Regarding the duration of fatigue after stroke, acute fatigue can last up to 6 months, whereas the chronic type can persist in 40% of patients after 2 years. Another study reported fatigue to be still present in one-third of patients up to 6 years after stroke onset.
Fatigue may improve with time but it can also be persistent and some patients may never be completely free of it. Tasks that may have come easily before the stroke may be harder and therefore require more energy then they previously would.
Let your family know post-stroke fatigue can be overwhelming. Try to eat healthy and exercise to prevent other health problems that also can affect your energy level. Talk to your physical therapist to understand fitness, balance disorders, uncoordinated movement and walking related to fatigue.
Characteristics of post-stroke fatigue may include: overwhelming tiredness and lack of energy to perform daily activities; abnormal need for naps, rest, or extended sleep; more easily tired by daily activities than pre-stroke; unpredictable feelings of fatigue without apparent reason.
The most rapid recovery usually occurs during the first three to four months after a stroke, but some survivors continue to recover well into the first and second year after their stroke. Some signs point to physical therapy.
The physical impact of the stroke on your brain and body can trigger fatigue. In the early weeks and months after a stroke, your brain and body are healing. The rehabilitation process can involve trying to do things in a completely new way, or learning and doing exercises which can be very tiring.
After six months, improvements are possible but will be much slower. Most stroke patients reach a relatively steady state at this point. For some, this means a full recovery. Others will have ongoing impairments, also called chronic stroke disease.
Some people regain full use of their arm in the weeks after a stroke. Many others still have some weakness, pain, or other problems with their arm. You may continue to benefit from arm therapy. Your medical team can tailor your treatment plan to your needs.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a prevalent symptom among stroke survivors. This symptom is an independent risk factor for stroke and may reduce stroke survivors' quality of life, cognitive functioning, and daytime functional performance.
Even after surviving a stroke, you're not out of the woods, since having one makes it a lot more likely that you'll have another. In fact, of the 795,000 Americans who will have a first stroke this year, 23 percent will suffer a second stroke.
Rehabilitation can help
Rehabilitation therapy can also help you relearn basic skills and increase your strength, flexibility and endurance. Over time, if you follow your rehabilitation therapy, your physical and medical condition will improve, making fatigue less of an issue.
The rate of recovery is generally greatest in the weeks and months after a stroke. However, there is evidence that performance can improve even 12 to 18 months after a stroke.
Overall, it's important to understand that stroke recovery naturally has an ebb and flow. If you experience rapid, sudden worsening of stroke secondary effects, then it's time to seek medical attention immediately. But if changes are smaller, it could just be the natural process of recovery.
The most common types of disability after stroke are impaired speech, restricted physical abilities, weakness or paralysis of limbs on one side of the body, difficulty gripping or holding things, and a slowed ability to communicate.
In fact, recovery can continue for many years as long as the survivor continues with rehabilitation. Survivors should continue with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for as long as necessary to regain lost skills. It's also important to stay active at home between outpatient therapy sessions.
As with muscle weakness, changes in muscle tone happen when the area of your brain that controls your muscles is damaged. Spasticity affects up to a third of stroke survivors. It always occurs on the weaker side of your body and may make it difficult to move your limbs.
“We found that a stroke reduced a patient's life expectancy by five and a half years on average, compared with the general population,” Dr Peng said.
Recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, but others have long-term or lifelong disabilities.
Typically, medication needs to be given within three hours of when symptoms began. In some cases, that window can be extended to four and a half hours, or more.
The initial recovery following stroke is most likely due to decreased swelling of brain tissue, removal of toxins from the brain, and improvement in the circulation of blood in the brain. Cells damaged, but not beyond repair, will begin to heal and function more normally.
One year after a stroke and beyond
Some may be back to their old selves, while others are adjusting to some new limitations and continuing certain therapy techniques at home. But stroke recovery is ongoing. One way to continue the process is to take advantage of local stroke support groups.
Stroke recovery is different for every patient. Although some people with a mild stroke recover quickly, for most stroke survivors, recovery is a lifelong process.
It also appears that improved sleep efficiency during the acute and subacute phases of stroke is important for good short- and long-term recovery (Vock et al., 2002).