Coronavirus patients are discovering that surviving their hospital stay could be just their first challenge.
As studies into the coronavirus continue, scientists are discovering lingering effects of COVID-19, including a loss of critical motor skills and the ability to walk.
Doctors at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona are witnessing these struggles firsthand, reporting that coronavirus patients can take months to recover. Judith Sanchez, chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the hospital, told Reuters she’s seen patients “who could not move an arm, a leg” and who couldn’t walk or speak after recovering from COVID-19.
“These can be neurological, respiratory, motor and psychological,” he said. “Many patients experience increased fear, anxiety, and post-ICU post-traumatic stress disorder. ”
While many patients here have spent weeks in intensive care, they have developed blood clots in their lungs that have subsequently caused strokes. Therefore, healthcare professionals monitor every headache imaginable from the time patients arrive at the hospital until they are discharged.
Many COVID patients here also suffered from inflammation in the brain — “it doesn’t let them think, they’re slow, they don’t remember things, they have memory loss,” Sanchez said.
Daniel Catey, 62, for example, spent 21 days in intensive care in an induced coma. He had several strokes.
“I couldn’t move the left side of my body (arm, leg) even a millimeter, and then I had several disorders in my right leg and also in my tailbone,” Catey told Reuters.
After receiving post-COVID rehabilitation in the hospital, he can now walk and communicate again.
Another survivor, 67-year-old Ramon Fite, is in rehab at the hospital, practicing his motor skills by rolling an exercise ball across a hospital bed and bouncing tennis balls back and forth with doctors.
“The truth is that I am very happy because initially, according to the doctor, recovery was expected in one year,” Fite told Reuters. “As I am a positive person, this already fills me with satisfaction. ”
Despite the demanding situations of facing the pandemic, Sánchez affirms that as patients improve, doctors get a boost.
In Spain, health officials flattened the curve, allowing medical experts to focus on the rehabilitation of its survivors. However, the Catalonia region, where Barcelona is located, is experiencing a new surge in cases that has forced officials to implement a new round of social distancing measures.
Meanwhile, in the United States cases continue and intensive care beds are filling up.
Coronavirus patients are finding that surviving their hospital remain would possibly be just their first challenge.
As studies into the coronavirus continue, scientists are discovering lingering effects of COVID-19, including a loss of critical motor skills and the ability to walk.
Doctors at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona are witnessing these struggles firsthand, reporting that coronavirus patients can take months to recover. Judith Sanchez, chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the hospital, told Reuters she’s seen patients “who could not move an arm, a leg” and who couldn’t walk or speak after recovering from COVID-19.
“These can be neurological, respiratory, motor and psychological,” he said. “Many patients increase fear, anxiety, and post-ICU post-traumatic stress disorder. “
While many patients here have spent weeks in intensive care, they have developed blood clots in their lungs that have subsequently caused strokes. Therefore, healthcare professionals monitor every headache imaginable from the time patients arrive at the hospital until they are discharged.
Many COVID patients here also suffered from inflammation in the brain — “it doesn’t let them think, they’re slow, they don’t remember things, they have memory loss,” Sanchez said.
Daniel Catey, 62, for example, spent 21 days in intensive care in an induced coma. He had several strokes.
“I was unable to move the left half of my body — arm, leg — even a millimeter, and then I had several ailments in my right leg and also in my coccyx,” Catey told Reuters.
After receiving post-COVID rehabilitation in the hospital, she is now able to walk and communicate again.
Another survivor, Ramon Fite, 67, is in rehabilitation at the hospital, practicing his motor skills by rolling an exercise ball on a hospital bed and bouncing tennis balls with doctors.
“The truth is that I am very happy because initially, according to the doctor, recovery was expected in one year,” Fite told Reuters. “As I am a positive person, this already fills me with satisfaction. ”
Despite the difficulties in dealing with the pandemic, Sanchez says as patients get better, medical staff get a boost.
In Spain, the government’s health flattened the curve, allowing medical experts to rehabilitate survivors. However, the Catalonia region, where Barcelona is located, is experiencing a new wave of cases that has forced the government to implement a new social distancing circular. measures.
Meanwhile, in the United States cases continue and intensive care beds are filling up.
Go to