Early Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Flare: A Case Report

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune demyelinating disease primarily affecting the central nervous system. Relapsing NMOSD flares can result in severe functional decline, including paraplegia and vision loss. We present a 46-year-old woman admitted to an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) following a clinically suspected NMOSD flare triggered by aspiration pneumonia. During a two-week admission, the patient demonstrated significant improvement in activities of daily living (ADLs) and Section GG functional scores with a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program consisting of approximately three hours of therapy per day over five days. This case highlights the potential role of early, intensive inpatient rehabilitation following a clinically suspected NMOSD flare in optimizing neurologic recovery and functional outcomes. It may also provide a framework for applying stroke-based neurorehabilitation models that emphasize early intervention and activity-dependent neuroplasticity during neurologic recovery in patients with NMOSD.