It’s nearly 8 weeks since my husbands stoke and I feel he is progressing really well. He’s been going through hell and understandably his mood is very low. I would like to reach out for some words of encouragement for him.
We are on the hospital stroke ward now, previously were on neurosurgical ward as he had a craniectomy. The others on the ward are less server in their lack of mobility - my husband has been unable to move left side. He has just had a PEG fitted, but hopefully eating will return as managed custard the other day!. Now the PEG has been fitted he should be moving to a rehabilitation centre in the next few weeks.
Over the last week or so we have noticed that when he yawns his left arm moves and yesterday he managed to wiggle his left toes on command - which we hope is a really positive move in the right direction.
I’d be grateful to hear from anyone who regained their mobility in their affected side to offer him some hope for the future.
Hi and welcome, sorry to hear about your husband but also glad he’s showing signs of recovery and good signs too.
For myself my left arm and hand were all that was affected by my stroke and to all intents and purposes for the first week they seemed dead to me tried willing them at fist the noticed similarly when yawning my left hand would tremble (still does today). I had physio in hospital and he was amazing asked me to visualise my hand moving and we got it moving with support from my right, with some work and determination from me at the end of my stay could move my arm just enough to assist in getting dressed and to move things but a start.
Got home and spent hours daily with kids toys rehabilitating my arm and hand so much so was only two appointments at nuero rehab . I know how lucky I am but if there is movement in the toes on command with some support I hope the leg gets mobility back, the arm again hope if yawning is causing some sort of spasm would suggest there is again something to be worked with. Wishing you both all the best and take time with rehab and accept every offer of help, I know this will be frustrating in places but reset and don’t give up. P.S. one of my best tools was a 99p kids spikey ball which lit up when I dropped it and still have Spikey MIkey and use him every day.
Hi @HeatherT and welcome to the forum. Your husband can get a whole lot better, it just takes time and a lot of hard work with his rehabilition exercises.
I do know that @mrfrederickson on here is experiencing similar movements both in his stroke arm and leg when doing things like yawning or rubbing his ear. We were just discussing that on another post. I’ve supplied the link to it below.
As your husband is experiencing these movements early on in his recovery, you should both look at it as a positive, there is connectivity and signals are getting through or at least starting to. So stay positive, don’t give on the rehab and rest or change activity when the brain tells you to…hence fatigue.
There are some real positives in your post & you should both take these as encouragment that the brain is working to re-establish the signals.. it will take work but there is every reason to believe that.mire progress can be made.
I regained the use of my arm by exercising it daily. My leg is still a work in progress byt there are others who have regained use of both.
It is encouraging that he managed to eat some custard. @Mich-mm has recently started eating some food after being on a peg. See post below.
Hello @HeatherT and welcomei’m so sorry to read about your husband’s stroke, but delighted he can move his toes it’s taken me a year to move my left stroke affected limbs and while I can raise my right arm above my head i can only lift my left arm 6” off my body. It’s a wotk in progress. Best wishes to you both❣️
Your husband appears to be doing really well and is already doing things that have taken others longer to do, but this is not so unusual in itself as we all recover at our own rate and it is not a race. We are only racing with ourself
The posts from other members cover anything I might have offered and so all that remains for me to say is remember to work at your own rate, monitor self and take action as needed. Help is available from the healthcare team and on this forum.
It looks like your husband is on a good path and hopefully he will be doing things he loves.
Hi as Loraine noted I’m having redirected movements in my left arm
All of which is a sign of neuro plasticity in actio even though not controlled by my brain fully but although not correctly required the connection process is happening I’m not sure how long it takes as I’m five years in recovery and thi type of movement has only intensified in the last few months but was happening in the second year after the stroke.
I’m also noting I’m consciously thinking to use the affected arm even the it doesn’t respond in thinking of using it to dress or open the car door , who knows maybe one day it will operate even badly
Hello I’m new here my name is carla. I had my stroke three years ago.it affected my left side. Mine happened in my neck had a tear in a artery then the blood caused the blockage to my brain. I was healthy no high blood pressure no cholesterol issues nothing. The doctors don’t know why it happened it’s just something that happens. I’ve been struggling with it ever since it happened. I was 52 at the time working traveling enjoyed life now its a roller coaster day to day. I go to the gym and work with a trainer to try and get better strength and better control back in my left side because from what I’ve researched the key is repetitive so your brain can reconnect and relearn. It’s a hard road physically and emotionally and mentally but I’m relying on God to get me through it.
I just wanted to welcome you to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and the struggle this has been for you.
You’re absolutely right about repetition being key. I hope you’ll find this community helpful for your recovery, if you questions, this is a great place to ask.
If you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Hi @Ladybug70 and welcome to the community. Sorry that you’ve had course to join us but hopefully you’ll find it a useful place to be. I too had a stroke caused by a dissected carotid artery for which they were unable to find a cause. I spent the first few months worrying about whether it was going to happen again and not knowing whether the artery had repaired itself or not. I then stopped worrying as nothing untoward had happened although it’s still crosses my mind from time to time.
Your back story sounds very similar to mine I was 49 at the time of my stroke and I too did lots of travelling mainly for work but also a holiday or two and also had a busy life outside of work. To lose that in an instant was hard but now I am content enough with my slower pace of life.
Your right about repetitiveness being the key to rewiring the brain. This is a long process but over time people generally do show some improvement. If you have any questions please ask away there is usually somebody who is able to help.
Yello Carla - welcome to the community and thank you for sharing your experience with us.
I am pleased you seem to have made good progress and are getting on with life whilst dealing with the challenges posed by a stroke. If it is a consolation, and I don’t wish this to come across with any sort of negative connotations, you are relatively young when it comes to stroke survival and this I believe is a significant advantage in more ways than one…
I am sure you will go on to enjoy a healthy and happy life. Whether it is your reliance on God getting you through it, or whether it is your own self belief and determination or a combination of both, I feel you are in a good place.
Sorry to hear that Carla but glad you made bit and welcome your forum of support and contemplation.
The road back to a pain free semi normal existence is long and winding, many setbacks and setbacks that test one’s resolve but ultimately in time with perseverance you will find a new normal and enjoy the life that was so curly upended.
Hello @Ladybug70 i was 47 so similar.i too have left side weakness but work on my arm and leg everyday.i was healthy walked the dogs every day and ate a plant based vegan diet,but stroke affects everyone regardless of health.welcome to the community which will do so much for you because all have lived experience.
