Life after a Stroke
Rehabilitation can’t undo brain damage — but it can help you relearn how to make the best possible use of your body.
Recovery & Rehabilitation
The purpose of rehabilitation is to regain as much independence and confidence as possible. You might not be able to do exactly what you did before the stroke, as rehabilitation cannot cure damage to the brain — but it can help you relearn how to make the best possible use of your body.
Stroke can affect movement, the senses, feeding, emotions, other body functions, and energy levels. Rehabilitation should be personalised to the individual, and may involve a range of different professionals working together.
How much will I recover? This is probably the question most people want an answer to after a stroke, and it's very difficult to predict. Recovery depends on many factors — most importantly the extent and location of brain damage, and how quick and effective treatment was. You will get the best answer from the medical specialists who treated the stroke.
Early rehabilitation is very important, and the amount of recovery and progress someone makes in the first few weeks can be a valuable indicator of their long-term potential to recover. This is why starting rehabilitation as soon as possible after a stroke gives the best chance of regaining function.
Who's Involved
Recovery is rarely a one-person job — a range of professionals may be involved, depending on your needs.
Aphasia is a communication problem where your ability to use and understand language is affected. It results from damage to the language areas in your brain. If you have aphasia, you may have problems understanding others when they talk, expressing your thoughts into the right words, reading, or writing.
Download the Aphasia Handbook & GuideA guide for stroke patients on how people can be affected by a stroke, recovery, and adapting to life afterwards.
Download the bookletFind organisations offering rehabilitation services, support, and long-term stroke recovery care.
Browse the directoryWe're here to help you find the right support, whether that's a rehabilitation team, a support group, or simply someone to talk to.
