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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Hi Kevan and thanks for your ‘bit’.
Yes, very similar.
Face not too bad. Its my scalp that is sensitive to touch.
No stiffness however. Maybe that is a tennis thing? I used to enjoy badminton but its been a while!
I can understand why tennis is good for you. You enjoy it, are motivated by it and are getting better at it. Wimbleden next, maybe linesman if you’re not ready for the real thing yet!
No dog and so I take myself for a walk. Mile or two yesterday (furthest yet) but pushed it a bit too far. Taking it easy today.
I hope the call goes well.
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Hi
It’s possible that the “stiffness” isn’t genuine but another issue with sensations. The physio will be able to let you know.
It’s likely as well that there isn’t a connection between the hands and feet. I think the brain is confused and gives the impression of the same sensation in a number of different areas. Maybe biceps and face as well. You may find that if someone was to touch you in two different places on your weak arm, you can’t tell if it’s one touch or two.
Just a guess on my part but I wonder if this is part of a default mode which potentially has kept humans alive for 1000s of years. If the brain doesn’t know what it is or can’t interpret it, give a sensation of discomfort or outright pain so that you do something about it. Better safe than sorry.
There seems a to be a few items which might help
- warmth
- any other sensation, you might be able to brush it away for a few seconds, especially the face.
- distraction
- exercise but only after a while. Is that distraction or the body realising it isn’t in “danger” after all.
- as tends to be the case, we almost always tense up with pain. It might not be that obvious that you have, especially on the weaker side.
If you can, are you able to really concentrate to relax the area giving a problem and does the unpleasant sensation disappear or reduce ? Relaxing seems to be a skill I have partly lost.
Hope this helps. I have not been able to control the increased levels of unpleasant sensations. The extreme times are becoming more and more painful.
It is though, a sensation of burning or outright pain, it isn’t real as in a leg, hand, face contact issue, even if it feels like it.
Thanks
Nigel
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Hello Poncho,
I am in exactly the same situation. Slightly younger than you, and stroke was 1.5 years ago. I have to admit a little sensation is coming back, but it’s slow and minimal, still. Lately I have been stimulating my hand more and accordingly, sensation is building, but still in its infancy.
Hope you progress, so good luck, ciao, Roland
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Hello Roland,
Thank you for your reply.
Always good to hear that things are improving even if it is slowly.
I had an appointment today with the Community Neurological Rehab Team, clinical psychologist.
The lady said I was just starting off on my journey.
The lady also said things would improve quickly in 6 months and then carry on for maybe 2 years.
Clearly they are interested from a cognitive point of view and will give me some tests to do to see if they can help with things.
My advise would be to keep working on things regardless of how much time has passed.
It is easy to stop when really it is important to tell your body what you want from it, and it will do its best to do it.
It might even keep the clog on my foot !!!
Cheers
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