Neuroplasticity: re-wiring the brain

 I absolutely hate these polemics on neuroplasticity. It is just a way to blame the survivor for not recovering.  Until we get EXACT PROTOCOLS ON NEUROPLASTICITY, telling us this is pretty much worthless.

If you were to actually THINK about this you would realize that neuroplasticity is a total unknown, we don't know how to initiate it upon command. We know nothing about why a neuron gives up its job and takes on a neighboring neurons functionality.  It would make vastly more sense to stop the 5 causes of the neuronal cascade of death in the first week saving billions of neurons. But that would require your doctors and hospital to actually do the hard work of solving stroke. Much easier just to blame the patient.

Oops, I'm not playing by the polite rules of Dale Carnegie,  'How to Win Friends and Influence People'. 

Telling stroke medical persons they know nothing about stroke is a no-no even if it is true. 

Politeness will never solve anything in stroke. Yes, I'm a bomb thrower and proud of it. Someday a stroke 'leader' will ream me out for making them look bad by being truthful , I look forward to that day.

 The latest here:

 

Neuroplasticity: re-wiring the brain

Your brain is amazing! It has the ability to re-wire itself, allowing you to improve skills such as walking, talking and using your affected arm. This process is known as neuroplasticity. It begins after a stroke, and it can continue for years.

How does it happen?

Brain cells send messages around the brain. A stroke damages some of the connections inside the brain, and between the brain and the body. 

When you do rehabilitation activities, it encourages the brain to start making new connections in the healthy parts of the brain. Building up those connections makes your brain better at controlling your body, and lets you do more things you want to do. 

You can help this process by practising rehabilitation activities. There is no time limit on neuroplasticity, and it doesn’t only happen during therapy. Every time you take an extra step, say a new word, or do a hand exercise, it helps the brain make new connections.

What does this mean for recovery?

Every stroke is different. Not everyone can make a complete recovery, but many people make progress with their individual goals like getting stronger, more mobile or more independent. With the right support, many people can gain confidence, and find new ways of doing things.

When recovery seems to go backwards (decompensation)

When the brain ‘rewires’ itself, the new connections aren’t always as strong as the original ones. Sometimes, if you are tired, unwell or under stress, the new connections in the healing brain can struggle to keep up. 

This can lead to problems reappearing or getting a bit worse. For example, at the end of a long day, someone might drag their leg more than usual, or slur their speech.

This is known as decompensation. It can happen when your brain is working extra hard, and the signals inside the brain may be less strong. 

It’s temporary, and you should find that things soon improve. If they don’t, contact your therapist, stroke nurse or GP.

If you suddenly have more serious problems, or any new stroke symptoms appear, don’t wait to see if they get better. Call 999.