Do Strokes Cause Arm Pain? (Part 2)
September 25, 2024

Today, we're answering the second part of our question on do strokes cause arm pain. Today, we're talking about spasticity. Spasticity is when your brain sends signals to your muscles that cause involuntary tightness.

This can happen in either your arm or leg and result in pain in either of these areas. The pain comes from your body being held in abnormal postures for a prolonged period of time. And when you're in these positions for a long time, if either yourself or a loved one or caregiver goes to move your body quickly, this can result in pain. You can address pain from spasticity by working with your PT or OT on a stretching program specific to the areas that are painful to you, or you can talk to your doctor about medications that will help manage spasticity.  If you have any other questions, check out our website at STEPSforRecovery.com, and stay tuned for our next part of the series on do strokes cause arm pain where we'll discuss hemiplegia.

Do Strokes Cause Arm Pain? (Part 1)
September 20, 2024

Today, we're answering the question “Do strokes cause arm pain”?  And this is gonna be part of a 3 part series discussing spasticity, hemiplegia, and sensation changes.  So today, I'm gonna be talking about the sensory system, and how a stroke can affect that.

So, a lot of people after they have a stroke will say that they're having pain because they're feeling pins in needles or tingling or numbness, and this is all part of how sensation has changed, through that limb that's been affected.  And some of the best things you can do to address that are starting what some people call a sensory diet.  So this is exposing that part of the body that's been affected to a lot of different sensations.  So that can be sandpaper, tissues, you know, soft, rough, watching how that sensation feels when you're seeing the texture on your skin.  And then you can do it to an unaffected part of the body too and really think about how it feels different and add that mindfulness component of, you know, this feels soft, this feels itchy, this feels rough.

Do it on an unaffected side and an affected side. And the more you expose yourself to different textures and temperatures, the more that sensation will hopefully get more closer to normal.

What Helps With Stroke Recovery?
July 9, 2024

Today we're discussing what helps with stroke recovery, and there's a lot of different things to consider when thinking about all the different ways you can help in your recovery journey.  So being sure to get enough quality sleep is very important to allow your brain the chance to really rest and restore, and having a well-balanced diet and avoiding alcohol and smoking is also important for your body and brain.  Being sure to engage in activities that you enjoy is helpful for your stress relief and can also improve mobility and independence as well, and it's very important to use the affected side of your body as you're able to in different daily activities, because research has shown that more repetition helps improve function of those body parts, whether it's your leg, your foot, your arm, your hand. The more you're using it, the more you will recover, and sometimes faster as well.  So, stroke recovery is of course a very frustrating process at times, and one way to stay motivated is by setting small attainable goals and writing them down. This way you're keeping track of your milestones and you're celebrating your small wins along the way, and you know seeing a list of all that you have achieved both big and small can really remind you of how far you've come and keep you motivated to keep going. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please visit our website at www.STEPSforRecovery.com. Thank you.

How Are Strokes Diagnosed?
June 11, 2024

Today we're going to be answering the question, “How are strokes diagnosed?”  The warning symptoms of a stroke are described by the acronym BE FAST.  These symptoms include:  changes in balance, changes in your eyes or vision, facial drooping, arm weakness, and difficulty with speech.  If you or a loved one notice any of these symptoms, it's time to call 911 and immediately go to the hospital.  At the hospital, doctors will perform imaging of your brain to make a diagnosis and to determine the type of stroke and the area of your brain impacted.  These images help to plan the immediate medical treatment of a stroke.  Remember, time is brain, and if you notice any of the symptoms of BE FAST, it's time to take action and get immediate medical treatment.  If you have any questions about strokes or stroke recovery, please check out our website at stepsforrecovery.com or watch more videos here on our site.  Thanks, and have a great day.

Are Strokes Genetic?
May 14, 2024

Today we're going to be talking about the question, “Are strokes genetic?”  Strokes themselves are not genetic, however, there are several risk factors for strokes that may have a higher prevalence in some groups of people.  These risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.  If you have any of these medical conditions, please talk to your doctor or medical provider about how to manage them in order to reduce your risk of stroke.  You can also manage these risk factors by being physically active, managing stress, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco.  If you have any other questions about stroke or stroke recovery, please check out our website at  STEPSforRecovery.com or watch our other YouTube videos on this page.  Thanks, and I hope you have a great day.

