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Understanding Stroke Online Manual

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Stroke care specialties:

Neurology ?
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Neurology
A neurologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats stroke and other problems involving the brain and nervous system.
Occupational medicine ?
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Occupational medicine
An occupational therapist will look at your ability to do everyday activities and help you regain as many daily living skills as possible.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation ?
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Physical medicine and rehabilitation
A physiatrist, a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, may lead your stroke recovery team.
Physical therapy ?
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Physical therapy
A physical therapist can treat problems with balance, coordination and strength you have after a stroke.
Speech therapy ?
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Speech therapy
A speech-language pathologist can help you regain language skills or teach you other ways to communicate after a stroke.

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Stroke treatment: Surgery

Sometimes a stroke patient has surgery. There are two types of surgeries.

Craniotomy

During a craniotomy (brain surgery), a neurosurgeon makes an opening in the skull to reach the brain. Depending on the situation, the neurosurgeon may perform one of the following:

  • Treatment of aneurysm: clipping: The neurosurgeon places a small clip on the blood vessel to seal off the blood flow to the aneurysm.
  • Treatment of life-threatening brain swelling: The neurosurgeon reduces pressure in the brain caused by bleeding. Surgery is rarely needed on patients who have non-bleeding (ischemic) strokes.

Carotid endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy (carotid artery surgery) is a surgery for people who have narrowed carotid arteries.

The surgeon cleans plaque (a fatty substance) out of the carotid artery. This can help prevent a stroke.

This surgery cannot be done on a totally blocked carotid artery.

 

 

Source: Allina Patient Education, Understanding Stroke: Information about Stroke and Recovery, third edition, ISBN 1-931876-13-4

First published: 02/01/2006
Last updated: 02/01/2006

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts

 

 

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