I contracted GBS in July of 2012. It started down my left arm and progressed to my legs and partially up my chest and a bit in my right arm as well. I was undiagnosed for about a month so I did not get any treatment. I have recovered full use of my legs and right arm. My left arm is another matter. I can fully use my left hand and can bend my elbow, but I cannot lift my left arm higher than chest height.
My question is, can I expect any further recovery after 18 months? My neurologist who had been very encouraging is suggesting that there may not be any more recovery after this time.
I really don't have an answer, but I seem to be about in the same shape. I was diagnosed on June 04, 2012. Spent 4 1/2 months in hospitals and rehabs. I was slowly making progress, but for the past 6 or more months it seems like I have gotten to a stand still. I too am wondering will this be the best I will ever be. If so, I can live with it, but I would like to make a fuller recovery so that I could walk much better. I still have numbness, or a tightness in my lower extremeties and especially my feet. This is where my GBS started with both feet feeling like they were asleep. I can walk albeit like a drunk. In my house, I don't use much assistance as I can reach out and touch something to steady myself. If I go out or am in a very open space, I use a cane or occasionally my walker for fear of falling. I keep my walker beside my be at night and use it when I get up to the bathroom. After sitting or lying dow for an hour or more, I can hardly walk when I first get up. I have to be very, very careful not to fall. I was told that it sometimes takes 2-3 years for a recovery. Well, it will be 2 years in June. I took PT for a year and now go to fitness therapy on my own as often as I want or as often as I can. I haven't been in the last month due to the holidays, etc. I also have a colostomy and this keeps me from doing things at times. I too wonder if this is the best I will get, but I keep praying for a full recovery. I can't complain as I am so much better than I was. I am also blessed that I am retired and dont have to go to work like some of you do. Don't know if this helped or not but just wanted you to know that you are not alone in this.
I see a lot of people view these discussions, but don't reply. I wish more would reply. It helps all of us to read your experiences with GBS.
I was lucky in that my Internist sent me to a neurologist who new what it was and got me in to the hospital quickly. It did not get into my lungs. That was three years ago. The first year progressed with therapy then I seemed to hit a wall. There has been very little change for the last two years. It seems to go up and down with no lasting change. I had 5 really good weeks at the end of the summer and I thought it might be over but it came back in September and has been pretty constant since then. I am retired and there is nothing going on I can't live with but I don't think I could work if I had to. I would like to know what happened this summer and how I could get back there.
I had my event roughly around the same time. I am fully recovered except for some slight issue/numbness with my right hand. I do have feelings of fatigue still but very rarely. I expect this to go away, but am not expecting the to recover further with my hand. Keep at it, I do hope further function returns for you.
I dont think you will cuz your arm is to far gone. You waited to long to get treatment. I still have trouble with my legs and i got gbs in 2003. But that doesnt mean you should give up. Anything can happen. You might wake up and feel like a new person