Duration of a cerebellar infarction

The duration of a cerebellar infarction varies from case to case. It depends largely on the healing process. The stroke itself lasts only a few seconds – but the symptoms can last from a few hours to several months.

There is also the possibility that serious infarcts with high cell death may result in permanent damage. To keep the duration of the symptoms as short as possible, immediate treatment is essential. The earlier an existing occlusion can be treated, the higher are the chances of a speedy recovery.

Patients often begin a long healing process after acute treatment, during which they often have to relearn basic skills such as walking or speaking. Especially in the case of a cerebellar infarction, practicing the coordination of movements is important. Regular training of the limited abilities can greatly shorten the duration of the effects of the disease.

Cerebellar infarction of the left side

If the cerebellar infarction takes place on the left side, it mainly leads to disorders of the affected half of the body, but these are usually not as severe as in a cerebral cortex infarction. Some nerve tracts that connect the cerebellum with other areas cross over to the opposite side during their course. For example, the fibers that play a key role in controlling voluntary motor activity – the consciously controlled movement.

Since the motor nerves (motor nerves) cross again on their way to the muscle, the disturbances occur on the side of the infarct. The result is restricted mobility in the left half of the body. Not only the fibers leading out of the cerebellum are affected, but also those running into the cerebellum.

Therefore, sensory and coordination disorders occur on the same or left side. Actually, the nerve fibers that carry signals from the extremities and the rest of the body into the cerebellum for processing are intact. Unfortunately, no information reaches the system through the infarction focus.

The consequence is a lack of coordination with the already mentioned symptoms of the affected side. If speech is conspicuous in the clinical picture, the location of the infarction cannot be determined exactly. Only the characteristic restriction of movement and the coordination disorder, in combination with imaging techniques, makes an exact diagnosis possible.