My Dad Had A Stroke Over Two Years Ago

[Jamilah]

My dad had a stroke over two years ago, and has been in a rehabilitation / nursing home ever since. He is unable to do anything for himself. So when he showed no signs of recovery in the first 51days the insurance dropped his rehab. Unfortunately my dad dose not have the best insurance. With all that being said do you think he has a chance of ever funictioning like a normal adult or close to, he's 53 years old.

[staallyboy]

I encourage you to visit Brainstroke.com a very informative website

[bigfoot1009]

My father had a stroke in June 2008.  After 3 months of therapy he was released because by Medicare guidelines he was not making suffiecent progress.  When he was released from therapy he was only able to stand with the therapist doing all the work.  She would hold him up and he would lay his head on her shoulder.  My family was not willing to give up.  We have continued to work with him on our own.  In the month and a half since his release we have him standing for up to 7 minutes at a time (we have had to help him with his balance) and this week he was able to stand up by himself with the use of a walker.  He is still completely paralyzed on his right side, but if we had given up with therapy he would be sitting in a wheelchair all the time.  I believe with continued work we will have him walking someday.  Just DON"T give up!

Dean recommended the book "The Mind and the Brain" to me also.  I read it (I did just skim parts that didn't really pertain to stroke) and was fascinated to learn about neuroplasticity.  I highly recommend that book also.

Just don't give up hope!!  God works wonders and I am still amazed each day at the things my dad has accomplished this far.  It takes a lot of work and patience, but it is well worth it!

[rmiraclep]

There is a God. never, NEVER give up HOPE. I am a testament to this!!!!!!

[oc1dean]

If he has cognitive ability you should be able to have him work on mental imagery and mirror-box therapy to start the neuroplastic changes he needs to recover. I am 52 and while I still have defects I am constantly working on them, currently 2 years 4 months out. Only he can do the therapy necessary to recover, passively sitting and waiting to get better will not help. Here are some books to read:
Books on neural plasticity
The mind and the Brain : neuroplasticity and the power of mental
force / Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Sharon Begley.
Train Your Mind, Change
Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to
Transform Ourselves by Sharon Begley
The brain that changes itself : stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science / Norman Doidge.
Stronger After Stroke by Peter Levine
What you really need is for an experinced stroke rehab doctor or experienced therapist to list out all the steps needed to recover, The key word here is experienced, meaning don't take the general reply that he will not recover. It also sounds like your dad could use enough therapy to at least get his ADL's working.
Dean.

[Xtra151]

strokes are usually caused by high blood pressure and i also read in an article it has something to do with the amount of salt in your food. the sal and food part sounds kind of funny but i think its true. i also know someone who had a stroke and couldnt move for a few months i think around about 15-15 months. one side of his body isnt still functioning as well as it used to but hes making slow and steady recovery. the guy who had the stroke takes daily walks and these walks actually help him, well thats what he says. i hope your dad will make a quick recovery cos you surely need him in your life. i myself think that your father can make a recovery, your story reminds of somehting i saw on tv about a girl who was in a coma for over 20 years, the Dr's gave up on her, thinking that she wouldnt recover but a years later she woke up feeling fine. A miracle. My advice to you is not to give up and try to help him. i aint no expert but i hope that i have helped you.