After a stroke

Antiplatelet and anticoagulants are blood thinners that help improve your blood flow―reducing your risk of stroke.

Cholesterol-lowering medicine improves recovery after an ischemic stroke and decreases the risk of having another stroke.

Talk with your primary care doctor or specialist neurologist to understand your medicine. Know their names, why you're taking them and what they look like. If you're having trouble paying for your medicine, ask for information regarding resources to help pay for your pills.

The Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System is intended to improve motor function in chronic ischemic stroke patients with moderate to severe arm impairment. Studies indicate VNS paired with therapy generates 2X to 3x more improvement in hand and arm function than traditional rehabilitation alone1.

Proven safe and effective, some patients report improvement in as little as two to three weeks. After the typical, in-clinic rehabilitation a few times a week for about six weeks, on-going at-home use can lead to greater improvement in arm/hand function.

Learn more about this amazing, award winning device and therapy.

1. _{Dawson et al. Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomized, blinded, pivotal, device trial. Lancet. 2021; 397 1545–1553.}

• From 18 to 80 years of age.
• Previously diagnosed with a unilateral (single side) chronic supratentorial ischemic stroke for six months or longer.
• Has impaired mobility in upper extremities.

Learn more about this amazing, award winning device and therapy.

1. _{Dawson et al. Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomized, blinded, pivotal, device trial. Lancet. 2021; 397 1545–1553.}

Millions of stroke survivors suffer from continued impairment in their hands and arms at three to six months following a stroke. This is often called a recovery plateau, which means their condition stops improving. At this point, the problem isn’t in the strength of the muscles but in the brain or the nerves. Research indicates that moving past the recovery plateau requires neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to form new neural pathways.1

VNS paired with therapy to treat stroke is designed to boost the brain’s neural activity to build lasting connections that continue to work even when the vagus nerve stimulator is not in use.

Here's how:

• Studies indicate VNS paired with therapy generates 2X to 3x more improvement in hand and arm function than traditional rehabilitation alone1. 
• First, a small device is implanted in the upper-chest region, just under the skin with two, small incisions in a same-day, outpatient procedure.
• After a short recovery time, the patient begins a specialized (6-week) rehabilitation program. During rehab, the therapist activates the device with a gentle pulse to stimulate the vagus nerve while the patient performs exercises or real-world tasks. This helps the brain strengthen or create new neural pathways.

Learn more about this amazing, award winning device and therapy.

1. _{Dawson et al. Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomized, blinded, pivotal, device trial. Lancet. 2021; 397 1545–1553.}

We evaluate each of our patients carefully to ensure VNS paired with therapy to treat stroke is the best next step on their journey to a better quality of life:

• Patient gets referred for initial screening - Patient can “self-refer” using the phone number below or have their primary care provider or neurologist refer patients to Corewell Health Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation to be evaluated for Paired VNS therapy. 
• Occupational therapy evaluation -  patient is evaluated on current hand and arm function to be a candidate for Paired VNS therapy. 
• Surgical consultation and scheduling – patient meets with the surgeon to determine if you are a good candidate for the implantation procedure.
• Occupational therapy sessions - starting 7-10 days post-op, patient must complete 18 sessions of therapy over a 6-week period ( 90-minute sessions, 3x/week). 

Learn more about this amazing, award winning device and therapy.

1. _{Dawson et al. Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomized, blinded, pivotal, device trial. Lancet. 2021; 397 1545–1553.}