This is likely in most neurological problems except the most minor. In slowly progressive disorders loss of function appears late since, subconsciously , the patient substitutes for each disability as it appears. In sudden disorders functional loss is dramatic, since the patient has suffered sudden physiological trauma which requires time for adjustment in addition to the physiological trauma associated with sudden disability. Many patients show rejection of the area most severely affected or at least disassociation from it and they manage as best they can with what is left.
Sometimes this is a necessity but there are occasions when such a drastic adjustment is detrimental to the ultimate result and should therefore be discouraged. Simple functions may be lost because of lack of balance reaction or postural fixation. The patient may not be able to move around in bed, transfer himself…
