Introduction
A cerebral hemorrhage is a bleeding into the skull. This bleeding can occur between the meninges or in the brain tissue itself (intracerebral). The accumulation of blood in the head pushes the brain tissue away.
This pressure damages the nerve cells. Depending on the location of the bleeding, corresponding neurological dysfunctions occur. In the case of extensive bleeding, the effusion of blood must be surgically removed.
Despite surgery, however, the patient can die from the cerebral hemorrhage. The chances of recovery vary greatly from person to person. They depend on the patient’s age and general condition as well as the location and extent of the bleeding. Consequential damage is often left behind.
What kind of consequential damage can be expected after a cerebral hemorrhage?
The consequential damage to be expected after a cerebral hemorrhage depends on many factors. These include the type of cerebral hemorrhage and the extent of the bleeding. For example, did an operation have to be performed because a large hematoma caused by pressure on the brain tissue damaged the nerve cells?
This influences the subsequent damage. Small bleedings often remain without consequential damage. Large bleedings that have to be treated surgically often result in more extensive restrictions.
Which secondary damage is involved depends on the location of the hemorrhage; what function did the brain region in which the hemorrhage occurred have? Depending on the localization of the bleeding, paralysis, sensitivity disorders, visual disturbances and speech disorders may occur. Bleeding in the area of the cerebellum leads to coordination and movement disorders. If the nerve cells in the brain stem are damaged by a bleeding or the resulting increase in intracranial pressure, respiratory paralysis and death can be the consequences.
Which symptoms can be cured?
Which symptoms go away again, one cannot say so sweepingly. In principle, however, the following applies: If the nerve cells have been damaged by the brain hemorrhage in such a way that they die, a complete cure is rather unlikely, especially if many nerve cells have died. Sometimes the patient is lucky and the brain hemorrhage is quickly diagnosed and treated.
If the pressure on the nerve cells is relieved promptly by the operation before they are irreparably damaged, the chances of recovery are also better. Corresponding symptoms can regress. Of course, the extent of the damage is also decisive.
If, for example, the entire brain region responsible for movement on one side of the body is damaged, the patient will have permanent movement restrictions on the other side of the body. During rehabilitation, one can of course try to alleviate these symptoms through continuous and intensive training. Sometimes neighboring brain regions take over new tasks in this way. Unfortunately, however, in the case of extensive nerve cell damage, it is usually so that the consequential damage remains.
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