Can you recover from a brain stem stroke?

A successful recovery depends on where the stroke happened in the brainstem. It also depends on how much damage occurred. Some people can recover between a few weeks to six months after treatment. Others with more significant damage may have trouble or more permanent disabilities.

What is a pons stroke?

A pontine cerebrovascular accident (also known as a pontine CVA or pontine stroke) is a type of ischemic stroke that affects the pons region of the brain stem. A pontine stroke can be particularly devastating and may lead to paralysis and the rare condition known as Locked-in Syndrome (LiS).

What causes a stroke in the back of your head?

Causes of Ischemic Stroke. An ischemic stroke typically results from blockage of an artery that supplies blood to the brain, most commonly a branch of one of the internal carotid arteries. As a result, brain cells are deprived of blood. Most brain cells die if they are deprived of blood for 4.5 hours.

What is the survival rate of brain stem stroke?

The follow-up period was from 4 to 99 months (median 46.5 months), during which a total of 39 patients had died. A life table analysis gave a 50% probability of a seven-year survival after the stroke.

Can a person live with brain stem damage?

When an accident causes brain stem damage, the affects can be devastating. In fact, destruction of the midbrain, pons, or medulla oblongata causes “brain death”, and the unfortunate victim of the injury cannot survive.

What does a stroke feel like in the brain?

Sometimes a stroke happens gradually, but you’re likely to have one or more sudden symptoms like these: Numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side. Confusion or trouble understanding other people. Difficulty speaking.

Can you recover from a pons stroke?

Pontine Stroke Recovery Time Typically, if the stroke was small, you can recover within about 6 months. If the stroke was massive, then recovery can take years.

Can a pons stroke heal?

Recovery from a pontine stroke is possible. If you have experienced a pontine stroke, once your symptoms stabilize over time, the focus of your recovery will be based on preventing complications such as choking and preventing further strokes from happening.

What type of stroke is a brainstem stroke?

Ischemic strokes are the most common type, accounting for 87 percent of all strokes. Around 10 percent of all ischemic strokes affect the brain stem. A transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a mini-stroke or a warning stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted briefly.

Can the brain stem repair itself?

The brain stem is home to the most basic life functions, and the resulting damage can be devastating. However, it is possible for a person with a brain stem injury to at least partially recover by using the brain’s natural plasticity.

Why are the Pons called the hindbrain in a stroke?

In scientific terms, the pons is sometimes known as the hindbrain, a name that is based on the location of the pons in relation to the rest of the brain during the development of the brain in the embryo (developing baby). A stroke involving the pons can be caused by either a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or a bleed (hemorrhagic stroke). 1 

How does a hemorrhagic stroke affect the brain?

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, reducing or halting the flow of blood to a region in the brain. Whether a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic, once the blood supply to a region of the brain is interrupted, brain cells begin to die, resulting in brain damage.

What are the symptoms of damage to the hindbrain?

Damage to the Hindbrain Symptoms or conditions associated with damage to the hindbrain depends on the structure which is damaged. Damage to the pons is associated with symptoms such as impaired breathing, sleep disturbances, loss of taste, loss of muscle function (except eye movement), and deafness.

Where is the hindbrain located in the brain?

The hindbrain is located at the lower back part of the brain and includes most of the brainstem (containing the medulla and pons), and the cerebellum.