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 Editorial
Dear Readers,
Welcome to NeuroAiD's July 2008Newsletter. The idea of this monthly release, is to share vital information for stroke patients and their family, and helping them deal successfully with the common challenges life presents after a stroke. This month we pay more attention to treatment for muscle Spasticity After Stroke, and we are going to look at the difference and relation between a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and a stroke therefore how we can prevent recurrent accident. At last we will focus Self-Advocacy in Rehabilitation, which means active support in which you are the centre We want this to be more than a one-way communication, and would be most happy to hear back from you. What you have experienced and learned will be very valuable to others and we will make sure it reaches as many people in our community as possible. Do also let us know what topics you wish to read in future issues of your NeuroAiD's newsletter. We would like to assist you in your return to daily life while recovering from stroke. As you are probably already aware, making the best use of time is of vital importance in your stroke recovery. Therefore, please allow us to call you at a number, day and time of your convenience, to hear your questions and explain our answers. If you agree, kindly fill the table below:
Number:
If you choose to contact us yourself instead, call us on our US toll free number: 1-800-882-4046 / +65-6478-9430 or email us at: info@neuroaid.com.
The NeuroAiD™ Team at Moleac Spasticity after stroke
Depending on where it occurs, it can result in an arm being pressed against the chest, which can seriously interfere with the ability to perform daily activities such as dressing. One may also suffer from spasticity in the leg, which may cause a stiff knee or a pointed foot and curling of the toes that interferes with walking. It can also be accompanied by painful muscle. Spasticity is like a "wicked charley horse" Brain injury from stroke sometimes causes muscles to involuntarily contract (shorten or flex) when trying to move limbs, creating stiffness and tightness. Several tests can help confirm the diagnosis. These tests would evaluate your arm and leg movements, muscular activity, passive and active range of motion, and ability to perform self-care activities. Healthcare providers will therefore consider the severity of spasticity, overall health, and other factors to prescribe an appropriate treatment plan for an individual. This treatment is often a combination of therapy and medicine, including:
Physical exercise and stretching Stretching helps you to maintain the full range of motion and helps you to prevent permanent muscle shortening.
Braces Braces can help you to hold a muscle in a normal position to keep it from contracting.
Oral Medications Several oral medications are available that can help relax the nerves so that they do not send a continuous message to the muscles to contract. NeuroAiD™ has been shown to reduce muscle spasticity in stroke patients.
Intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB) It consists of long-term delivery of baclofen to the intrathecal space. This treatment can be very effective for patients with severe spasticity, particularly for whose conditions are not sufficiently managed by oral baclofen and other oral medications. A small pump is surgically implanted which supplies baclofen to the spinal chord.
Injection Some medications can be injected to block nerves and help relieve spasticity in a particular muscle group, like botulinum toxin (BOTOX etc.) or phenol. This treatment weakens or paralyses the overactive muscle. Side effects are minimized, but you may feel sore where injected.
Surgery This is the last option to treat spasticity. It can be done on the brain or the muscles and joints. Surgery may block pain and restore some movements.
Talk with your doctor about the treatments that may be most effective for you. Every individual responds differently to the various treatments. To know more, read the testimonial of Tom Schneider and Derell Schooley and discover how NeuroAiD™ helped them to reduce the spasticity on http://www.neuroaid.com/testim.php Meanwhile, mild exercises which should be undertaken everyday can take the form of a short walk or a simple activity like sweeping the floor. Sources:National Stroke Sssociation WebMD American Stroke Association Movement Disorder Virtual University Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)
Transient Ischemic attacks (TIAs) are also called “mini strokes”. As we know, a completed stroke is caused by irreversible brain injury secondary to the interruption of blood flow. In contrast, a TIA is a temporary focal neurologic deficit caused by the brief interruption of local cerebral blood flow in less than 24hours. Stoke prevention is crucial for those who have had TIAs: they don’t cause permanent disability, but they can be very serious warning signs of an impending stroke. A number of studies have shown that TIAs carry a significant short-term risk of stroke, especially in the first few days. A 6-point score, based on age, blood pressure, clinical features and duration (ABCD) was shown to effectively stratify the short-term risk of stroke after a TIA. One can calculate the ABCD score like this:
Don’t wait for the symptoms to go away, because nobody can tell whether it is a stroke or a TIA. The goal of TIAs management is to prevent a future stroke. The treatment used depends on the exact cause of the TIAs. In addition to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, doctors may recommend drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease. These changes may reduce the risk of further Stroke. Sources: Stroke Journal Stroke Org Uk Journal Watch |
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Advocate – Ourselves!
Self-advocacy is a key of being a "Stroke Survivor". After a stroke, there is rarely any complete "going back". Recovery is a lifelong journey. While the road to recovery almost always takes more time and efforts than anticipated, there are things one can do to make the journey easier to travel. The definition of advocacy is "active support", especially the act of pleading or arguing for something. In this case it is for the patient himself, for his own well-being. To be a self-advocate is definitely to be a supporter, believer, encourager, and activist of and for oneself. Patients should state their needs in a clear, specific and firm ways, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Suffering a stroke is often an overpowering experience, which takes from survivors a sense of control, both over their physical and mental health and well being. Self-advocacy is important, because it is a way of empowering oneself; that allows patients to personally take responsibility in making the most of their recovery from stroke. Patients have to identify and explain what they want and need, which can directly impact their own quality of life.
As one advocates oneself, education is critical. Gather information to help understand what has happened and what to do next. Learn about stroke, the disabilities, and what treatment options are available. Books, pamphlets and fact sheets are quite good resources for getting this information. Watching informational videos, CD-ROMs or DVDs are excellent methods too if patients and family want to know more. You can surely find these resources on some online bookstores like Amazon. Meanwhile, browsing the web or having a friend or family member to do it for you stays the easiest way, as many sites give quite good and useful information, like www.strokeassociation.org, or www.mystroke.org. Besides this, attending a workshop, seminar or talk allows the family to get directly in contact with experts; otherwise you can talk to a social worker, case manager or community resource specialist.
Sources: "After my stroke in June 2007, my left side was paralyzed. Thanks to NeuroAiD™, now I can walk, I started regaining my strength in less than 2 months and I feel a lot better" - Abdelkader (Algeria)  
Get Personalized Advice We are serious about making our communication with you as personal as possible. You can submit your contact details using our form here. Or talk directly to our Customer Care at: 1 800 882 4046 (US Toll Free)
or +65 6478 9434 |
After suffering a stroke, many people experience post-stroke spasticity, which is a muscle control disorder that is characterized by tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. It impairs not only the mobility, but also impacts the life of their family and caregivers.
First step, you may ask yourself or ask your dear one what you/he can do to prevent another stroke. Take the steps necessary as prescribed by the doctor. This includes things such as monitoring blood pressure, finding out cholesterol numbers and working to control them, quitting smoking
It is vital to seek out and listen to those individuals who are familiar with or specialized in stroke rehabilitation. This includes not only the healthcare team but also other stroke survivors and their family. Ask questions, stay positive, and stay in the course!
©2007 Moleac. All right reserved.