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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Will I be able to gain back my arm and hand after having a stroke?

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    Neurology Stroke
    My left side is very weak and have no use of my left arm after having a stroke on october 31, 2012 . Will I ever regain the use of my hand and arm? Please Help, I'm only 55 years old. I have alot to do yet. But it seems like the harder I try …well nothing is improving.
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    Dr Ben Schutte

    Chiropractor

    I am a vitalistic chiropractor. Vitalism as a concept, in part, means that the whole is much more than the some of the parts. The … View Profile

    Recovery from stroke is possible either complete or partial. No matter what, you will need to do a lot of rehabilitation with a very positive frame of mind…
    willing your brain to work in new ways to overcome the damage done by the stroke.
    Adjustments of the extremities will stimulate the brain and help it reconnect with the limb.

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    Brad Williams

    Occupational Therapist (OT)

    Williams Occupational Therapy has occupational therapists trained in driver assessments and rehab specialising in getting clients back on road safely. WILLIAMS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY offers Adelaide … View Profile

    Stroke recovery is very individual. Some make rapid recoveries, and others can take longer to start to see the effects of rehabilitation, then all of a sudden, recovery is greater. Occupational therapists (OT) and physiotherapists are the rehabilitation professionals that can help you in your recovery. An OT will work on functional recovery to help you regain activities of daily life. In Stroke rehab, OTs are often very focussed on the arm and it has now become a specilise area in OT, with leading experts in the field. Even if gains are smaller than hoped, OTs can help with adaptation of both the activity, or equipment to enable function. Please contact me or another OT if you think we can be of assistance.

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  • sage

    HealthShare Member

    My O.T. person told me that with the experience she has (20 yrs.) that she felt very strongly that I wouldn't gain back 100% of my hand. Now  from other people,Dr.'s included, I've been told that there is no way to tell how much recovery a stroke surviver will have, and the best thing one can do is to go forward with a possitive attitude. The minute my O.T. told me that my hand would not come back I was devistated. Isn't this kind of therapy very negative support? I feel like I shouldn't even pursue therapy, like its a waste of everyones time.

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  • sage

    HealthShare Member

    Thank you so much for your reply!

    sincerely,
    sage

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    Brad Williams

    Occupational Therapist (OT)

    Williams Occupational Therapy has occupational therapists trained in driver assessments and rehab specialising in getting clients back on road safely. WILLIAMS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY offers Adelaide … View Profile

    Sage, I am sorry that you received such negative news and it would appear that it has interupted your recovery. My previous comments are made not knowing the extent or nature of your functional deficits, however, I am currently working with 2 clients, 2 and 2.5 years post stroke who continue to make gains. The advice use to be that the gains you made int he first 6 months after stroke are all you can expect for the future. However, recent studies in areas such as constraint therapy have questioned this idea. 100% recovery might not be acheivable (keeping in mind i do not know the extent of the deficits), but functional gain might. It is hard to give you a full picture of what is available to you without assessment. Hope and determination are 2 vital keys to stroke recovery, and if you have these, i would seek a second opinon from another OT/PT. Hope this helps.

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  • sage

    HealthShare Member

    Dr. Williams,
         Thank you for your time in answering me.I am dealing with other issues as well, namely a-fib. My stroke was caused from having A-fib. Since my late teenage yrs. I've had episodes (I'm now 55 yrs. old).,starting out with infrequent palpitations, like a flutter (once in 6 mo. or longer). Over time they became more frequent, more intense, and with a longer duration. Now these episodes are a very strong pounding in my chest, and last for several days. I have maybe 2 episoodes a week. I am investigating an ablation,but only very recently have discovered that A-fib can be caused from hypothyroidism. Although testing shows my thyroid to be within normal range (numbers fall within margins) isn't it possible to have hormone imbalances that can effect your whole body even if test results are marginal? I would much rather take hormone therapy than undergo a  more invasive treatment which might also help with obesity and prediabetes as well as A-fib.and taking life long warfarin. how do I get my Dr. to work with me?

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  • mcdlov

    HealthShare Member

    Contact Michael at: mcdlov@gmail.com

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