after a stroke but the improvement can go on for many years after the stroke stroke is one of the most costly medical diseases not just because it's expensive when somebody's in the hospital and they may be in the hospital for many days or even weeks with a stroke but it's because stroke can hit at any age and even though it's more common in older patients many people of a stroke are still working so when you're looking at not only the cost of the stroke itself but you're looking at the cost of the lost productivity permit from the person