Hello Simon,
I now have an image of a bunch of people all having vanilla ice cream! Got a flake?
I shall take a look at the generic grounder thanks.
New symptoms!! Hmmm interesting. Mind you my eyes started about 2 months in.
Support I was getting but now on my own unless I need help. Not complaining.
Thanks
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The generic grounder is good.
I was told the golden time for things to improve fast track is 3 months, maybe 4 at a push. After that things slow up although do not stop.
Certainly told to repeat exercises regulary otherwise things slip back.
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I look at stroke recovery like a job. It’s boring and relentless but you just keep on going. BTW I disagree that you have ‘got off lightly’ no one who has gone through what we have, gets off lightly. Good luck to you.
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@Poncho hi & welcome to the club none of us really wanted to join.
The effects of everyone’s strokes are different but I agree with @clibbers1 that no one gets off lightly. It sounds like you are doing ok but have some things still to resolve. It is early dsys gor you yet & recovery can take many months,/ years but is all about determination & lots of repetition.
I had altered sensation on my left side & did all the things that @pando suggested. I spent hours touching different things to get the sensation back & it did come back. Not sure how long it took but possibly 3 or 4 months…mine was quite a mild altered sensation though.
Nodding on the sofa is a common pastime in the early days. I still do it but not as often as I did.
Returning to work is harder than you may think and when the time is right for you a phased return would probably help loads.
Wishing you all the best.
Ann
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Hi @Poncho just wanted to welcome you to the forum 
I don’t have anything more to add that hasn’t already been said. Just rest when you need it and pace yourself as this is a marathon not a sprint. Brain’s are very stubborn and don’t like to be pushed, they get their own back on you the next day flooring you with fatigue 
So you have to find a pace that your brain is happy with, so just give it what it wants 
Look forward to see you around the forum
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Hi @Poncho
I’d be prepared to argue that the facts might be strictly true but the impression normally given is actually off track
See NeuroPlasticity as the ENEMY!
Ciao
Simon
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Hello Simon,
I will have to fire even more brain cells on this again!
Just accidently deleted the message!!!
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Hello and welcome, Poncho. Sorry to hear you’ve had a stroke although it’s great to hear you’re doing much better.
On the sensation front, it’s worth persisting with the ‘sensory re-education’, ie what you’re doing with the spikey ball etc. After my stroke, my left arm/ hand was totally numb and the hospital OT’s got me started on the sensory stuff the same day I was admitted. A lot of sensation had already returned by the time I was discharged from rehab 7 weeks or so later, although I was still unable to discern what I was holding in my hand with my eyes closed - in fact, everything felt exactly the same, whether it was a cotton wool ball or a metal spoon! So I was thrilled a couple of months later when I asked hubby to fill a bag with bits and pieces from around the house and I was able to accurately say what each item was by touch alone. The most amazing thing for me was that I was able to feel the pulse in my right wrist with the tips of the fingers on my stroke hand (don’t ask why:woman_shrugging:t2:
).
So keep going with it. No-one can promise it’ll solve the problems but getting back even some sensation is better than having none. And at best, you’ll get loads back.
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Hello clibbers1
Thank you for your message.
Boring and relentless? Yes can be but has a goal of course and I do try and find other things to use. Dragging my feet around different carpets at the moment!
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Hi Ann
Good and encouraging to hear you did get your sensation back. Thank you
Must be getting near time for another nod!
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Hi EmeraldEyes,
Thank you for your welcome.
Yes I know what you mean about the fatigue and pacing yourself.
What I have found is to try and keep my sleep pattern otherwise nights are all over the place.
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Thank you for your post regarding sensation.
I have no recollection of being started on sensory stuff at the hospital.
I do remember dropping the cutlery or a pen during my stay!
When I got home I was given a box of all sorts of things (standard issue) to practise with including clothes line pegs and putty. It all did help. Hanging washing is now the envy of the neighbours.
Joking aside though it actually did help with hand/eye cordination and strength.
Good for you Trace57
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Hi Poncho
You mention cold and wet. Have you got any other odd sensations such as tingling ? Electrical nerve type pain ?
Cheers
Nigel
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Hello Nigel,
Electrical nerve type pain? No I would say.
