Hello hoping someone can advise please? My husband has left sided weakness followig a stroke in December 2023. His left arm and hand are still a work in progress. He’s just noticed that he is having trouble extending his fingers and said it doesnt feel as sensitive. Is this normal to have set backs like this?
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I think it’s only safe to say “probably”
I posted this morning to say today I felt my middle two fingers on my affected hand responded! - I’m 3y11m post - Not a response in in movement but in some mental connection I can’t quite explain - that response was extension. Been able to flex them inward for some time - I just can’t/couldn’t move them back out
It would definitely be right talking to any physiotherapists or others that are in your care team but I dont expect them to have an answer that is usefull or comforting - just a shrug would be my expectation 
If he can’t move muscles consciously then the tendons muscles & possibly the nerves will be shortening because it limits range as much as muscle weakness - That needs to be combated and FES is a way to do that and so is passive movement by the other hand or somebody helping.
I’ve heard Nick Ward of Queen Square say that the ability to extend particularly the middle two fingers is an indicator of prognosis for the and then rehab.
Upper limb does tend to recover from shoulder to elbow to wrist and fingers - medical terminology is proximal to distal. Contractions rather than extension is generally easier. There’s anything like me when I can get muscles to respond to my requests all of them work not just the ones I need to move my arm the way I want to so turning off muscles is something I have to focus on and that may be part of his problem too¿
I don’t know about responded to Everything in your message and I’m getting tired so I’ll stop now but I hope I have said so far will help 
Caio
Simon
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I am almost 2 years post stroke with a pretty useless left hand and fingers! However today I managed to tie my shoelaces! Maybe not quite as tight as I would like but definitely tight enough! Next task is to hold a fork in that left hand and succeed in getting food into my mouth and not up my nose!
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It’s possible it is normal especially if he has been doing lots of exercises with it but if it is new for your husband it may be worth getting it checked out by the GP.
Best wishes
Ann
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Thank you all for responding. As he noticed the sudden reduction in function after 7 months of doing really well, I took him to A&E (yes I panicked). It resolved whilst waiting. 17 long uncomfortable hours later he was seen by a stroke nurse and had CT of the brain. Nothing new on the scan and the nurse said could have been a TIA but she didnt think it was because of how fast it resolved but said it could be decompression?? She has booked him for TIA clinic on Tuesday anyway to chat to the consultant. He’s completely wiped out after sitting for 17 hours. Where’s the urgency gone now when stroke is mentioned? Anyway i need to research decompression now.
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Hi @e
You did the right thing
I had three trips to a& e in the first year. And I spent probably 13 hours in a corridor each time. CT scans seem to be less useful than MRI because they can confirm something has but they can’t rule out something hasn’t happened.
I still have the things that sent me to A&e but we’ve become conditioned perhaps to not responding as much - that’s ultimately increased risk. I did go once this year it’s as well because I funny feeling was more funny than most normal funny feelings. I too got a referral to the TIA clinic which led to a meds review and a different GP in the practise who is much better - so a silver lining
Did I not mention the decompensations above? It seems not (I checked:) )!! if you search on here you’ll find the word use lots of times and it basically just means “one step back”. They’re common. A fact of stroke life. Often caused by fatigue/ stress tiredness etc. Some are temporary and others mark a twist or turn in our recovery journey.
I’m glad you both appear to be out of the woods for now
Caio
Simon
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Thank you @SimonInEdinburgh this is really good to know. We’d got to the 8 months post stroke and thought we were doing really well but these things happen and I’d rather have been sat 17 hours in hospital rather than worrying at home. Yes I think the silver lining here is Mark will see a consultant as he still hasn’t had a follow up following his discharge from rehab in February! Thank you again for your help and support.
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You’re welcome to the support that’s what We are all here for to take the support we need
Never put off going to A&e
But in time you will learn many visits will result in a shrug of the shoulders. The effects of acquired brain injury are just not well enough understood and too much is invisible to form many reliable diagnosis paths.
I’m glad you’ve made good progress progress always occurs with effort and sometimes without it. Setbacks always occur without effort and sometimes with it.
You will have read that “stroke recovery is a marathon not a sprint”. You may also have read that most recoveries are in fact acceptance and progress down a new path; the old path is closed.
the new one may share elements but is essentially different (for both of you) and there’s no less rich than the path you were on but in different ways - That probably have to be searched hard for.
If either or both of you ever feel you want to join those of us who witter on on Thursdays via zoom then please feel free Thus. from 1pm uk time on https://bit.ly/StrokeCafe
Caio
Simon
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Going to get checked is always the right thing to do. Hopefully at the TIA clinic they will do a few more tests…when I went recently i had an MRI & more bloods done.
Decompensation is common after a stroke but no-one tells you that. Hopefully that’s all it is but at least you will know for sure.
Best wishes
Ann
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So we attended the TIA clinic yesterday. They did lots of tests and concluded he didn’t have a TIA. He had a neck scan as he hadn’t had one whilst in hospital and it did show a blocked artery. Silver lining to us going was we got a few more answers, we got to see a consultant (he still hasn’t had a follow up since discharge in February) and they have a reanged a bubble echo as a final test. The Dr said it sounded like a spasm in his hand. I mentioned decompensation but he didn’t seem to know what that was. Mark said its probably because they desl with stroke and reasons for stroke rather than rehab and issues after. I dont know. Anyway it sounded more like decompensation than muscle spasm to me. Hopefully thats another blip dealt with for now. Thank you everyone
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Good to hear that he hadn’t had a TIA & that you got some answers to things you didn’t previously know. Are they going to do anything about the artery?
Hopefully it is just decompensation & that it doesn’t happen again.
Best wishes
Ann
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Thank you. They said they can’t do anything with the artery as its blocked but he said there are 4 and the others take over the job of the blocked one. I don’t fully understand it but hopefully we will see the consultant he was under the care of when he was in hospital for a follow up soon so we can find out more.
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Hi everyone I’m new to the community and am 2 yrs post stroke,I just wanted to share my thoughts on the blocked artery post with you. I also had a nearly blocked artery (90%) and was also told that we have 4 and the others will continue to do the job,I have now had an operation to clear the affected artery in the right side of the front of my neck, I don’t know if this would be possible for your husband I think it depends on other factors i.e. other health conditions,age ect. as it carries a high risk of having another stroke during the op but I was offered it after 6 months of deliberation among numerous vascular consultants because of my age (53) and because they couldn’t find any reason behind my stroke which is classed as undetermind . maybe this is something you could discuss with his consultant but as I said Its not suitable for everyone, but just want to share my story with you.
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Hello & welcome @Tracyjk
Thnx for sharing please keep it up
I hope your own recovery is proceeding well
Caio
Simon
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Thank you so much for sharing this. I will definitely ask the consultant when we have his follow up. Hope your recovering well.
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I am thank you 
I hope you get some answers to give you peace of mind
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I’m doing really well thank you 
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Hi @Tracyjk just popping by to welcome you to the community. Hope you are doing well following your stroke & thank you for sharing your experience.
Best wishes
Ann
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Thank you Ann I’m sure I’m going to find the forum really helpful 
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