Therapists Team Up, Beat the Odds to Help Stroke Patient
In December 2006, the Fall River resident underwent cardiac catheterization and stenting to relieve severe chest pain. Just one month later, he experienced a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), or stroke.
Anacleto’s CVA did not keep him from attending needed cardiac rehabilitation. However, when cardiopulmonary nurse Linda Paiva met with Anacleto, she did more than just help with heart-strengthening exercises. She gauged all of Anacleto’s trouble spots, recognizing that with the right therapy, he could regain greater independence and mobility than originally anticipated.
Meeting Patient Needs Through Teamwork
Improved odds for regaining strength and function sounded good to Anacleto. So Paiva became his champion, calling for support from other Mitchell specialists.For starters, Anacleto relied on a cane, and in his own words, “wasn’t walking very well.” Physical therapy helped him with balance. Paiva also noticed one side of Anacleto’s face was drooping and contacted speech therapy for exercises to increase muscle tone.
Then Paiva saw Anacleto had difficulty performing his more advanced cardiac exercises — the reason he came to Mitchell originally — because of an old work injury that left him with only his thumb on his left hand. “Occupational therapy customized a brace for Ed, and everyone coordinated their treatment schedules to make it easier for him to come to his different sessions,” Paiva said.
A Credit to Patient’s Effort, Skilled Care
Paiva says Anacleto’s amazing recovery is a credit to his own hard work. “He was willing to do whatever it took,” she said.Anacleto no longer needs a cane and has regained the use of his arm. He said the whole Mitchell team deserves credit, too. “It’s a terrific program,” he said. “The staff is personable and helpful. I know they’ll make sure I continue improving.”
