Guillain-Barre Syndrome
What is it?
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a very rare and serious condition that affects the nerves. It is thought to be caused by a problem with the immune system whereby a person’s immune system will attack and damage their own nerves. It is not clear exactly why this happens but the condition often occurs after an infection. Symptoms often start in the hands and feet before spreading inward through the arms and legs. The first symptoms include numbness, pins and needles, muscle weakness, pain and problems with balance and co-ordination. These symptoms may continue to get worse over days or weeks before they slowly start to improve. In severe cases it may cause difficulty walking, moving, swallowing or breathing. Most people will recover from most of their symptoms within 6-12 months, however it can take several years to fully recover from the nerve damage caused.
Common Side Effects Include:
- Reduced mobility with varying degrees of immobility i.e needing a stick to walk or being wheelchair bound
Reduced arm or leg function with varying degrees of disability
Reduced balance leading to recurrent falls
Residual numbness, pain or pins and needles
Extreme fatigue
How Can We Help?
Cortex Physiotherapy will help you to move freely and live fully. Recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome is not time limited and may take several years to fully recover from. Cortex physiotherapy will help you shape and optimise your recovery. Where there has been too much damage to the nerves caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome there may not be any potential for recovery and our focus will then change to using what you have to achieve what you want. Cortex Physiotherapy will also provide treatment to manage your symptoms in order to optimise the quality of your life. Recovery, even when we are talking about compromise, is heavily dependent on the individual challenging themselves and committing themselves to the rehabilitation programme provided by Cortex Physiotherapy.
Potential for improvement is something that is very difficult to determine and each individual case will be different. Cortex Physiotherapy will always have an open and honest discussion about potential for improvement and this will be regularly monitored and discussed to ensure that you and your therapist are working as a team. You will receive a full neurological examination to determine where your individual problems lie, after this you and your therapist will have a discussion about what matters most to you. Your therapist will then tailor your treatment to your goals and your journey to the life you want begins.