According to the American Heart Association, stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. Most survivors are able to recover enough to remain independent, although others become permanently disabled. Some survivors may require institutional care after a stroke.

In general, a more severe stroke will require more time in post-stroke rehabilitation to bring back as much of the patient’s functioning as possible. Changes in functioning that may be addressed in rehabilitation include:

• Confusion or dementia
  
  
• Difficulty swallowing/eating
  
  
• Drooping on one side of the face/mouth
  
  
• Lack of balance/coordination
  
  
• Paralysis on one side of the body
  
  
• Trouble controlling one’s bladder or bowels (incontinence)
  
  
• Trouble seeing or hearing clearly
  
  
• Trouble speaking clearly
  
  
• Weakness (e.g., being unable to make a strong fist with both hands)

Depression in both the patient and family members is also common after having a stroke. Increasing numbers of people are facing these post-stroke challenges as death rates from stroke drop and survival rates climb.

A small percentage of stroke survivors may experience pain in those areas that lost sensation following their stroke. The cause of this condition, called central poststroke pain, is unknown and can be difficult to treat. Several drugs are being studied to help relieve poststroke pain.