Rehabilitation after a Stroke

A stroke is an acute brain disease caused by impaired blood circulation. The consequence is tissue death and deterioration of oxygen supply. It is a common cause of disability, especially in the elderly. Therefore, timely medical care and early rehabilitation can return the patient to his (her) usual life.

Foreign hospitals have specialized rehabilitation programs for stroke survivors. The main task is to choose the right medical center and immediately begin the necessary procedures.

The success of treatment after a stroke abroad largely depends on the promptness of the measures initiated. It is important to provide first aid as quickly as possible – within a few hours. A favorable prognosis and the absence of further complications depend on this. As a rule, it is provided at the place of residence. After that, you can use the services of foreign rehabilitation centers to begin treatment for the consequences of a stroke.

In many foreign clinics, treatment after a stroke abroad begins on the second day after a hemorrhage, simultaneously with drug therapy. Rehabilitologists believe that it is better to start restoring the body in the first 3 months.

You can’t go through rehabilitation on your own. For a full return of lost functions, the patient needs to be under the supervision of experienced specialists for at least a month. In addition, the clinics teach relatives various techniques that they can apply after returning home.

Rehabilitation after a stroke abroad takes on average from several months to a year. It is not necessary for this to be in the clinic all the time: after completing the initial course, it will be possible to return and extend the program.

Complications occur in all people who have had a hemorrhage. The difference is only in the nature of the damage and the severity. The primary task that foreign doctors solve is to stabilize the patient’s condition in order to prevent further complications, including re-hemorrhage. Next, a set of measures is taken to eliminate neurological disorders.

Treatment after a stroke abroad is carried out according to individual programs. Narrow-profile specialists are working on this: neurologists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation therapists, physical therapy trainers, psychologists, speech therapists, and others. The program is adjusted depending on the results of the patient’s recovery.

According to the National Stroke Association:

• 10% of patients – complete recovery;
• 30% have minor deviations;
• 40% have moderate or severe disorders.

Most of the patients who underwent stroke treatment abroad on time were able to restore the basic functions of the body. This allowed them not to depend on the help of others and to take care of themselves independently.

Stroke treatment abroad includes the following steps:

1. Post-stroke. It is carried out as soon as possible after a cerebral hemorrhage, even if the person is lying and there is no contact with him. The stage lasts up to 2-3 months. It includes communication with a rehabilitation specialist even if the patient does not respond to speech. This contributes to the restoration of concentration and the return of understanding of speech. Massage against bedsores and breathing exercises are carried out.
2. Early stroke. It lasts up to six months. A person can make small movements lying down. The work with a speech therapist on sensory disorders of speech functions and memory recovery are of great importance at this time. Massage, physiotherapy, passive kinesitherapy, and a specialized gymnastics to restore muscle tone are also carried out.
3. Late stroke. People with severe brain damage may need treatment after a stroke abroad for a period of six months to several years. Rehabilitation procedures are aimed at the maximum elimination of the remaining violations. They use drug therapy, classes with a speech therapist, a psychologist, and training on special simulators to restore motor functions.

After carrying out the basic rehabilitation procedures, it will be useful to regularly undergo spa treatment after a stroke abroad in specialized neurological centers. Most clinics are located in picturesque places and provide maximum comfort, which also has a healing effect on the body.

The main goal of rehabilitation after a stroke abroad is to restore as much as possible the lost skills of the musculoskeletal system and speech functions of the affected person.

The following methods of neurological rehabilitation after a stroke are most in demand abroad:

1. Physiotherapy. It is aimed at restoring motor functions, strengthening muscles, getting rid of paresis and paralysis. The program is made individually for each patient. It includes exercises for the development of fine motor skills, increasing the range of motion, strength training, and electrical muscle stimulation.
2. Occupational therapy. It aims to return patients to normal life. It consists of workouts with repetitive movements: self-care, cooking, driving, and others.
3. Speech and cognitive therapy. Classes with a speech therapist are a very important part of post-stroke rehabilitation. Speech therapy exercises help to restore memory and language skills and improve concentration. Speech therapy neural programs are also used.
4. Magnetic stimulation of the brain. Basis: the patient’s head is placed between electromagnetic coils that create electromagnetic flows. Stimulation of nerve cells contributes to the restoration of damaged areas of the brain. For the same purpose, rehabilitation specialists use exercises to normalize brain functions: art therapy, solving puzzles.
5. Snoezelen therapy. The patient is placed in a multi-sensory room that is equipped with stimuli to stimulate and activate specific areas of the brain. Various smells, sounds, images, and objects are used as stimuli. The technology is aimed at restoring sensory.
6. Mirror therapy. It is used for patients with unilateral paralysis. During this technology, the patient looks in the mirror and repeats the movements of the uninjured limb after the therapist. The method is aimed at the speedy recovery of the paralyzed side.
7. Robotic rehabilitation. This is a post-stroke treatment abroad, which involves training on simulators and contributes to the rapid, effective recovery of patients. Robotic devices include repetitive movements that help restore strength and function to diseased limbs. Among the advantages is the dosing of the load with a gradual increase. The most popular trainers:

• AMADEO system for hands;
• Lokomat is used to restore walking skills;
• Rewalk is a bionic exoskeleton for restoring lost functions of the musculoskeletal system, increasing muscle strength and expanding the range of motion.

