSM]

Have a friend who lost use of her arm after stroke. Went to clinic in north London had a long tight sleeve fitted & suddenly she could lift her arm!! Apparently we have 2 nervous systems?! Unfortunately she couldn’t fit sleeve alone, no family help so stopped wearing it?!! Tech far outcedes human ability it seems

[James1984]

I know there was a post not long ago about a type of machine that aids recovery. They can be hired from medical providers across the UK apparently. Try googling for the nearest one to you.

rehabphysiolondon.com/servi...

morrello.co.uk/hire/

I'll post some information on different recovery methods below:

"Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

An implantable device that stimulates the vagus nerve in the neck

Helps make new brain pathways during exercise

Can help regain use of an affected arm or hand

Sometimes called a "pacemaker for the brain"

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

A small machine that generates an electrical current that stimulates nerves in the skin

Can help prevent muscle atrophy and spasticity

Can promote neural network healing

Can help with pain management

Can be used to help stroke survivors recover motor skills

Other electrical stimulation techniques

Interferential current (IFC) is similar to TENS but uses a different frequency

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) sends an electrical current to make muscles contract and move

Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) includes transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

These techniques can help with pain management, muscle strengthening, and motor skill recovery."

[BenSM in reply to James1984]

Sorry, late to respond here thank you for such a thorough response.

I’m unable to utilise VNS,FES, tens or magnetic therapies due to an implanted defibrillator which rightly means safety over function; it’s a shame but we carry on

[123Lara]

Hi Ben, great to hear those improvements. Can I ask what happened and what the prognosis was please? My husband is 6 months post a big stroke on RHS and I’m keen to hear positive stories!!

He’s got extreme left side weakness and they’ve made a support for his left leg in the hope that he can eventually, with support of a quad stick, take a step with his right leg and ‘swing’ his left leg.

[BenSM in reply to 123Lara]

Hi Laura,

I had some thoroscopic (keyhole) cardiac surgery, during which a blood clot shifted from my heart to my brain, there is potential it could have been treated with a thrombectomy or clot busting drugs but took 8 hours for any hospital staff to notice despite the fact I couldn’t speak and wasn’t moving (I was fully aware I was having a neurological event but unable to express this)

I’m not sure I’m a positivity story. There’s a lot of trial and error plus determination required. I fairly quickly found a disabled gym group which got me time back in a gym which felt great, like a proper “me” activity saw real strength progress with that, strength leads to movement.

I had 10 months off work fully paid to really focus on rehab which was great and I needed that (but appreciate I was fortunate in my employer)

Don’t let your husband become reliant on the leg swing, it’ll ruin his hips long term. The hamstring to get knee flexi on back is very difficult to get back.

Best wishes for his recovery