Acute care for people who have just suffered a stroke often includes life-support equipment to supply oxygen, nutrients and medications. Unfortunately, there is no way to “cure” brain damage caused by a stroke. The main goal of acute care is to help the patient survive by preventing another stroke and taking care of any other medical problems. The doctor may prescribe drugs (anticoagulants) that decrease the blood’s clotting ability.

Most patients begin to spontaneously recover from their strokes, slowly regaining lost abilities. This process usually is fastest during the first few weeks, but patients may continue to improve for a long time.

The prognosis for every stroke patient is different, depending on where in the brain the stroke occurs, how much damage is sustained and the patient’s overall health. Some patients will make a complete or nearly complete recovery. Others are disabled through the loss or partial loss of speaking ability or memory, while others suffer permanent paralysis or weakness.

After a stroke, rehabilitation is vital to help the patient recover as quickly and completely as possible. Many decisions about which kind of rehabilitation program is necessary are made by the physician, family and patient before the patient is released from acute care. Rehabilitation programs and services commonly include physical, occupational and recreational therapy customized to each individual patient.

Treatments for stroke vary depending on the type of stroke, health of the patient and rehabilitation needs, etc. UT Medical Center’s Brain and Spine Institute offers many services and procedures to help stroke patients fully or partially recover from stroke damage.

Read more about stroke services at UT Medical Center.