8. Virtual reality. The technique is based on the use of video games, it allows the patient to interact in daily activities, simulated in real time.

Massage and drug therapy are also of great importance at all stages of treatment after a stroke abroad. The possibilities of alternative medicine along with traditional treatment are used in some clinics.

How long the patient will stay in the clinic, no doctor can say for sure. The duration depends on the state of the body, the timing of the visit to the hospital, and the response to treatment. Fast recovery happens only with minor damage. In other cases, it will take time. Therefore, it is better to immediately turn to professionals.

As a rule, doctors suggest medical procedures as long as they observe the rehabilitative potential in the patient, which is manifested in an improvement in the condition. The choice of procedures, as well as their volume, is determined for each person individually, based on the state of health and the degree of brain damage.                      

Approximate recovery time:

• with minimal violations – 2-3 months;
• with more significant ones – after 6 months the patient can already serve himself (herself), full recovery may take more than a year;
• in case of severe damage to body functions, partial elimination of damage will take 1-2 years.

In any case, to achieve the maximum effect, experts suggest starting treatment in a hospital. After returning home, the patient can undergo rehabilitation at home under the supervision of relatives.

Prices for a rehabilitation course after a stroke abroad can vary greatly, depending on the program and methodology.

The cost is influenced by various factors:

• health status after a stroke: patients with a greater degree of damage require a long rehabilitation process using many methods;
• at what stage the recovery course was started: the later the patient was taken to the clinic, the more procedures he will need;
• prices of the clinic largely depend on the devices on which the rehabilitation takes place and the level of comfort;
• skill level of medical staff: in foreign medical centers, the services of a qualified doctor with a scientific degree are much more expensive than usual;
• country where the clinic is located: stroke treatment in Turkey will be lower than in Israel, Spain, Switzerland, and South Korea.

The price of rehabilitation after a stroke abroad approximately starts at $8,000. Experts Medical coordinators will acquaint you in detail with the range of services in the most popular clinics and help you make the right price/quality decision for stroke treatment abroad.

Rehabilitation after a stroke abroad is a popular request at Experts Medical due to the prevalence of the disease. The company’s coordinators-physicians have studied the reviews of the clinics of patients who have successfully undergone stroke treatment abroad.

For recovery and rehabilitation after a stroke abroad, it is better to choose clinics that meet the following parameters:

• effective personalized methods;
• advanced equipment;
• professionalism of the medical staff;
• successful statistics;
• availability of conditions for patients in serious condition;
• favorable climate;
• optimal prices.

Experts Medical cooperates exclusively with proven certified clinics. All of the above conditions are met:

• Turkey – Nobel Rehabilitation Center, Liv Clinics Network, Memorial Hospitals Network, Medical Park Hospitals Network;
• Israel – Rambam Medical Center, Sheba Clinic, Hadassah Clinic, Paula;
• Spain – HM Hospitales clinic, Korochan clinic, Teknon Medical Center;
• Greece – Anagennisi medical and rehabilitation center in Thessaloniki, Evexia in Halkidiki;
• South Korea – Severance Clinic, Samsung Medical Center, and many others.

Patients from the CIS most often undergo recovery in clinics in Israel, South Korea, Turkey, and Spain. Everyone notes:

• no language barrier;
• attentive and friendly attitude of the staff;
• comfortable wards equipped to meet the needs of stroke survivors;
• mild climate and picturesque scenery.

92% of people who underwent treatment and recovery after a stroke abroad returned to a normal life.

You can read about the conditions for coming to a particular country on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where you plan to undergo a rehabilitation course. You will definitely need a passport.

Stroke treatment abroad is desirable to start as early as possible. You can save time and money if you immediately call Experts Medical coordinators. In the shortest possible time, they will help you choose a clinic, or an attending physician, taking into account the patient’s condition. If necessary, a preliminary online consultation will be arranged with the doctor. Experts Medical provides services for the preparation of medical documents, booking tickets, hotel rooms, and transfers. The patient, together with an escort, can undergo rehabilitation after a stroke abroad in the best clinics and sanatoriums in the world.