I’m a new poster.
My husband had emergency surgery for an aortic dissection on the 21st December 2024 (my 70th birthday!). Despite having pneumonia and influenza type A on admission the surgery was successful. However at some point during the surgery he had a stroke.
He spent 3 weeks on intubation, and his extisting respiratory condition meant that he was in ICU for a number of weeks.
Eventually he was transfered onto a vascular ward, but it seems that there was little physiotherapy given.
After nearly 3 months in Edinburgh and Glasgow he was transferred to our local community hospital. He’s currently still there. During his current stay he has had regular physiotherapy and assistance from the OT team.
He’s lucky in that he’s not been affected cognitively, but was unable to use his left (dominant) arm, and right leg. He’s now got good movement in all his limbs and torso, though lifting his right leg from the knee is difficult (some foot drop present). He can dress, wash, shave, and with concentration sign his name on his tablet with an electronic pen (he’s a left-handed artist so this is important for him). He sits in a normal upright hospital chair for up to 7 hours unaided, and eats his meals there.
Our local authority is carrying out an assessment of the house, fortunately a bungalow, with the expectation of sending him home shortly with a comprehensive care package and relevant equipment, such as bed, chair, hoist etc.
Our immediate wish is that he will be able to carry out sit, stand and transfer using a wheelchair whist he learns to walk again. He’s determined he’ll walk and drive in the future.
Now this is where we have a problem. No physiotherapy after discharge, and no private physiotherapist in our area, which is Argyll.
So we are on our own.
If I could get him in a car I could take him to Glasgow, 100 miles away, but we are not at that stage yet.
I’m sure other stroke survivors must have come across the same thing. How did you overcome it, please?
I’m totally committed to helping him in any way I can.
For instance has anyone successfully used on-line physiotherapy, and could recommend a company?
Hi sorry to hear of your situation - i am sure you will get some more in depth advice here but just wanted to tell you about my experience as i am in scotland also.
When i was discharged i had a stroke nurse number that i could call for advice
I got 6 weeks occupational and physical therapy and they came to the house. After that it is the community team who then see me not as often maybe every two weeks - the stroke nurse was the hub as it were and i would go to them whenever i got stuck with who to contact or something wasnt happening - i am only 6 months on from the stroke so still working it out.
Thanks
Thank you for your reply.
It’s all so new for us, and frankly I’m terrified. It doesn’t help that I’m waiting for surgery too.
The house assessment is taking place today. I’m so worried that he may be confined to one room for the rest of his life.
I know it’s early days yet.
Good luck with your recovery.
@HelenS Hi & welcome to the community. Sorry to hear of your husbands stroke. He seems like he has come a long way since Christmas & his determination to improve will help him loads moving forward.
I hope the home assessment goes well. Make sure any aids / adaptations are fully in place before they discharge him.
Is there no option for home physio where you live? I had 6 weeks after discharge where they came to my home. Definitely worth asking about it.
You can find loads of stroke rehab resources on YouTube. The Stroke Association also do some online exercise sessions which you can out more about at this link.
https://www.stroke.org.uk/webform/online-stroke-activities-hub
Best wishes to you both
Ann
Thank you Ann.
Unfortunately there simply aren’t any physiotherapist in mid Argyll other than the few connected to the hospitals and they don’t routinely come out unless a carer has a problem.
We’ve also been told that once he’s discharged, that’s it. His carers can run through exercises with him, but it appears that if we want to progress to get him standing, then we are on our own.
There do appear to be aids on the mrket we could buy to help him to stand but I think we would have to work out the techniques by ourselves.
This is not a good area to become disabled unfortunately.
Hello @HelenS - Welcome to the community.
If I may say so, your post is one of the most positive and surprising first introductions to this forum. From what you have said, I am amazed how well your husband (and you) are doing taking into consideration what has happened, the timescales involved and with no disrespect your ages 
It seems to me your husband has got incredible capacity to recover and is not at all phased by what has happened to him. Given the little or no physiotherapy, he has had to date I would suggest he is much further down the progress line than might be expected.
If you really are unable to find local physios, I personnally feel and again from what you have already shared, between you and your husband (I assume other family members might not be regularly available, though if they were it would make things even better) you are more than capable of doing the physio routines already given to you.
