Guillain-Barré Syndrome

When the body's defences attack the nerves, often after an infection.

Please read this first

Fast-spreading weakness, or any trouble breathing or swallowing, needs emergency medical care straight away.

A short film of what happens — no sound needed.

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What's happening

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) happens when the immune system, by mistake, attacks the body's nerves — often a few weeks after a minor infection.

Weakness usually starts in the feet and climbs upward. In severe cases it can reach the breathing muscles.

The early phase needs hospital care. Recovery — where physiotherapy lives — is real, and often close to complete.

Most people recover strongly from GBS. The nerves heal slowly, and patient, steady work guides that recovery.

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GBS can come on fast. Rapidly spreading weakness needs urgent medical care — recovery work follows once you are stable.

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1In the early phase, we use gentle movement, good positioning and breathing care.
2As the nerves heal, we build strength back — without exhausting the recovering tissue.
3We retrain walking and stamina through the months-long recovery.
4We treat pain and pace tiredness as central parts of the plan.

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Early phase
Hospital care, then gentle movement and positioning as you stabilise.
The recovery months
Strength returns slowly from the body inward. Walking and stamina rebuild step by step.
Six to eighteen months
Most people make a strong recovery. Any lingering tiredness or weakness still responds to work.

Recovery is slow because nerves heal slowly — about a millimetre a day. That is biology, not poor effort. Most people get back to themselves.

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