When the blood-brain barrier is breached, all sorts of contaminants flood what was previously a very pure, highly protected, environment (in the brain and spine). The motor cortex is on the outside (dorsal portion of frontal lobe … Brodmann area 4), so it often experiences the brunt of this breach.; even white blood cells class as a contaminant (they usually do not cross the blood-brain barrier). After the stroke, the body works on clearing up that mess, and the motor functions may return. Of course they may not if those brain cells actually die.
“I think it’s a shame that the wealth of information here, the wealth of intellectual motivation, the wealth of exploration by us all is not being used to create better understanding within the medical profession of how to offer help or where to look for it outside of our immediate diagnosis.”
A belated response, Simon, but it raised something that has been on my mind for weeks. Most of us feel a bit adrift when we arrive home from hospital and desperately need support, education, practical strategies, etc. Our family and even, often, our GPs don’t have a lot of guidance to offer. Fortunately, this forum is a tremendous resource for everybody involved.
I wonder if some of the active people on this forum could put together leaflets or short pamphlets to provide some useful starting points:
FOR PATIENTS. You have just arrived home from hospital. What can do you to help your recovery in the coming weeks and months?
FOR FAMILY OR CARERS. Your loved one has just arrived home from hospital. What can you do to help them?
FOR GPs.
I know that there are a lot of complicated issues are. But if only 10% of patients and their carers ever get to read the material and then find their way to this forum then something valuable has been achieved. When it is stated from the beginning — This leaflet/pamphlet has been written by people who have experienced strokes and who want to share their experience and their knowledge — then it might have more authority and impact.
We might go even further and suggest a book with each chapter on specific topics written by someone who has survived a stroke.
Anyway, just an idea. There’s a readership out there!
What about 15.30 tomorrow afternoon? Feeling decidedly off-colour after 2 nights of less than 4 hours. Deep fatigue — legs and arms made of lead. So I might not be firing on all cylinders. Or any…
You could still be doing too much, too soon. And don’t forget healing burns up nutrients as well as fuel, so you might need more than you realise. In other words do you have sufficient carbs and proteins consumed to cover a walk in the park?
