Stroke Rehabilitation on Long Island

stroke rehabilitation on Long Island

 

Having a stroke can happen to anyone at any time. And you may not know what is happening to you until it’s too late. Fortunately, strokes produce warning signs before the actual stroke occurs. It is extremely important to be aware of these signs when having a stroke. If you are seeking stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of Long Island will be able to assist you today.

What is a Stroke?

In order to recognize the signs of a stroke, you first need to know what a stroke is. A stroke occurs when the blood flow is cut off to an area of the brain. Since the brain cells are deprived of oxygen, the cells begin to die and the abilities controlled by the affected areas are lost. A stroke can occur in any part of the brain, so how a person is affected by a stroke can vary. For example, a minor stroke may only result in problems such as temporary weakness in the arm or leg; while a major stroke may cause the person to lose functionality in one or both sides of their body. Rehabilitation is important after experiencing a stroke in order to help gain back muscle control.

Consider Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of Long Island if you are looking for stroke rehabilitation on Long Island.

Warning Signs of a Stroke

Due to the fact that a stroke cuts off blood flow, getting treatment right away is essential to reducing your risk of developing brain damage or disability. An easy way to remember and recognize the signs of a stroke is to use the FAST test to check for symptoms:

  • Face: Smile in a mirror and see if one side of your face droops.
  • Arms: Raise both of your arms and check to see if one of your arms is dropping down.
  • Speech: Try to say short phrases and check for slurred or strange speech.
  • Time: If you or a loved one has any of these signs, call 911 immediately and write down the time the symptoms started.

How We Can Help

Having a stroke can be scary; however, knowing these warning signs can help reduce your risk of developing brain damage, or obtaining various disabilities. After a stroke, rehabilitation is important to help with any damage that the stroke may have caused. Contact Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of Long Island if you may need stroke rehabilitation on Long Island.     

Stroke Overview

Suffering from a deadly brain attack such as a stroke can be a traumatic enough experience in itself. But afterward, it’s imperative that you take the necessary steps in order to get your life back together and your health up to par. What’s so intimidating about strokes is that they can happen to just about anyone. They’ve become increasingly common, with nearly 795,000 people in the U.S. being affected by the attack. Typically, they occur when blood flow to a certain section of the brain is blocked.

This causes brain cells to lose oxygen, which can lead to loss of muscle control and even memory. If you’ve suffered a stroke, consider pursuing stroke rehabilitation on Long Island with Dr. Paulinder Rai at Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of Long Island. Fortunately, Dr. Rai specializes in stroke rehab and can help assist each of his patients throughout their recovery process.

A debilitating stroke can affect the ability to perform basic functions, such as walking, talking, eating and dressing.   Dr. Rai leads a team of specialists such as physical, occupational and speech therapists that work on training patients to relearn motor, cognitive, and speech skills.  Dr. Rai also offers botox for stroke patients through injection therapy to those who suffer from chronic muscle spasticity (muscle tightness) following a stroke.

Stroke Rehab: What To Expect?

Stroke recovery can be a long and arduous process, but the right rehab team can help ease your road to restoration. Obtaining rehab early on after the attack ordinarily leads to increased results. In fact, most rehabs initially begin as soon as the patient enters the hospital, only to be continued further upon release. After dismissal, stroke rehabilitation on Long Island can be found with Dr. Rai.

Overall, the goal of the process will be to keep the long-term effects in mind. Allowing the stroke survivor to gradually become as independent as they can help improve function in most areas. Often, the re-teaching of basic skills such as walking or eating will be established throughout the rehabilitation period. Your caregiver will also provide copious amounts of motivation and give the patient plenty of specialized attention and support.

Potential Training/Exercises

Regaining motor skill function through the use of muscle memory-based exercises can help the patient recover ordinary abilities they may have lost post-attack. Motor skill exercises may also provide improved coordination for patients who have trouble maintaining their balance. Mobility training may also be incorporated for balance, along with the ability to help the patient relearn how to walk properly.