There is plenty of stuff online including on the NHS website about exercises etc. and you can follow these at your own pace.
I would suggest once your home has been assessed and declared fit for purpose, you and your husband can start rebuilding your lives. I see no reason why he would not be able to walk again soon. Both you and he come across as very determined and strong both mentally and physically.
If anything, I would like to ask you what your secret is so that I can try it to help my Mum who would also dearly love to walk again
Such a pleasure for me to declare this is one of the most remarkable first posts it has been my pleasure to read.
Thank you and wishing you and your husband all the very best.
Namaste|
That’s such a shame & not great for those that need the help.
I did find though that the exercises given me by the physios cpukd be a bit limiting & I often found myself serking more on internet & just moved on with them when I felt ready to. So, whilst not ideal you may find it better in the longer term.
Best wishes
Ann
Hi @HelenS
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your husbands stroke.
It sounds like he’s doing really well and I hope once he gets home that continues to improve. I’m sorry to hear about the lack of physio in your area. I would echo what @Mrs5K has said about checking out our exercise sessions. They may help once he’s ready.
As you’re navigating through this difficult time, please do come back and ask any questions that may arise, there is a wealth of knowledge here!
If you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Anna
Thank you so much for your kind words.
The bungalow has been assessed as suitable; I didn’t doubt it as it was built in 2003 by a couple older than us, but it’s nice to know that there are no major internal alterations necessary.
Ken has his art studio at the bottom of a sloping garden and it’s adamant he’ll get back down to it come hell or high water. He’s a member of Artmap Argyll and opens his studio to the public in August. That’s his driving force.
A second hospital physio, different from the one he usually sees, assessed him this morning and has also said she sees no reason given time, commitment, and exercise that he shouldn’t walk again.
Thank you.
It’s going to take effort but we are both up for it.
Thank you Ann.
I suppose having no physiotherapist in a remote area is as bad as having a lot of physiotherapists in a city who have no availability to treat people! Down to us to make the best of the situation, I guess.
That is wonderful news all round.
I am so pleased for you both. With Ken’s determination and incentives, I expect things will work out fine. We look forward to some pictures of Ken’s artwork on here
I am sure you both will be aware and be sensible about the recovery from the stroke. One piece of advice you will likely get quite often from the regulars on here is that stroke survivors do tend to experience fatigue quite often and this can sometimes be a source of concern or annoyance, however, it is pretty normal and be aware. To address this, you (Ken) should make sure you allow plenty of time for recovery - allow the brain and body to rest and to recharge. The body (and brain) will tell you when they need a rest. Listen and follow
Take your time, don’t rush. My advice for what it’s worth would be that number 1 priority is your health and the recovery and to make sure best chance of success, this is what the focus should be on. He will walk and he will resume driving and he will do his art exhibitions, but these should not take you away from focusing on a full recovery from the stroke. There is plenty of time for everything, just pace yourselves.
Wishing you and Ken all the best and looking forward to updates.
Just to be clear, this is just what I would try to do if I was in your shoes and it is not meant to preach or insult.
Namaste|
Very wise advice, thank you.
I have noticed he needs more sleep than he did. He is placed in his chair late morning and stays there until 6.00pm but usually goes off to sleep as soon as they put him back to bed. Then he’ll phone me around 9.45pm to wish me goodnight, then off to sleep again.
Everything I’ve read points out fatigue as being a big factor and so I made my visits quite short in the early days. In fact I drove 2.5 hours to Glasgow, went into the hospital for a whole 30 minutes before he was too tired to stay awake, then drove home for another 2.5hrs!
Being only 12 miles away now I go in most afternoons. We repeat a bit of his earlier physio exercises, and yesterday we played Connect 4. After a few minutes the dexterity in his weak hand had improved noticeably. As soon as he tired, we stopped.
So, slow, steady work to build up his muscles and stamina, with plenty of repetition to secure new pathways.
(My hobby for 42 years was as a dressage rider breeding and training my own horses)
You gaat it !!
How wonderful
Btw, have you heard about the horse who walked into a bar?
So a barman walks into the stable, and the horse says …
“What’s with the long face budddy?”
Thank you.
Now if I could just stop overthinking things…