Strokes are an all-American scourge. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Strokes are one of the leading causes of long-term disabilities.
Yet you’re not helpless after a stroke. You can get effective stroke treatment as long as you study the effects of a stroke and look at treatment options. Start with the most prominent effects.
How can a stroke affect your body and mind? Who can you get treatment from, and what types of stroke therapies can you get? What are some of the long-term or permanent effects of a stroke?
Answer these questions and you can find your path ahead after a stroke. Here is your quick guide.
Paralysis
The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. After a stroke, some people are completely paralyzed on one side. They are not able to move their arm or leg, even if they can move their other arm or leg.
Other people have difficulty moving, but they can feel certain sensations. They may be able to feel hot or cold or feel objects on the tips of their fingers.
People can experience other problems like an inability to balance or coordinate their bodies. Strokes can confine people to wheelchairs or require them to use walkers.
Proper stroke treatment for paralysis requires physical therapy. Many patients learn how to move their limbs and coordinate their bodies, even if their brains have not completely healed.
Vision Problems
A stroke on the right side of the brain or in the cerebellum can cause vision problems. Some people are unable to see while others experience blurred vision or double vision. A person’s eyes may be fine, but their brain is unable to process the signals sent to it from the eyes.
Visual perceptual skills relate to how you pay attention to objects in your vision field. Even if you are able to see, you may not be able to focus on objects in front of you or notice things on the ground.
Visual perceptual problems can be hard to notice. But you should receive physical and occupational therapy for them as soon as an eye doctor evaluates you. Therapy can include solving puzzles and mazes, requiring you to follow where you are going and memorize visual cues.
Some people may have permanent vision problems. Yet they can receive glasses and surgery to correct issues with their eyes.
Memory Problems
Strokes in any part of the brain can cause memory loss. However, stroke survivors experience many different types of memory problems.
Many people are unable to remember events from before their strokes. Looking at photographs or talking to people may help them jog their memories, but they may not be able to recall things perfectly. Stroke survivors may be unable to remember what happened immediately before, during, and after their strokes.
Some stroke survivors may struggle to remember words. They may not know what certain words mean, and they may misuse words while they are talking because they mix the definitions of words up.
Other survivors struggle with following instructions. They may be told to do something, then they forget what to do.
30% of stroke survivors develop post-stroke dementia. In addition to memory loss, people with post-stroke dementia experience cognitive problems like confusion and difficulty making decisions.
Memory problems can be hard to treat. Playing memory games and adopting a routine with repetitive tasks can help. Yet some people experience permanent memory loss, even with proper stroke treatment.
Behavioral Changes
A stroke on the left side of the brain can cause someone to become cautious. They may find it difficult to make decisions. They may seem depressed, and personal obstacles can become overwhelming.
A stroke on the right side of the brain can cause an individual to become reckless. Someone may be quick to make decisions, which can result in rushes to judgment. Some people act inappropriately or show a lack of concern for their well-being.
Many stroke survivors become withdrawn. They may not want to interact with others, and they may find it hard to maintain conversations.
Speaking to a psychiatrist can help stroke survivors with changes in their mental health and personality. Grounding techniques like deep breathing can calm someone down and help them make good decisions.
Medical negligence is common with behavioral problems. Many doctors assume that the problems will pass or prioritize physical issues.
If your loved one’s behavioral changes are being ignored, you should speak to a mental health professional. You can also approach a personal injury lawyer with experience in negligence.
Issues With Bodily Functions
The brain stem is the part of the brain that controls essential functions like breathing and blood pressure. A stroke in the brain stem can cause significant stroke side effects.
Someone may have difficulty breathing. Their body temperature may rise and fall rapidly.
Many people with brain stem strokes develop comas or conditions like locked-in syndrome. Some people emerge from their comas, but they are unable to walk or breathe without devices.
Issues with bodily functions can surface after medical malpractice. Someone may receive surgery on the brain to remove a blood clot or reduce swelling. If the surgery goes wrong, part of the brain may be damaged.
It is extremely difficult to treat bodily function issues. Some people die due to alterations in their breathing, body temperature, or heart rate.
The Most Common Effects of a Stroke
You can experience many devastating effects of a stroke. Many people experience mobility issues, including paralysis, as well as memory issues. Physical and occupational therapy can help with both of these problems.
Behavioral changes and mental health conditions like depression are also common. Talking to a psychiatrist can be beneficial. But breathing and heart issues are hard to fix, and medical malpractice or negligence can occur with them.
Find medical professionals and lawyers who will get you the treatment you need. RHINO Lawyers serves Florida stroke survivors. Contact us today.
CONTACT A TAMPA Medical Malpractice ATTORNEY
In short, if you believe you’re a victim of medical malpractice, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your case.
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