Tingling? Yes I would say, mixed in with the cold and wet. Can be quite intense to touch.
I find it difficult to describe such things though.
Cheers
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Hi Simon,
Thanks for the link NeuroPlasticity as the Enemy!
Yes I think I get the gist.
Feels like the system recognises this potential, perhaps has begun to, which explains why I was given exercises to do AND given a box of bits with which to complete tasks as well as cognitive exercises.
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Could I ask Poncho, where in the brain your stroke was ?
Our brains seem to be a series of compartments and depending on which bit is damaged, dictates the outcome for us.
Hi Nigel,
Yes compartments with not a lot in them!!
You can ask but I don’t think I want to go there.
By the way, it was explained to me that even if it was the exact same damaged spot on two different people the result would be different.
Hi Poncho,
This is my first post on the forum and I decided to add my bit as my symptoms/recovery are very similar to yours. My stroke was on 7th November last year (2023) so just past the 4 month mark. It was a thalamic stroke aka bleed on the brain with no warning whatsoever.
Right side was affected and completely numb for first month or so. This has gradually given way to increasing sensation accompanied by pins and needles, hot and cold, especially in hands and feet. Feeling started to return across the middle of my back and is slowly spreading up my shoulder and down my thigh.
Amazingly, people I meet do not usually detect that I have had a stroke. WhiIst I have the numbness, my mobility is good which I put down to muscle memory. However, stiffness has definitely got worse as sensation improves, especially in my shoulder/rotator cuff. I have to keep stretching as I worry about frozen shoulder.
I was very fit, playing tennis three times a week, so it is something I was missing a lot. I have got to the point where I am playing twice a week over the past month. This started as just hitting a ball - which went anywhere at first - but coordination is improving, I can now serve dolly shots and play a doubles rally at a basic level. My play is largely handicapped by the shoulder stiffness and my reach seems to be a couple of inches less so quite a lot of timing issues! At first I could not throw up a ball or look up as I did not have the balance for it. This has Improved considerable in just a month or so - and I think tennis has helped. Each session seems to be an improvement and it gives me a goal and benchmark to aim for.
I walk the dog twice a day when I can and do stretching exercises. These are short walks as sensations in my feet/hands become painful - pins/needles become ‘walking on gravel with stones in my shoe’ and ‘hand is grabbing a bunch of nettles’. This settles down after an hour or so. I had no idea there was such a direct link between the nerves in the hand and foot - if I walk my hand is affected and if I massage my hand I can feel it in my foot! I put this pain to being a good thing as my nerve pathways must be rejoining/repairing.
I still have nerve pain/numbness across my face and head which is proving stubborn. It did affect my hearing, maybe by 50%, but although I still have a numb ear this is nearer 90% now. Incidentally, the dog seems to know I have had a stroke and likes licking my affected hand and ear to make them better - possibly down to some electrical signals!
I remain optimistic but find rate of progress hard to bear. I am well aware others have clearly fared much worse than me so I should count my lucky stars.
I have a first telephone interview with a stroke consultant (NHS) next month - I am trying to get specialist stroke physio for my stiffness. Also, will ask him about any treatments for neuropathic pain – paracetamol/ibuprofen has no impact!
Will see how it goes.
Good luck to everyone.
Kevan
PS Typing errors/corrections finally down to a functioning level!
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Hi ( & welcome because this is your first post but I see. you’ve been around for a whill)
I think your hypotheses about what is happening are pretty sound from having read a large number of posts and your tennis will definitely be working in your favour as a meaningful way of doing exercise rather than the nugatry repetitions that are some people’s repertoire. Ditto the growth of feeling that often starts pins and needles wet and cold burning and itching there are exercises that will help with this too 
There’s a lot on here about neuropathic pain and the fact that most painkillers are ineffective and venturing into anti-epilepsy etc medication for neuropathic pain relief quite a journey the CPSP thread talks the most about it but it isn’t the only thread
Ciao
Simon
Ciao
Simon
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@KevanSue Hi & welcome to the forum. Good to read your story & hear of your progress. Playing tennis sounds great. I never had any hand eye coordination pre stroke so was always rubbish at tennis orcany other sport where have to hit a ball with a bat 
I hope you manage to get some help with yoyr neuropathic pain.
Best wishes
Ann
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