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Physical Effects of Stroke

So, on the morning of my stroke, initially I went completely numb on my right side; it started in my foot and I actually thought that my new boots were too tight. Within minutes it had moved up my whole leg, hip, torso and down my right arm. I remember holding my pride and joy designer handbag and not being able to lift it up to put it in the cupboard at work. After about 2/3 weeks at home being completely bedridden I managed to get around using Lee or strategically placed furniture for support, but I couldn't scrunch up my toes on the right foot. This became my obsession; I would lie in bed day after day just staring at my toes willing them to move, after 9 weeks, by which point I had all but given up, I was lying in bed one night and felt a spasm in my foot, I looked down and I was scrunching my toes up. 16 months on, I can still scrunch them up, the only noticeable difference from my none affected side is that actions seem to be somewhat in slow motion. 

The right side of my body is still numb, more so in my leg, if I run my hand along my leg there's large parts of it I cannot feel. Strangely, I noticed when Lee was helping me into the bath one day, I can't tell what temperature the water is with that foot/hand.

Because my stroke happened on the left side of my brain my right side arm and leg were affected; my neurologist made it clear to me that after 3 months wherever I was in my recovery would more than likely be where I stayed for the foreseeable future. What I didn't expect was pain on my none affected side. To say I was surprised when this issue arose is an understatement. 

Nerve pain is a kind of pain that, for me, is incredibly hard to describe, if I had to put it into words I would say it sometimes feels like someone is pouring scalding hot or extremely ice cold water over one side of my body. 

Central Post Stroke Pain/Nerve pain occurs in up to 20% of stroke survivors. It is caused by the central nervous system becoming damaged or injured during a traumatic event such as a stroke or spinal cord injury. Over use or a change in temperature can make the pain much worse. 

Ordinary painkillers are not effective for nerve pain; my GP prescribed me Amitriptyline, commonly used as an anti-depressant, at a low dose to decrease the pain and have a mild sedative effect which would help me sleep through the pain. For me this is not an effective cure for my nerve pain, so I am currently waiting for a referral to the pain clinic. 

I also, in the earlier months post stroke, experienced extreme swelling in my effected side, for no reason whatsoever I would look down and my foot would be 5 times its normal size and I would be unable to stand up. 

One massive piece of advise from a website I was scanning whilst looking for help and support on my recovery journey was "Remember you don't have to climb the whole staircase, you just need to get on the first step."

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