The main task of the rehabilitation process after neurosurgery is to restore lost functions that have occurred as a result of any disease, injury, or pathology. Since the brain controls almost all processes in the body, surgery on it can lead to completely different symptoms and consequences. Accordingly, higher cognitive functions may be impaired.:
- memory
- attention
- speech
- recognition and so on
In addition to problems with neurological functions, removal of a brain tumor can lead to motor disorders, from limb weakness to problems with pelvic organ function. During the postoperative period, a person may experience a deterioration in electrolyte metabolism if the tumor is located in the brain stem. In order to carry out comprehensive treatment and help the patient restore or compensate for the basic functions of the body, a multidisciplinary team works with him.
Features of rehabilitation
The head and supervisor of the specialist group is the attending physician. He coordinates the work and interaction between the team members, sets short-term and long-term rehabilitation tasks for colleagues, and monitors the implementation of the plan set for the team. The attending physician also prescribes drug therapy. At the same time, the specialist works not only with the underlying disease, but also with concomitant diseases (if any). In this case, it is important for the doctor to choose the right therapy so that the treatment does not interfere with the rehabilitation process.
The interdisciplinary team also includes a physical therapist. Due to impaired cerebral circulation due to surgical intervention, a person's limb mobility may deteriorate. Therefore, the physiotherapist helps the patient to restore motor functions so that he can return to self-care.
If it is not possible to fully restore the working capacity of the limbs, the doctor's goal is to compensate for this. For example, if, due to the removal of a brain tumor, it is not possible to fully restore the motor functions of the leg, orthoses or foot supports will be selected for a more comfortable movement for the patient.
Another important task of a physiotherapist is to increase the overall endurance of the body and re—learn how to move if a person is temporarily unable to do so due to weakness after neurosurgical treatment.
An occupational therapist also works with the patient during the recovery process. A doctor helps a person regain basic self-service skills. Often, with a brain tumor, due to limb weaknesses or cognitive impairments, problems may arise with various aspects of everyday life. A person may have difficulty eating, as well as washing, brushing teeth, buttoning, and so on. The occupational therapist helps the patient to restore these basic and more complex self—care skills, and if this is not possible, selects tools that will help compensate for the skills that have not been fully restored. These are, for example, devices for fastening buttons or for putting on shoes.
The interdisciplinary team also includes a speech therapist. The specialist works not only with speech disorders, but also with swallowing problems. The last point is especially important — if the basic swallowing process is disrupted, water or food can enter the respiratory tract, which can lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia. The speech therapist is responsible for speech recovery:
- expressive when a person speaks or writes himself
impressive, when there is a perception of other people's speech, as well as written speech and various sign systems.
A neuropsychologist also works with the patient in EMC clinics. The specialist deals with cognitive impairments and problems with memory, concentration and motivation. A neuropsychologist, like a speech therapist, helps to restore speech. The role of a specialist is also important when dealing with a person's emotional state — depression, post-stress disorders, and depression. In fact, the doctor conducts behavioral training. Without a good emotional background and the patient's desire, the efforts of a multidisciplinary team may not bring a positive result.
The nursing department plays an important role in the rehabilitation process. The staff spends a lot of time with the patient, develops a special approach in terms of care and communication. The highly qualified nurses at EMC clinics make them important members of the interdisciplinary team.
What is included in the program
The duration and composition of the program is determined by the attending physician. It all depends on the patient's condition and the nature of the motor and cognitive impairments.
To restore motor functions, EMC clinics provide physical therapy classes using special equipment, in the gym and in the pool. Specialists use a complex of the latest rehabilitation methods in their treatment.
The physiotherapist can include in the program:
- classes using the Bioness Vector robotic system, which relieves stress on the musculoskeletal system and eliminates the possibility of injury during recovery of walking skills
- magnetic therapy
- vibration massage on the device "Khivamat"
- interval hypoxytherapy on the ReOxy device to increase overall endurance
- mechanotherapy
- heat therapy.
To improve the physical and emotional state after the removal of the neoplasm, the EMC clinic has developed programs both in a multidisciplinary hospital and in outpatient treatment. In both cases, good medical care is provided. During the recovery process, consultations with more specialized specialists are possible, which allows you to competently plan therapy and select treatment methods. The attending physician is also in contact with the neurosurgeon who performed the operation.
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