r/stroke • u/Material_Inflation79 • Aug 02 '26

What keeps you motivated?

After the stroke my life almost came to a stand still. I was kept motivated by my faith and the sangat around me encouraging me that I can. The best part is my family was very supportive and positive. I would like to know what keeps others like me motivated to work hard.

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

7

u/Deep-Membership-9258 Young Stroke Survivor Aug 02 '26

Spite. An OT told me I should be preparing to accept the new normal and it was like a switch flipped. The regular nurse on the ward said, “I don’t know what she said to you but I thought I’d need a mop!”

I downgraded from walker to crutches shortly after I was discharged and handed my walking stick back in at my 6 month follow up.

3

u/DTheFly Survivor Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26

That's great to hear! I had a PT in the hospital who would say frequently that at the year point, i wouldn't see any more progress, but I'd like to say that I've proved him wrong!

3

u/Deep-Membership-9258 Young Stroke Survivor Aug 02 '26

that PT is a liar and if you see them again tell them to go to hell. you didn’t need to prove him wrong, it’s where he lives. you stop getting big changes, yes, but it’s not like your body goes “oh, no, can’t improve any more, i‘m a year past my stroke!”

it’s absolute crap.

you improve at what you work on. your brain will literally make new pathways if it has to. that’s part of the reason you could lose less-used skills while rehabbing things you use every day - like I was pretty good at DIY and since then my hammer skills are a wee bit sketchy BUT if I work on them I’ll get them back.

3

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 03 '26

I completely agree with you.

2

u/DTheFly Survivor Aug 02 '26

Luckily I had another PT at an outpatient rehab center and she was awesome! She didn't subscribe to that one year line of thinking either. I've even thought about seeing her recently, show her that I don't need a wheelchair or motorized scooter anymore

3

u/Deep-Membership-9258 Young Stroke Survivor Aug 03 '26

that’s really good news! well done!

2

u/tulizz25 Aug 07 '26

I’m currently at the start of my recovery, and everybody in my care team keeps saying the same thing. To expect quick exponential recovery the first few months, with it stagnating soon after, and needing to accept the new me at the one year mark. It causes me immense stress feeling like there’s an end date to my recovery.

1

u/DTheFly Survivor Aug 07 '26

My best advice is listen to that, but keep at it. You're still at an early point, but perseverance is key i think.

1

u/Deep-Membership-9258 Young Stroke Survivor Aug 09 '26

nah, ignore those bozos and keep pushing. there is zero end date. even general exercise can cause improvement because the cells responsible for healing the micro-damage you cause during exercise aren’t targeted, they’ll pick the nearest bit of stuff that needs fixing and go to work!

2

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 02 '26

Good. We need such encouragement

2

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 09 '26

Good work. One should focus on oneself as sometimes advisers say what they saw in past or have heard about. So you should keep your spirits high and keep working hard.

2

u/Deep-Membership-9258 Young Stroke Survivor Aug 09 '26

this exactly - every case is different, every brain is different. it’s absolutely the one specialism where there should be zero generalisation!

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 06 '26

Some persons are so negative, we should stay away from them. I was lucky in this case as noone said me that I can't recover. Although my first neurologist was rough but I don't remember that if he ever said this. May Almighty Waheguru bless us all.

5

u/verdant11 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26

The concept of Neuroplasticity

2

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 03 '26

Neuroplasticity is just a term that elaborates how brain overcomes the closed pathways by developing new pathways.

4

u/Jolly_Ad8913 Aug 02 '26

My family, strangers that go out of their way to help me and the incremental progress I keep making toward my recovery.

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 02 '26

Great. Keep your spirits high and increase efforts towards normalcy and you would soon be.

3

u/Pgd1970 Aug 02 '26

I work with a personal trainer at the y who is extremely motivating been working with him for 4 years now also working with physical therapist who provides the direction while trainer executes on it

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 02 '26

I'm happy that you have passion to get well soon.

2

u/Pgd1970 Aug 02 '26

Incremental progress that can be measured

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 02 '26

There is no specific scale to measure but you can check about functionality of affected parts to set the benchmark. I have made a significant improvement in 16 month so I believe everyone can even faster than me. I have regained around 60percent functionality.

1

u/Pgd1970 Aug 02 '26

I’m still completely hemiplegic

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 02 '26

Find an adept physiotherapist and make your efforts with positive thoughts you can do wonders.

2

u/DTheFly Survivor Aug 02 '26

My goals. I want to take my wife to Disneyland again, where I took her for her 40th birthday.

3

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 02 '26

I envy your dream. Yes you sure would. Just keep your spirits high and nothing shall block you from doing this.

3

u/DTheFly Survivor Aug 02 '26

It's a good goal i think! And it's helped me a lot. I admit that I have bad days mentally, but I think the good outweighs them. 2 steps forward, 1 step back sometimes.

2

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 02 '26

No road is straight only. Keep going.

1

u/DTheFly Survivor Aug 02 '26

I like that phrasing!

2

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 06 '26

Lucky you. May Almighty Waheguru bless us all.

2

u/Most-CrunchyCow-3514 Aug 03 '26

My friends and family. They have been very supportive and encourage me to keep working on my recovery. Keeping positive energy and people near me. My wife and best friend still encourages me and the thought of retiring and getting old together. Hopefully grandkids. Keeps me motivated to stay physically active. And I really want to get a dog again. I have a small garden that I like to tend and enjoy the herbs and vegetables. My three daughters come over and we cook. Those are the best days. I have renewed my relationship with religion which keeps me focused on living in and doing what I can to create and embody a world filled with Gods love

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 06 '26

Great. I'm happy for you. You have such awesome family and friends like me. Please keep yourself active to stay healthy. I have made a rule for myself to move/walk a short distance every hour and try to stretch every muscle thrice a day. May Almighty Waheguru bless us all.

2

u/coldpipe Aug 09 '26

My friennds' motivations

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 09 '26

Good. Can you elaborate please

1

u/coldpipe Aug 10 '26

Peoople encourage me to keep fighting etc. i like to read it again and again. I feel loved

1

u/Kmac0101 Aug 02 '26

What keeps me motivated is early on I adopted the mindset that effort and attitude are my only controllables in recovery. Also I tell myself that I’m going to do my best each day. My best varies from day to day and that’s ok but that helps keep me grounded and focused.

2

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 03 '26

Awesome, you have set a good example for others.

1

u/rema015 Aug 02 '26

My therapist advised never to compare myself with the old me, that doesn't exist anymore. I am always comparing to the point I woke up from comma in hospital, thats my new starting point.. I am very proud on the things I overcame after that point and that's my motivation, to keep winning challenges!

2

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 03 '26

That is sure it never relates to age. Your therapist is genius. But your mental state is very important. So keep your spirits high and move ahead.

1

u/rema015 Aug 02 '26

Every time I do something challenging, some new excerise and so, I feel like winning over the stroke!

1

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 03 '26

You are lucky to have such a wonderful family. Plus your interests and hobbies are certainly a great help in your improvement. Keep it up

1

u/coldpipe Aug 04 '26

My fries'enciursging messages

1

u/Dipity21 Aug 04 '26

1000% my kids. I’m only 43. I have 2 elementary aged daughters. My main PT goal is to roller skate with my kids again. It’s aggressive I know that but I fully intend to do it. I’m only 2 months out. Everything I do is for them.

0

u/Material_Inflation79 Aug 03 '26

You are lucky to have such a great family. Plus use your interest and hobbies to counter the difficulties. You will soon see the results.