Adjustment to stroke

• A stroke is a brain attack caused by either a blockage or bleed in blood vessels in the brain
• Each person’s symptoms are individual
• The area of the brain affected, and severity of the attack will influence what symptoms someone experiences

An ischaemic stroke is caused by a blockage or a blood clot.

These can be less severe and are often caused by a fatty build up blocking blood vessels.

They can originate in the brain or travel there from another part of the body.

A haemorrhagic stroke is usually due to a burst blood vessel.

These are usually caused when a weakened part of the blood vessel (aneurysm) bursts, or when someone has had high-blood pressure over time which weakens the blood vessels.

• The most complex and finely tuned organ
• Made up of about 100 billion neurons
• Neurons never divide, multiply, repair or replenish
• But remaining cells can establish new links to each other

The brain is made up of two hemispheres, the left and right, joined by structure called Corpus Callosum.

Right hemisphere controls left side of body and vice-versa

Hemispheres divided into four lobes:

• Frontal
• Temporal
• Parietal
• Occipital

Different lobes are generally responsible for different things (but there is some overlap).

Symptoms can be varied and depend upon the brain region where damage occurred. Some of the following can be common during recovery.

Emotional

• Emotionality (for example, laughing inappropriately, crying more often)
• Anxiety, low mood and difficulties adjusting

Cognitive

• Cognitive difficulties (memory, attention, understanding, problem-solving)
• Sensory overload (increased sensitivity to noise, temperature, itchy clothing)
• Behaviour and personality changes

Physical

• Physical symptoms (for example, limb weakness, vertigo)
• Fatigue

• Remember, we don’t grow new brain cells. But…
• One way the brain attempts to repair after damage is through a process called Neuroplasticity.
• This is when brain cells find an alternative route within the brain to send messages about performing a specific action such as speech or movement.
• It’s similar to a roadblock causing a diversion. The alternative route might take a little longer and have more obstacles than your familiar route, but you arrive at the same destination.
• Actions and behaviours might seem a little clunky, disjointed and difficult for a time, but the more you practice, the more familiar the new route becomes and movements can smooth out and become easier, though not always as smooth and easy as before.

Recovery from stroke is never linear. We don’t start at A and move smoothly to B the C then D and so on

Instead, recovery is “haphazard”, a few steps forward, followed by a few steps back

This is due to the neuroplasticity described above. Not all the new connections are needed

So, every so often the brain “tidies itself up” cutting back unnecessary new connections

This process is called pruning.

During these episodes, we feel as if we’re not progressing or even falling back

A stroke is a brain attack caused by either a blockage or bleed in blood vessels in the brain.

In the brain, neurons never divide, multiply, repair or replenish but remaining cells can establish new links to each other.

There are many types of stroke that effect people in different ways.

Symptoms can be emotional, physical or cognitive or a combination of all three.

Recovery is never linear.

All symptoms are normal and part of recovery

How likely am I to have another stroke?

We can not predict the future, live life with “what is”, not “what if”.

We have control in the present only. The more we do right now the more we reduce the risk of what is next.

Driving analogy, can’t predict someone running out into the road or someone speeding and crashing into you, but if we are driving to speed limit and to road or weather conditions we reduce the risk of something bad happening. Putting fear in its rightful place.

What we can do now! Moving more, taking prescribed medications, speaking with medical professionals about any changes. Accepting help when its needed. Reducing risk factors, for example, stopping smoking.

• Stroke Association: Strength through support
• All things stroke website