Because no typical GBS patient exists, there's no typical rehab stay. It depends on the severity of GBS and their progress. Certain patients, however, are known to have a poorer prognosis than others, says Dr. Marciniak. Nevertheless, statistics show that anywhere from 50 percent to 90 percent of patients eventually reach complete or nearly complete recovery. These statistics, however, may belie the severity of this disorder, suggests Dr. Schwartz.
Most patients survive and recover.
But most have residual side effects. These residual effects, which include fatigue and pain, probably occur because of axonal degeneration. How disabling these effects are is the topic of a recent study that measured fatigue severity in 83 patients who had suffered from GBS an average of five years. 9 About 80 percent of these patients experienced fatigue that was considered severe enough to interfere with their life, despite normal strength and only minor weakness. The study participants also noted that their fatigue didn't improve over time.