Hand strength with relation to guillain barre syndrome?

hi i am four months past paraylisis with gbs and recently bought a hand strength tester, i am aware that i should at about 45kg strength when normal but at the moment am at 20kg with my right and 18kg with left, is this good and how quick can i expect power to return? does anyone have specific experience with gbs and fancy a chat? i am finding learning to walk and everything hard work?

Mum has had 2 minor attack of GBS and it took her a long time to make a full recovery, so keep going you will get there. My husband also works with a guy who had it when he was younger he +50 now, apart from a funny gait when he walks he's fine, so don't give up. Hope this helps you to keep going.

oh wow!! i hope everything turns out great for you.

Hi, Guillain-Barr茅 syndrome (GBS), is an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system (i.e. not the brain or spinal cord). It is also called acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis, acute idiopathic polyneuritis, French Polio and Landry's ascending paralysis.

The pathologic hallmark of the disease is loss of myelin in peripheral nerves due to an acute and progressive inflammation of unknown cause. It is suggested that it is an autoimmune disease, in which the sufferer's immune system is triggered into damaging the nerve covering. There is some support for this in that half of all cases occur soon after a microbial infection or respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. essentially the nerve covering, called the endoneurium, when damaged, results in loss in efficiency of nerve fibre conduction, resulting in various myopathies.

Extensive damage of myelin causes disturbances in peripheral nerve functions, which can be classified as:

a) motor (affecting the muscle)
b) sensory (affecting the skin)
c) autonomic (affecting the internal organs).

Therefore, patients usually show two or more of the following symptoms:
a) weakness (often symmetrical, in ascending fashion, leading to respiratory failure in one-third of cases)
b) decreased sensation (numbness, loss of position sense)
c) severe fluctuations in blood pressure
d) irregularities of heart rate
e) constipation
f) incontinence.
g) blurred vision
h) difficulty moving facial muscles
i) difficulty swallowing
j) drooling.

The classical symptoms are ascending weakness with abnormal sensations and then paralysis of the legs, arms, face and possibly breathing muscles.

Guillain-Barr茅 syndrome is rarely fatal but there is no direct cure and recovery may need care in an intensive care unit and can take years (although people can recover in a few weeks as well).

Following the acute phase, the patient needs rehabilitation to regain lost functions. This treatment will focus on improving ADL (activities of daily living) functions such as brushing teeth, washing and getting dressed. Depending on the local structuring on health care, there will be established a team of different therapists and nurses according to the patients needs. An occupational therapist can offer equipment (such as wheel chair and cutlery) to help the patient achieve ADL independence. A physio therapist would plan a progressive training programme, and guide the patient to correct, functional movement, avoiding harmful compensations which might have a negative effect in the long run. There would also be a doctor, nurse and perhaps a speech trainer involved, depending on the needs of the patient. This team contribute with their knowledge to guide the patient towards his goal, and it is important that all goals set by the separate teammembers are relevant for the patient's own priorities.

Approximately 80% of patients have a complete recovery and about 5-10% recover with severe disability. Sadly, 100% recovery of muscular strength is not achievable, and there will be residual sequelae to the disease even after physiotherapy. It is an uphill task to relearn the ADLs, but with physiotherapy and much rehabilitation, coupled with determination, im sure you will make it, good luck!!

Hope this helps. :D

sad to hear that ,keep doing what you are doing now. Good luck

hi ya tanx 4 the sweet coment earlier.
sorry to hear how hard things have been but you've come along way.do you do pyhsio therapy?you should try accupuncture,iv heard off friends thats done it that its brill.
keep up the good work : )

I am left handed and I know my lefthand is much stronger thant my right

Guillain-Barres Syndrome- infectious polyneuritis.
Please see the webpages for more details on Guillain-Barres syndrome.