Top

25

Doctor insights on: Brain Swelling After Stroke

Yes: This virtually always happens.

Yes, but few days: Brain swelling always follows death of brain tissue, and maximizes at about 24-36 hrs, and slowly dissipates over the next several days. Can be a far greater problem in the younger person, and not so severe in the elderly. The first few days are the crucial period. ...Read more

Size of stroke: The amount of swelling, or edema, around a stroke is related to the volume of tissue infarcted. For a small stroke, swelling shouldn't be a problem. For a major hemispheric stroke, swelling can be life threatening and even sometimes require brain surgery to relieve pressure caused by the swelling. ...Read more

Pontine stroke: Most of the oedema should now be resolved ...Read more

Days: When an ischemic stroke occurs, peak of brain swelling starts in 3-4 days after the stroke. It will last for several days and then subside slowly. ...Read more

Brain Edema: Brain usually develops swelling starting 3 days after stroke and peak 5 days and decreases in 7 days . Your brain can swell as a result of injury, illness, or other reasons. Brain swelling, though, can quickly cause serious problems -- including death. It's also usually more difficult to treat, because the bony skull doesn't let the brain to expand... ...Read more

3-5 days: Depending on the size of the initial stroke, 3-5 days is a fair "peak" period. Most danger is in the first week. ...Read more

About 3 weeks : Usually brain swelling subsides within 3 weeks or so. An infarction (non viable brain) from the stroke can cause coma if it is in the brain stem or midbrain. Cerebritis from infection can cause coma as well as demyelination which is relatively rare. Repeat imaging on MRI or CT scan might be helpful in tracking the specific region of the infarct, edema, atrophy and Encephalomalacia, or fluid. ...Read more

Hard to say: The pre-illness health, speed of recognition and early care all play into this status.The physicians at the bedside have a better access to the information needed to answer this question. ...Read more

Usually yes: The question from me is why do you have cerebral edema. Cerebral edema is of two types, vasogenic, leaky blood vessels permitting fluid to move from the vascular beds into the cerebral white matter, and cytotoxic edema, a response to cell death. There is a third type which is mixed cytotoxic/vasogenic, and is seen less frequently. Treatment: steroids/hypertonic salt, mannitol. ...Read more

Bleeding ...: Head trauma, intracranial bleeding, infection, blockage of cerebrospinal fluid, tumors, inflammation. ...Read more

See a neurologist: Brain swelling can manifest in different ways depending on the location and severity. You should first see a neurologist who can perform a detailed exam to detect for any neurological deficits that you might have. If your neurological exam is unremarkable and you don't have any preceding history that would suggest brain swelling, then there is no need for any further work-up to be performed. ...Read more

Depress CNS function: In general swelling of the brain leads to depression of central nervous system function. This leads to drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and headaches. With more severe swelling there can become focal neurologic symptoms depending on the type of herniation that occurs. I hope this helps. ...Read more

Yes: You can have nausea, vomiting, headache, visual problems, stiff or painful neck. ...Read more

Impossible to answer: There are so many variables i doubt that any of us here can give you specific reliable information. Brain swelling is serious, of course. What prompts the question? Perhaps you can be more specific in why you are asking this. ...Read more

Odd ?: How have they diagnosed this? This seems very odd, and not medically based. ...Read more

Get seen now: Brains don't "just swell" unless it's the result of a blow, especially a second blow. I would not be surprised if you are siimply hyperventilating. If you still believe you are seriously ill, phone your physician's office or otherwise get seen. Acute cerebral edema announces itself as headache, impairment of consciousness, and nausea / vomiting. ...Read more

Several: But the most typical and frequent one is herpes simplex, usually type 1. ...Read more

Brain tumors: No. Some brain tumors are benign (not cancers) and do not cause swelling. Meningiomas and adenomas of the pituitary gland are benign and rarely cause a defici ...Read more

Compare with bruise: The acute lesion swells over 24-36 hrs and resolves slowly over 2-3 weeks. However, resolution implies healing, and with encephalitis the process may not totally be stable, with ongoing inflammation mixed with areas of healing. May be looking at several months to resolve edema and perhaps up to 18 months for maximal improvement. ...Read more

Listen to MD: Brain swelling is an ominous sign, but after being checked by an md should point you in the right direction. Headaches by themselves should not be a reason to be concerned about cerebral swelling. Try to be optimistic , and listen to your md's recommendations. ...Read more

Strange question: Are you in an ICU? Have you had a stroke or hemorrhage or severe brain trauma or a tumor? Are you in a coma? Are you having seizures? Do you have hydrocephalus or herniation? If mannitol, hyperventilation, hypervolemic hemodilution or steroids don't work, they may have to call in a neurosurgeon to drill a hole in your head to decompress your brain. Or have I misunderstood your question? ...Read more

Cortical dysplasia: Cortical dysplasia refers to a malformation of brain, in which the nerve cells have not migrated to their normal location. It does not cause brain swelling unless during fetal life it is caused by infection during the time of neurons migrating to their normal location. ...Read more

Varies: Its variable but in about a week it should be back to normal, esprcially if. Coiled with steroids. ...Read more

Checklist for...: ...Possibly dangerous headaches: (1) "worst headache ever." (2) "headache woke me from sleep." (3) neurologic changes (double vision, weakness, numbness, tingling, memory or reasoning problems, clumsiness, etc.) (4) vomiting (though this can happen with migraine as well.). ...Read more