Next month it will 6 month’s since my stroke, so I would love it if anyone would like to share the improvements you have made, or if you ‘plataued’, how did you get past it?
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I’m on 4 years and still improving, the biggest pivot i made was with a pt instructor for my wife and I which we attend together.. on the leg press we are both up to 70kg, romanian dead lift various arm lifts/presses/pulls around 50kg.. my flappy leg, that we like to joke as the ministry of silly walks is increasingly looking normal follow through on each step.. my wife and I generaly aim for between 7k-15k steps.. after 4 years the change in walking is [perhaps the most dramatic improvemwent post the imediate improvements that come in the first few months..
its hard not to get bogged down and miss all the little improvements that then mount up to something huge..
best of luck on journey
Nicky <3
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I believe that the journey is never ending.
Use a ‘plateau’ as a jumping off point, after a break, for moving ever onward.
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Improvements can be made long past 6 months if you keep working at it. Plateaus can happen but just use them as a launch to the next stage.
I am 3 1/2 years on & still see little Improvements. My cognitive ability has definitely kept improving although still not where I’d like it. My balance kept improving beyond 6 months too.
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I’m 2¾ yr past stroke - I started improving at the 6 month mark. Since then, I find progress comes unevenly - in spurts. And that’s mostly to do with when I notice it.
Good luck, Roland
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Honestly, I’m fine with no further physical improvement (although obviously I want to be as physically fit as possible) but I desperately need my mental health/emotionalregulation to improve as it’s becoming unbearable.
When I first had my stroke, I don’t know if post stroke euphoria is a thing, but mentally I was still ‘me’ and I was excited about re-adjusting the plans I had made to factor in my new physical limitations, but now that’s all gone.
Honestly, if I had seen zero physical improvement but kept the frame of mind I was in, that would have been fine with me.
Never mind, only 10 weeks to wait for the neuropsychology team!
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I hear you. I too can live with limited mobility and just want to be “me”. It’ll come in time…be patient , be kind to yourself.
10 weeks will soon go if the 1st half of the year is anything to go by.
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That’s what I’m holding onto. It’s just so mentally exhausting to have at least one meltdown a day. 
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I had my stroke Oct23 and as ‘pando’ says my improvements also seem to come in spurts. I don’t consider this as plateau but having a rest on a step up. Like everyone else I was devastated by the stroke thinking at my age this was the end. But with support from my rehab team I realised that a lot of the improvement would come by my own effort. I was mindful of my own limitations and factored them into my recovery plan. There are things I still can’t do, but as far as possible I give it a go. For instance, only on Monday this week, I went into our local town on my own, on the bus. My sense of achievement was euphoric. I’ve learned a lot of things on the site and one was to take each task completed, as a step forward into our recovery. I stopped giving myself a time limit; when it could or should happen… it will happen! We will all share with you any of your ‘happens’. Best wishes Norma
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How do you love it? All these responses each telling you of what was achieved and how long it took. Also, plateaus are just rest stops before you move onto the next stage of your recovery 
You are coming up to six months which is a relatively short period of time and of course each of have our own rates of recovery and our own ways of coping.
You are doing really well !! Keep going
Ten weeks will fly by and after your consultation with the neuropsychology team you will be able to revise your recovery plan as needed.
Wishing you all the best.
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Today has been particularly tough and the responses and encouragement are keeping me going. 
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Your YouTube channel is really helpful! Also the one that was mentioned last week run by the American OT (who’s name escapes me at the moment). 
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Not sure who American OT is,
But, thank you kindly, ciao Roland
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Do you mean Tara Tobias? Her channel (Rehab HQ) kept me going through lockdown.
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Yes! That’s the one! 
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My husband is 6months and 20 days. He’s still in hospital…it’s an ongoing saga 
, but today he worked on his transfer skills. He couldn’t work on standing as there was only one physio available. However he is now considered to be no longer ‘chronic’.
He came into the community hospital 4 months ago with almost no movement in his left arm and right leg. Now I’d say he is 75% back to normal though there is still some work to do.
He is a left-handed artist and so the loss of his left arm and hand was a blow. However he has begun to draw again and can now sign his name. He beat me at arm wrestling with his bad arm a few days back! 
Don’t give up! We were told that Ken had plateaued and that he had non-functional legs and would always have to be moved by hoist. He can now transfer along the bed…not easy as its the inflating type of mattress which dips and inflates as he moves along, and he can stand using a stand-aid for over a minute.
Determination, practice, blood, sweat and tears pays results
Keep positive, the brain is an amazing organ.
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@HelenS i am so happy to read of Ken’s progress. If just goes to show what can be achieved even if the medics have siad it is unlikely. I think a lot of it is in ourselves and there is nothing like being determined to prove them wrong.
Reading your update has made my day. I bet you are so proud of him and you should be proud of yourself too.
Ann
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I came from hospital, in a wheel chair, learned to perform a transfer from bed to wheelchair to commode and slowly, slowly progressed. At the time not much seemed to happen apart from bruises from frequent visits to the floor.
(My blog tells the story, but there is still far to go)
Three years on I drive my own car, get about on a mini scooter, and still sit here for hours at this laptop. My latest milestone was a solo visit to the supermarket where everyone was very accommodating.
I won’t be doing any long distance walks or taking part in marathons but I have done things which at first were only dreams.
best wishes to you both
plateau ?? bah humbug !!
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For some while after the stroke, I kept a stroke diary to be able to spot my improvements but also monitor symptoms and afflictions. I am five years on, I had neglected the psychological side of rehabilitation for a number of years. Now I use DBT skills to help balance my temperament and assist me with facing social, personal and interpersonal challenges.
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I’m a left-handed artist too. My first thought was “thank goodness it’s not the hand I used to draw with” while I was having the stroke. 
It’s bizarre what concerns you most at moments like that.
I have changed my style to abstract and mark making as well as using my opposite hand to write and draw - I figured if I was useless at doing that before the stroke, there’s no risk of setting unrealistic expectations and getting frustrated with myself! 
I’m pleased your husband is improving and I hope he’s well enough to come home soon.
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