What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

GBS is a rare and serious condition of the peripheral nervous system. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks part of the nervous system. The exact cause of GBS is unknown, however most people develop the condition shortly after having a viral or bacterial infection.

Symptoms of Guillain-Barre Syndrome

The symptoms of GBS can develop quickly over a few hours. The muscle weakness often gets progressively worse within a few days or weeks.

The symptoms often start in your feet and hands before spreading to your arms and legs. The early symptoms are likely to be pain, tingling, numbness, progressive muscle weakness, co-ordination problems and unsteadiness.

The weakness usually affects both sides of your body and may get worse over a period of several days.

All cases are different but the symptoms may progress to include: temporary paralysis of the legs, arms and face, temporary paralysis of the respiratory muscles, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking and difficulty chewing or swallowing.

Treatment of Guillain Barre Syndrome

During the acute stages of GBS you will be treated in hospital, however once you have started to recover you will then be discharged from hospital to continue your rehabilitation at home.

Some people only take a few weeks to recover but for some people rehabilitation may take several months. Most people with GBS make a full recovery within a year.

Physiotherapy is aimed at restoring movement and function and reducing pain and muscle stiffness.

How can Neurocare Physiotherapy help me?

At Neurocare, we are all highly specialised in treating neurological conditions, so you can be confident that your physiotherapist will have the necessary experience to provide you with the specialist level of treatment which you deserve.