try to engage her in the kinds of activities she usually enjoys
get her to take part in tasks in therapy
Clear rehab goals
focus on goals of getting home and back to doing the things she enjoys
Relaxation
encourage her to take part in relaxation therapy – likely to help since if she is tense and anxious that may exacerbate her headache
Education
ensure she understands that there is nothing sinister underlying her headache
reassure her that although rehab activities may increase her headache at the time this does not mean they are harmful
Involve her family in rehab
provide her family with information about headache after stroke
encourage them to work with her in rehab and in managing her pain
NuYu Hospital
Stroke Ward,
Weekly Team Meeting
Deirdre:
Doctor: Alert and oriented. Medically stable. Nil delirium or other infection. Slurred speech resolved.
Nurse: Nil swallow problem. Able to eat and drink independently. Frequent toilet requests (no urinary tract infection). Agitated during drug round – interrupting, shouting out.
Physiotherapist: Left sided weakness upper and lower limb. Requires two for transfers. Distractible during sessions – difficult to get to focus on task.
Occupational therapist: Unfocused during dressing practice. Frequently speaking about bizarre topics not related to therapy, struggles to concentrate.
Additional Information
The left side of the brain is most usually concerned with language production and understanding. Whereas the right side of the brain is more concerned with how people communicate.
Right hemisphere stroke can therefore impair how a patient may communicate and interact socially with others.
This often means patients with right hemisphere stroke are misunderstood and that communication situations can break down.