What Is Neuroplasticity?
April 9, 2024

What is neuroplasticity?  Recovery from an event such as a stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury occurs due to neuroplasticity.  Neuroplasticity is the process in which the neurons, which are the cells in the brain or nervous system, create new pathways.  These pathways are what help us think, communicate, move, and interact with the world around us.  There are 10 principles of neuroplasticity.  The first is to “use it or lose it”.  This means you have to practice a skill if you want to keep the skill.  The second is to “use it and improve it”.  You can improve a skill by practicing it correctly.  The third is “specificity”.  This means practice what you want to improve.  The fourth is “repetition matters”.  Thousands of repetitions are needed in order to make changes.  Fifth is “intensity matters”.  High intensity makes bigger and faster changes.  Sixth is “time matters”.  Faster changes happen closer to the event, although you can still make improvements years past your injury.  The seventh is “salience matters”, meaning it needs to be important to you to make the biggest change.  The eighth is “age matters”.  It takes even more repetitions to make lasting changes with age.  Nine is “transference”.  This means one intervention can help improve similar behaviors.  The tenth is “interference”.  This means learned behaviors or motor pathways can hinder learning of more efficient motor pathways.  These principles can be used to help direct your rehabilitation following a neurologic injury in physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

How Long Will Stroke or Brain Injury Recovery Take?
March 12, 2024

How long will stroke or brain injury recovery take?  Many of our clients tell us that they were told to expect all recovery to happen in the first three months, six months, or a year after their injury or event.  Or stated differently, if you haven't gotten it back in a year, you won't get it back.  This is not only discouraging, it is untrue.  It is true that big changes happen early on, close to the event.  When a person first has a stroke or a brain injury, function is often very limited.  A person may be bed bound, they may not be able to eat, sit up, or walk.  Over time with recovery and therapy, function starts to return.  Often, every day is a milestone of accomplishing something new or refining ability with a function.  When you start from a position of having so little function, it can seem that recovery is progressing quickly.  Once a person leaves the hospital and goes home, they start to develop strategies for success in their home environment.  Sometimes these strategies build on what was learned in rehab, but sometimes they become more compensatory in nature.  Individuals learn to function with the movement they have available, and the emphasis on restoration of movement may change to getting things done faster or more independently.  This does not have to be the end of the recovery journey.  Slowing down and being very deliberate and consistent with incorporating your affected areas will result in improved function and recovery.  The milestones may be further apart and the changes may be smaller over time, but the science of neuroplasticity proves that as long as you keep working toward your goals, your brain will always have the potential to change, improve, and recover.

Where Do Strokes Occur?
February 6, 2024

Where do strokes occur?  Strokes occur in the central nervous system, also known as the CNS.  The CNS consists of the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord.  A stroke occurs when the arteries that supply oxygen and other nutrients to the different areas in the brain and spinal cord are blocked or they burst.  While a stroke can occur in any artery within the CNS, it most commonly occurs in the brain.  Each artery serves a different area of the brain.  Since each brain region has a different primary function, stroke survivors will have different symptoms based on the artery and area of the brain affected.

What is Stroke?
January 8, 2024

What is stroke?  Stroke is a condition that occurs when the brain's blood supply is interrupted.  It occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts.  When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells and brain tissue die.  There are two main types of stroke.  An ischemic stroke occurs when a vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked.  This is the most common type of stroke and can be caused by an embolism or a thrombus.  Part of the blood clot breaks loose, enters the bloodstream, and travels through the brain's blood vessels until it reaches vessels too small to let it pass.  Another type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke.  This type is caused by an abnormally formed or a weakened vessel that bursts and bleeds into the surrounding brain.  The blood accumulates and presses on the surrounding brain tissue.  A TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain.  Symptoms last from only a few minutes up to 24 hours.  Since it doesn't cause permanent damage, it's often ignored, but this is a big mistake.  TIA's may signal a full-blown stroke ahead.  When you first notice symptoms, get help immediately.  Remember, stroke is a medical emergency.  If someone is experiencing loss of balance, blurred vision, facial drooping, arm weakness, or speech difficulties, BE FAST and call 911 as soon as possible.  By learning and sharing the BE FAST warning signs, you just might save a life.