Other forms of testing can include electromyography, which is a technique that evaluates the electrical activity that your skeletal muscles are currently able to produce. This can be an outstanding method for determining how far along you’ve come during your rehab. If you’re interested in pursuing stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, consider contacting Dr. Paulinder Rai for an appointment and consultation.

Strokes can be life-changing, but with hard work and a positive attitude, recovery is very much possible. That’s why it’s important to know what to expect on your road to recovery. You can find exceptional stroke rehabilitation on Long Island at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Long Island, and be on your way to recovery.

Effects of Stroke: Depending on what part of the brain the stroke affects, the body is impacted differently.

  • Right Brain: When the right brain is affected, the patient is prone to experience complications on the left side of the body (paralysis, vision problems).
  • Left Brain:  When the left brain is affected, the patient may experience issues primarily on the right side of the body
  • Brain Stem: It can affect both sides of the body and is typically more severe.
  • Any stroke: Can cause memory loss, balance problems, and speech impairment.

What you should know:

If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, it is important that you are aware of all possible symptoms that one may experience post-stroke. There are several things that you should be aware of in terms of recovery in order to maximize your rehabilitation process.

These include:

  • While many gains in recovery occur in the initial 3-4 months after the stroke, many gains can occur over the following 1-2 years.
  • Stroke survivors are at an elevated risk of suffering another stroke; therefore, prevention is crucial:
    • Consume healthy foods
    • Exercise to the extent of your ability
    • Do not smoke
  • Take precautionary measures to avoid post-stroke falls, and if one does happen, treat it seriously by seeking medical care.
  • Rehabilitation therapies are crucial to getting your pre-stroke abilities back in the time following a stroke.

How We Can Help:

If you or a loved one has recently suffered a stroke, you should immediately be seeking stroke rehabilitation. Our team at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specializes in stroke rehabilitation on Long Island and we will create a personalized treatment plan that focuses on restoring your overall health.

Our team includes highly skilled physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, all of whom are ready to assist you in setting and achieving your goals after your stroke.

Contact Us For Stroke Care Long Island:

If you or a loved one is seeking stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, don’t hesitate to contact us today to get started on the road to recovery.

Dr. Rai is a specialist in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He focuses on the health and well-being of the whole person, utilizing the body’s natural tendency towards health and repair to achieve higher levels of function and independence. He believes in the importance of strength and physical conditioning to maintain optimal health and to treat and prevent injury. He emphasizes that nutrition plays a vital role in the pursuit of a healthy body.  If you seek stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, contact Dr. Rai.

Dr. Rai treats patients as partners in health, and he practices a teaching model of medicine to help patients achieve their desired health and lifestyle goals.  His areas of expertise include sports medicine and non-surgical management of orthopedic injuries, limb loss rehabilitation, pain management, post-stroke rehabilitation, spasticity management, and wound care.

Dr. Paulinder S. Rai is a board-certified specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He practices in Brightwaters, NY where he cares for patients with various musculoskeletal impairments. He is a specialist in mobility and function. Through his understanding of human anatomy, fitness, health, and nutrition he brings quality to the life of each of his patients. His comprehensive approach to health and disease helps him partner with his patients to create effective treatment plans and restore function to those who have suffered from their ailments.

Dr. Rai completed undergraduate training at New York University, where he studied philosophy, then earned his Master’s degree in Public Health. He earned his medical degree from The New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. Since graduation, he has continued to serve as a leader of the academic medical community, completing his tenure as president of the New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, of which he is currently serving as treasurer.

Located on the beautiful south shore of Long Island, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Long Island, PLLC was founded to meet the needs of the eastern Long Island community. By offering a unique combination of vital services, combined with a patient-centered, holistic approach to medical science, deliver a truly remarkable, gold standard level of service.

Our goal is to relieve pain and suffering in every way, to improve function and human independence, and to strengthen our community by improving the health of individuals.   If you seek stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, contact Dr. Rai.

