This is just my uninformed opinion so don't listen to me.
I answer like this on stroke forums.
It depends, but your medical staff has no clue on how to answer you. So here is my guideline, find out exactly what areas of your brain were in the bleed drainage area or penumbra. These should still be partially working, your neurologist should give you a map of what functions are in that area. Then get a map of what your dead brain looks like and the functions it supported. With a lot of hard work and neuroplasticity the damaged area can recover. The dead area is very problematic because you will need to move those functions to another area in your brain and no one can tell you how to do that. The 10% use of your brain is a myth, you do not have spare neurons lying around.
Waiting will not get you anywhere, recovery is extremely hard work that needs to continue until you die.
I hear you, but slightly disagree. Brain mapping functions for me were not true, but maybe because I had a lesion from birth, my brain decided to work differently from the start? My lesion bled for many years prior to my knowlege of it, and I think that has helped me. I think location is key to permanant deficits. Mine was right basal ganglia, corona radiata, internal capsule...destroyed. While I had many deficits immediately, my recovery has been amazing....and yes hard work!! A large part of my brain is dead, but most people would never know. I know my brain doesn't work as well as before, but it's always getting better. My physical problems resolved rather quickly, but my cognitive functions have progressed more slowly. My location is supposed to be mostly "motor" function so go figure. I think my location was also kinda "lucky". I would guess my left basal ganglia picked up most of my motor function. Just my guess. Location, location, location.
ReplyDeleteI guess. I am planning on working very hard for a very very long time.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I know that my brain also does not map to standard locations but doctors need to start somewhere. My complete upper body motor cortex is dead but my facial muscles work just fine. A researcher would have a field day mapping what functions I still have to locations.
ReplyDeleteDean