Mark Kirk details stroke recovery in video

(CBS News) After suffering from a stroke in January, Senator Mark Kirk, R-Ill., released a video Tuesday detailing his recovery and assuring his constituents that he "can't wait" to get back to work.

"Thanks to the doctors, nurses and professionals of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the RIC, I'm walking again, leading to my hope to climb the 45 steps that my staff counted from the parking lot to the Senate front door to fight for the people of Illinois," Kirk said in the video message.

Watch the video above.

Kirk suffered a stroke on January 21, 2012 and subsequently underwent three surgeries at Northwestern Memorial hospital. He has been undergoing what he described in the video as "intensive" physical therapy at the RIC since February, and last week was released to continue his treatment on an outpatient basis.

In the video, Kirk ribbed his rehabilitators for employing what he described as "some devious ways of making things more difficult on you" during physical therapy, but thanked "everyone" for their support and patience.

"I want to thank everyone especially for the patience they have given me to recover from a big stroke," he said. "I want to thank the people of Illinois for granting me the honor to represent them in the United States. I can't wait to go back to work."