If you have suffered a stroke, it is very important to receive the best treatment possible afterward. Dealing with the impact of a stroke immediately is crucial to recovering properly. If you are seeking stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, contact us today for more information.

What are the effects of a stroke?

Strokes can have a wide range of effects depending on various factors such as the type of stroke, the severity, and the number of previous strokes a person has had before. Some common effects include:

  • Speech and language impairments
  • Hinderance to self-care ability
  • Weakness on one side of the body
  • Coordination and balance issues

Choosing the right rehab facility:

The care that a stroke survivor receives in the time period immediately following their stroke can vastly impact the quality of the rest of their lives. That’s why it’s essential to select the right rehab facility post-stroke. Here at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Long Island, our team of experienced healthcare professionals will work with you to set and achieve your recovery goals.

What you can do at home:

While visiting us is the best way to get you back to where you want to be post-stroke, there are lots of things that you can do at home to help speed up and strengthen your recovery process. These include:

  • Eat healthy foods to lower cholesterol and blood pressure
  • Exercise to the best of your ability
  • Limit stress
  • Maintain a positive attitude, it truly impacts your recovery success

Stroke rehabilitation therapies:

There are many therapies designed specifically to help you recover from your stroke as completely as possible. At our practice, our team consists of every therapy and specialty you may need to help you reach your stroke recovery goals. These therapies include:

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: supervises the team of therapists to come up with the right rehabilitation plan and helps evaluate whether the plan is working.

Physical Therapy: helps stroke patients with problems in moving and balance. Will be in charge of exercises that will help improve strength for walking, standing, and other activities.

Occupational Therapy: helps stroke patients learn strategies to conduct daily activities and tasks such as eating, bathing, writing, dressing, etc.

Speech Pathology: helps stroke patients relearn language skills like speaking and reading. It also teaches strategies to help with swallowing issues.

At Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of Long Island, our team works to create a fully customized treatment plan focused on improving the patient’s overall health and well-being. We provide stroke rehabilitation on Long Island and strive to maximize our patients’ quality of life.

Strokes can happen to anyone. If you’re looking for stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, do not hesitate to contact us today. We are here to help you reach the goals you strive for.

Botox For Stroke Patients

While we all may be familiar with Botox, we may not realize it has more than just cosmetic uses. There is a therapeutic form of Botox referred to as Botulinum toxin injection therapy, and it is very effective in helping stroke patients improve their muscle tone and reduce pain in the hands and arms, making it easier to perform daily activities. Researchers find that about 30% of stroke patients experience debilitating muscle tightness, a condition known as muscle spasticity. At Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Long Island, we are here to help put you on the right track to restoring your quality of life. If you are looking for stroke rehabilitation on Long Island, contact us today for more information on therapeutic botox.

What is Spasticity?

Damage to the brain can block messages between muscles and the brain causing arm and leg muscles to cramp or spasm (spasticity). This will limit your coordination and muscle movement. Spasticity can cause long periods of strong contractions in major muscle groups, causing painful muscle spasms. If not taken care of, post-stroke spasticity can result in disabling difficulties such as a contracture. Contracture is a condition that leaves the muscles and tendons permanently shortened. But if early action is taken, injecting botulinum toxin directly into the affected muscles can help very effectively.

How does therapeutic Botox help?

The poison inserted from the botulinum toxin blocks the release of acetylcouplecholine, which is a chemical that transmits the signal telling the muscles to contract. Not only can it reduce short-term muscle spasticity and pain after a stroke, but it’s long-term effects are very successful as well, providing even fewer side effects than certain oral drugs that cause effects like confusion, dizziness, and muscle weakness.

Botox for Stroke Recovery on Long Island

If you are interested in seeking stroke rehabilitation on Long Island and therapeutic Botox to help treat symptoms you are facing after suffering from a stroke, contact us today at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Long Island for more information. We are here to help improve your quality of life effectively and safely.

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Clinic Name
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of Long Island
Service Offered
Stroke Rehab
Area Served
Long Island