Stroke survivors suffer from debilitating muscle problems, pain and depression without knowing that these symptoms can appear months or even years after the first attack, doctors warn.
After discharge from the hospital, stroke patients typically receive a three-month care package that includes hospital visits and physical therapy, but are often “left to fend for themselves” after that, patient advocates say.
This means late-onset symptoms – including muscle stiffness called spasticity – are missed. If limbs are not treated quickly, they can be permanently deformed, so surgery may be the only option.
One in four patients are forced to stop working because of these complications and a third say their daily life is affected by pain and involuntary limb spasms, according to a study by drug maker Ipsen, which was exclusively shared with The Mail on Sunday on today’s World Stroke Day .
Stroke survivors experience debilitating muscle problems, pain and depression without realizing that these symptoms can appear months or even years after the first attack, doctors warn.
The survey found that one in three patients were not informed about possible problems that arise later in life, including fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression and incontinence.
More than 100,000 Britons have a stroke each year, usually as a result of a blood clot blocking the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.
If treatment is not given within a few hours, severe brain damage can occur, which can be fatal or cause severe disability.
The Government launched the Act FAST campaign in 2009 to encourage the public to call 999 if they notice symptoms of a stroke. The acronym stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time: facial paralysis or paralysis; a sudden inability to lift both arms; slurred speech; and that each of these things should be considered a medical emergency.
This resulted in an additional 38,000 stroke patients being admitted to hospital within a critical three-hour window in the first year alone.
And advances in drug and surgical treatment have halved the number of stroke deaths over the past two decades.
There are now 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK and according to Dr. More must be done now to help them. Ganesh Bavikatte, brain specialist at the Walton Center in Liverpool.
“Half of all patients who experience muscle stiffness and spasticity after a stroke develop it after three months or more, but are unaware that the two are related,” he said. “If it’s not treated quickly, surgery is the only option and we want to reach people before that happens.”
Clinical guidelines include eight to 12 weeks of physical therapy for people discharged from the hospital after a stroke.
And the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that patients be assessed to identify any current needs and receive tailored support “as long as it continues to help them achieve their treatment goals.”
But Donna King, a volunteer at the Stroke Association – and a stroke survivor herself – said: “I was treated for muscle stiffness when I got it later, but other people I spoke to were basically left to fend for themselves to take care of.” support.’
In the early stages, spasticity is treated with injections of muscle relaxant botulinum toxin, stretching exercises and physical therapy.
As well as spasticity, up to half of stroke survivors report fatigue after six months, and one in 10 suffer cognitive impairment – problems with memory, thinking and concentration – in the first few months – but this rises to 30 per cent after a year .
One in four patients is forced to stop working after a stroke
One in 10 also suffer from long-term emotional instability, while a third suffer from depression. Serious injuries from falls occur in three-quarters of patients within a year of discharge.
“We know that people don’t seek help for a lot of these things,” says Dr. Baboon cats. “And they are not recognized by patients or their caregivers and even by some doctors as late symptoms of a stroke.”
It’s a message that resonates with Wendy Lamin, who suffered a stroke while on holiday in Belgium 10 years ago. The married mother-of-two from Edinburgh said: “The initial care was fantastic and I came home with a list of treatments recommended by the Belgian neurologist but I was offered virtually nothing.”
“My local neurology team told me the damage was done, and that was basically it.”
After a year, Wendy suffered from tinnitus and resulting fatigue so badly that she had to give up her demanding job in financial consulting. She also suffered from frozen shoulders.
Despite known complications after a stroke, she adds: “I spoke to doctors, but no one told me that my symptoms were related to the stroke.” I ended up paying for physical therapy for my shoulders.
“I felt like I had to take control of my own recovery, which is amazing.” My life stopped after I had a stroke and I still suffer from fatigue. I’ve been lucky enough not to be paralyzed like some people, but I have short-term memory problems that get worse when I’m tired or stressed.
“The biggest thing for me was discovering the Stroke Association, who told me about Facebook support groups.” It’s the people I met there that really helped me. More needs to be done to help stroke survivors.”
- For information and advice visit Stroke.org.uk.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
