Stroke

i had a stroke on 8 dec, 2008. i am home now and going to out patient therapy. i wondered if anyone can tell me how much they have regained. i lost  all my left side but am now able to walk with a hemi-cane. i need a rather large bracethat assists my ankle and stops my knee frpm hyperextendind.as expected noone will tell me how much use i will regain of my leg and arm.anyone have any personal experiences that they might relate.thanks for your help. i love the site.

 

barry

Hello Barry,  I cant tell you how much your leg and arm will come back but i can say that if you keep trying it will slowly start to work.  when i first came home my brother in law had to carry ne up the stairs, but now 1 1/2 year later i can walk without my cane for short distances.  i have even been able to get on my stair stepper. just a little at a time.  .   just never give up.... I can even give myself my shower. with the aid of the shower chair.  I try to use my left hand to hole things.   my doctor told my family that i will never be able to walk without the aid of my cane, but we will see.

Since December 8 2008 hasn't come yet, I suspect that the old left-side thing got you, and you meant 2007. That's perfectly okay. Been there, done that.
I had a very very severe, nearly lethal, hemorrhagic stroke on January 1, 2001, at the age of 36.
As for what you can expect in the future, all I can tell you with any certainty is "I don't know." Doctors and therapists don't either.  That won't stop them from making predictions, but take them with a huge grain of salt, especially those that include the word "never."
About the only thing you can be sure of is that it will be slow.
You seem to be progressing faster than I did, already. It was months before any therapist would even try me on a hemi cane.
I still use a wheelchair most of the time, but I can walk short distances with a quad cane, or even a regular cane.
My left arm/hand is still of very little use, but it's no longer painful, and I was able to ditch my arm sling years ago.
Be aware that you may occasionally reach progress "plateaus," when you feel like you're not getting a bit better, and feel like your progress has stopped permanently, but if you have those, they will pass.
I've even had a few times when I felt like I was actually regressing, but those times passed, too.
Every stroke is different, and so is every stroke patient.
As for what I've regained:
Some movement in my left side, including the leg starting at the hip.
My balance has improved.
My swallowing, which was severely impaired at first, is about 99.9% back to normal.
My vision is better, though I still have to sometimes remind myself to pay attention to my left side.
I have more stamina, though not as much as I had pre-stroke. In the first few months following my stroke, I was doing well if I could sit up in a chair for half an hour, but now I'm routinely up for at least 12 hours a day.
I think it's darned impressive that you're already up and using a computer.
Please keep us posted on your progress.

talking to some of you has been a great help. its hard keeping good attitude but hopefully progress will follow. the hardest part is  the shoulder pain and not sleeping.

cap4you:

 its hard keeping good attitude but hopefully progress will follow. the hardest part is  the shoulder pain and not sleeping.

You're right; it *is* difficult to "keep your chin up" in the first few months following a stroke, but things will get better, I promise.
I, too, have a "subluxed" shoulder that was *very* painful at first, but is much much better now.
That's the good news. The bad news is that it may be a long time before your shoulder gets better, but it will happen.
If you've been given any arm/shoulder exercises to do, I encourage you to do them, because it really does help.

Carla N.

Cap: you need to sleep. Is your neuro aware that you're not sleeping? Have they tried to prescribe anything to help? I take an anxiety med for sleeping that is one that many doctors don't like to prescribe, but my neuro's attitude was, he'd rather me be sleeping than not taking anything. Welcome to disaboom! We have a lot of strokies here. :->

Hi, Barry.

 

My husband had a hemmoragic stroke on June 1, 2007 and is still in therapy and recovering.  His affected his right side and although his arm and hand are still compromised, he is making gains with his leg.  He also has a brace and a hemi cane for walking.  The important thing to remember is not to rush.  Take one exercise or movement and practice it until you're 101% sure that you've got it.  When Dan came home after 88 days in the hospital and rehabilitation center, he couldn't walk and still needs supervision, but all the medical people have told me he could still be recovering and making gains 2 - 3 years into this.  We saw the neurologist yesterday and he's amazed at the recovery Dan's made.  Guys like you are in a very select minority of survivors.  Dan was only 49 when he had the stroke, but we were able to celebrate his 50th birthday in October with family and friends and had a grand old time.  He gets days of depression that seem to be directly related to our awful New England weather, but for the most part, we're dealing as best we can.  I know how hard it is for him because he was used to working 12-14 hour days and to have to just sit or lay around gets to him sometimes.  Keep the faith.  Make note of the improvements you are making every day, no matter how small.  We were thrilled to be able to walk into the bathroom and pee standing up!  I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, along with Dan.   Keep up the good work!

hi deb glad your husband is coming along it is a very long slow process but small thingsmean a lotlike peeingi remember showering standing up it was great. good luck and welcome to disaboom.talk to you soonsonia