Ischemic stroke: Recovery options 1 year out?

Posted by rafeeq765 @rafeeq765, Sep 21, 2020

my grand father(85 years old) had a severe ischemic stroke last year and doctors are afraid of doing surgery because the blood vessel is 80% blocked, his right side is fully paralyzed, doctors advised of taking only meditation and physiotherapy but he is not even recovering a bit and his condition is getting worse by every day is there any hope for us to get him recovered. if there any option please advise.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 21, 2020

Hi @rafeeq765, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Surgery does come with significant risks. It sounds like surgery may be too risky in your grandfather's case. I'm tagging fellow members, who may have some thoughts about options for recovery, like @beachgal8 @gr82balive @mayofeb2020 @predictable @lvon @captainmidnight and others.

Rafeeq, has your grandfather considered getting a second opinion? Is he currently doing physiotherapy (PT) and taking medication?

rafeeq765 | @rafeeq765 | Sep 21, 2020

Yes he is currently doing PT and taking medication through tube..but the condition is not improving...

rafeeq765 | @rafeeq765 | Sep 23, 2020

@beachgal8 @gr82balive @mayofeb2020 @predictable @lvon @captainmidnight

Martin Jensen, Volunteer Mentor | @predictable | Sep 23, 2020

In reply to @rafeeq765 "@beachgal8 @gr82balive @mayofeb2020 @predictable @lvon @captainmidnight" + (show)

Good morning, @rafeeq765. I'd give anything to provide insight on your grandfather's challenges ahead, but my own ischemic stroke was very different from and much less severe than his. I am under treatment for Atrial Fibrillation, and when my anticoagulation failed, a small clot that formed in my heart was sent north into my brain and caused a "small stroke." Its after-effects have not been severe and are being treated with physiotherapy at home. What's clear in my case is that my medical team gathered and focused on my symptoms, and as a result, they gave me a sound package of challenges. In three annual physicals since then (plus a hypertension emergency a year ago), no further symptoms caused by the stroke have been identified. To me, "recovery" means everything starting at total stability from just after the stroke all the way up to total resumption of activity as before the stroke, and I'm about 90 percent recovered on that ruler. My doctors have not pushed me farther toward maximum recovery, partly because my condition is limited only a little and partly because I have made steady progress toward being my former self. In our partnership, I'm only 20 percent of the membership, but allowed 50 percent of the decision-making. Can you foresee that kind of partnership between your grandfather and his medical team? Does he have a clear objective in mind for his recovery?