Therapy For Stroke Patients

When I was 25 years old, I suffered my first stroke. My family and I were shocked to hear this news and we didn’t know what was going to happen to me. Because I was so young, the doctors needed to find out why the stroke had happened. The doctors came and told us that I had dilated cardiomyopathy.

We had no idea that strokes could even occur in young people. So, we educated ourselves and became knowledgeable about the different terminology surrounding dilated cardiomyopathy. We did that in addition to doctor visits and listening to what the cardiologists were telling us.

My first stroke

During the 1st stroke, I wasn’t able to talk or move my left side until after being given the tPA medication that doctors give patients within 3 hours of a stroke (in lament terms, it dissolves the clot). The doctors explained to my family that there are risks of stroke patients bleeding out from the tPA medication.

Once my family agreed, the doctors proceeded to give me the medication. I had to lay flat on my back because the doctors believed that laying flat would bring oxygen and blood flow back to my brain. Now, stroke research has shown that there isn’t a benefit to stroke patients laying flat, but the research wasn’t there when my stroke happened back in 2014.

After the doctors administered the medication into my IV, in less than a minute I was talking and moving my left side. The doctor was on a call and immediately put the phone down and came up to me in shock. I remember saying, “Wow that was fast.” The doctor replied, “That wasn’t the medication.” I knew that God had intervened.

I was in bed for about a week after the stroke and wasn’t able to walk until I got discharged from the hospital. After being discharged, we went to Chick-fil-a and my legs felt like jello. I felt so weak after only being in the hospital for a week. I didn’t have to do any type of therapy for my first stroke.

Therapy after my second stroke

I said the first stroke because I suffered 2. In 2014, I suffered another stroke, but this one was more severe. Unlike the first stroke, after the second stroke the doctors sent me to rehab. This time I didn’t have the tPA medication because we weren’t sure it was within 3 hours of the stroke. I had problems communicating so speech therapy was necessary, as well as occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

The therapists would have a schedule for me like I was back in college. The schedule would be printed for me each day and it would tell me what therapies I had for that day.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy was actually fun. Being a former athlete and being addicted to exercise, it was the most fun part of being in the rehab center. It was one of the only times I was able to get up and walk. The therapist would come and walk with me down to the gym and have some exercises for me to do. By the 2nd day, I had to walk around the track for 7 minutes while being timed. When I finished, she told me that I wouldn’t be there long because of how quickly I was progressing.

Speech therapy

Speech therapy was one of the most frustrating and not fun experiences while being at the rehab center. It was so hard for me because my speech was severely affected by the stroke. The doctors diagnosed me with aphasia. It was also hard for me to swallow because they had me intubated after the stroke. My therapist had different tongue and mouth exercises to strengthen my speaking muscles. I also had to work on my cognitive skills because the doctors said it was affected. I remember counting money and having to make change. The therapist also had me work on memory exercises, as well as reading exercises.

Occupational therapy

Last but not least was occupational therapy because the second stroke affected my right side and I am right-handed. This affected and still affects my ability to write. I couldn’t dress myself or bathe myself because of right-sided weakness. The therapist taught me how to button my shirts, tie my shoes, use a knife to cut vegetables, and basically gave me my independence back.

It was a rough journey and I still struggle with some things like writing. I will always have right-side weakness, but thankfully we have 2 hands so the left hand can take the burden off the right hand. I can’t throw accurately and something as simple as waving my right hand is still challenging, but I am glad that I recovered.

Therapy for strokes and heart failure

What experience do you have with different types of therapies related to a stroke or heart failure? Share in the comments section below.