Cardiologist Questions Stroke

Weak from a stroke

I have right side weakness after having a stroke. I can walk okay now but I still struggle with holding small objects in my right hand. Can I ever regain my strength in my hand?

18 Answers

Have you had or finished occupational therapy.
YOU ARE LUCKY AS YOU CAN WALK. KEEP WALKING PLUS GOOD DIET. DO SPECIFIC ROM AND STRENTHENING EXERCISES FOR RT UPPER EXTREMITY. 20 MINUTES TWICE. IF PAIN, USE HEAT FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE EXERCISES.
EAT PROPER AMOUNT OF GOOD FOOD. NO JUNK FOOD. WEIGHT CORRECTION CAN HELP. GOOD PROTEIN CAL PLUS LESS FAT, CARBOHYDR CAN HELP IN GEN BODY HEALTH. REPEATED EXERCISES IS ONLY WAY TO GET STRENGTH BACK PLUS FUNCTION TOO. WRIST ROM IS ESSENTIAL TOO. DON'T GIVE UP. NOW IS THE TIME TO ALL THE WAY TO GET BETTER COMPLETELY. USE RUBBER BALL, SQUEEZING DAILY 100-200 TIMES SO RT HAND HOLDING POWER CAN INCREASE.
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Do you receive occupational therapy for your help weakness?

I suggest you to see physiatrist to do a full evaluation. Recurrent stroke is very high even your mother only has. Hand weakness now. You need to prevent stroke just as important as try to get recover from current stroke. Acupuncture also helps too.

Dr. Li
Yes sometimes you can pending on the extent of the stroke. I would suggest a physical and occupational therapist to help you regain your strength.
Hi, it is not unusual for a stroke to affect mainly the hand (or mainly the leg) on one side. Recovery from stroke takes place in two stages: parts of the brain near the damaged area may be swollen and malfunction for awhile but this settles down over a period of a few weeks. After this further recovery can occur by neighbouring areas of brain taking over the function of the damaged part (this is called plasticity) but it can take months or even years and depends on practice. Recovery may never be complete but the more you work on it with physiotherapy and determination the greater the recovery will be.

I hope this is helpful. Best wishes for a reasonably good (even if not perfect) result.
Jonathan
Yes with structured physical therapy

Sincerely

M.kevin Ariani,MD FACCP,FACC,FSCAI
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine of UCLA
Prognosis for recovery is multi-factorial and depends upon the extent and location of the stroke and is best discussed with a neurologist .

Hand Surgeon however can contribute to care of the hand after a stroke;especially those who are slowing down in recovery. A stroke can affect sensation, position sense and muscle strength, endurance and most important balance and synchronous use in the hand. There are many very small muscles that delicatley work together to tell you when to softly hold a childs hand or strongly togrip a hammer. Hand surgeons and hand therapists are often called upon to offer help in the form of rehab, OT, splinting and even surgery.
Only time will tell if you will gain complete strength back or not. The more physical therapy you do and keep practicing holding objects and squeezing balls with that hand, more chance of recovery.
The simple answer is yes, but how much is unknown. Strength exercises require resistance and repetition. The resistance (to the movement of the muscle, like a dumbbell in a biceps curl) should be gradually increased as you get stronger. The repetition is vital for neuroplasticity - so your brain can build new pathways to work your hand. Occupational therapists treat upper limb issues and some have sub specialised to become Hand Therapists. I'd advise seeing one of these professionals. They use material like putty and sand to provide residence and can teach you the exact exercises for the specific muscles you need to build. But the answer is yes, and a lot of "how much" depends on your determination and dedication. All the best.
The testing to made the Diagnosis of   the stroke an the extension of the damage. It give the idea of  the plan for Physical therapy needed, as other comorobilities, and intensity of PT, as well as your age. YOU CAN RECOVER complitly or parcial. 
Suggest to your primary care MD to set you up for physical therapy to assess strength of hand and possibly predict recovery.
Usually most improvement with a stroke happens within 1 year. However it is possible to continue improving strength with time and hard work.
your should have a thorough evaluation by your primary care physician and neurologist to determine answer to this question and a plan of action
It is possible to regain strength in your right hand. Work with both a physical and occupational therapist . The limitations you have at one-year after your stroke are generally permanent.
I would recommend asking your neurologist this question as it is based on many very specific aspects of your stroke. It is not possible for me to say. It also depends on the "plasticity" of your brain, something very idiosyncratic and difficult to determine.
Yes, absolutely. Physio occupational therapy, even getting a tennis ball and squeezing it in your hand, start with 10, then work up to 50 every day, three times a day. Or you can get these squeeze balls which actually is probably better, I am used to tennis balls.
Hyperbaric Oxygen in the treatment of chronic post stroke state

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves the introduction of 100% oxygen under mild pressure. In that environment, over 5,000 genes are activated, with the effect of improving mitochondrial function [the “power house” of all cells], as long as turning on nerve stem or progenitor cells. Routine indications for this intervention are wound management and carbon monoxide poisoning. However, our center has chosen to provide this technology for literature, evidence based non-FDA approved indications such as for the TBI [Traumatic Brain Injury] and/or PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder], for which we were involved in a multicenter national trial www.NBIRR.org For a more complete list of potential indications, please visit our web site at www.HBOTNOVA.com.
The major potential side effect is related to being placed under pressure and thus if one has difficulty clearing one’s ears when in an airplane, we would want to be that much more proactive. However, given the overall safety record of this treatment in the management of a number of conditions that otherwise have limited options, the balance is usually in keeping with recommending HBOT. The goal pressure for treating the post stroke state is between 1.5 and 2.0ATA or the equivalent pressure generated as if you were ~16.5 to 33 feet below sea level. The fee for each one hour treatment is $200. We generally consider a minimum of 20 treatments sessions [for this condition often 40 sessions], 5 days per week. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday starting as early as 0630, with the last session being 5:45pm. If purchased as a block of 20, we provide a 10% discount and thus 20 sessions for $3,600. Alternatively, for blocks of 10 we provide a 5% discount: $2,000-$100 or $1,900. Although this indication is often not covered by insurance, occasionally coverage can be arranged, particularly if one has a medical savings account.
We need to emphasize that our role is to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a service, while emphasizing continued oversight by your personal clinician. Please let us know if we could be of further service in facilitating initiation of this therapy.

Hi, yes you can with physical therapy, aspirin 81 mg/day. Also, there are so many natural supplements you can take.