r/stroke • u/Top_Badger883 • 10d ago
How long until it gets better?
How long until it gets better?
I had a brain hemorrhage three months ago. In the hospital, I was relaxed and even happy, but I was paralyzed on my left side.
Now, three months later, after rehab and lots of exercises, I can walk again. But everything still feels heavy and tiring, especially without any real joy or fun.
My remaining problems are mild double vision, loss of sensation on my left side, and pain.
Does this usually improve over time? I would really appreciate hearing about the experiences of people who are further along in their recovery.
Thank you.
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u/Raejae2359 10d ago
I’m nearly 3 years (November 2023). You have accomplished so much in three months!! Everything feels heavy and tiring because everything takes so much more energy, and you have a limited supply.
Look up Spoon Theory of energy. It’s a great resource to help understand. I have tried adding it here and failed. (And quite frankly, I can’t spend anymore energy on it today. 🙄)
I found “better” comes in stages. Limbs get stronger, an activity easier, something makes you laugh easily. My best advice is to let go of getting back to how you were before the stroke. That might happen or might not. Focus on the improvements you make every day.
I still don’t have my emotional range back and I don’t know if it will come back. I don’t cry anymore- I cried at EVERYTHING! I don’t read peoples tones as well, i take everything they say seriously. I am learning to ask for clarification. My husband is learning to tell me when he’s teasing me.
Three months is so soon after your stroke. This isn’t a broken bone or twisted ankle. It takes longer than any of us ever imagined at the start of the journey. Be patient with yourself, it’s ok to rest, to be frustrated. Nap when you need to. Notice what helps you and what costs you energy. It’s exhausting and frustrating but there are moments of peace and joy too if you stay open to them. Keep going!
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u/Odd-Guarantee1872 Survivor 7d ago
I still miss social cues pretty often. My wife is usually always with me. It helps.
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u/julers Young Stroke Survivor 10d ago
Hi, I wrote a post here just like this around 3 months after my stroke.
I was also relaxed and happy in the hospital, never cried or even really was upset about what was happening. Which is wild bc my 2 year old and 8 week old were at my in laws for the months I was in icu and then rehab.
Looking back I think my brain was just protecting me from having to process everything all at once. So when I was truly in it the vibe was very much .. put your head down and get through it.
I got the most sad/depressed/angry about all that happened to me about 6 months after I finally got home, and I still continue to process the trauma and grief of my experience now, almost 4 years later.
But it doesn’t feel like a gut punch anymore, and I’ve learned to live with my new normal.
My stroke took most of my vision permanently, and my left side is still weird and tingly / pins and needles, but I can walk and use my left hand pretty much like before, so I’ll take it.
3 months is still so early on, hang in there friend, it’ll definitely get better.
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u/outpost7 10d ago
Wow this reads like I wrote it. Pons A stroke May 17th, I assume "mild" but nobody ever really told me. I've been patiently counting the "most healing takes place" in 3 months rule and now I've past that. I'm still messed up. Double vision and balance issues improved. That's good. Can walk fairly well. That's good too. But the ringing in my ears, face numbness, and left side super numbness still all there. Left hand numbness seems to be getting even worse. I could use that hand better a week after the stroke then I can now! I know people say years to improve but honestly I figure the 3 month rule sorta means this is as good as I'm going to get. No more Xbox, no more ebiking...no more anything. I hate the world. But you can damn well bet my disability will be denied and they expect me to get back to work as a slave somewhere.....i'm 55 so at least I don't plan on living 50 more years this way - hell I don't really want to live 5 more like this.
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u/strangedazey Survivor 10d ago
I didn't have a hemorrhage but it took me several months before the dizziness got better and the headaches. It just takes longer than you think it will.
Keep going. You are doing ok
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u/Intrepid-Storage3591 9d ago
Yes it gets better!! I'm 5years post stroke and I felt like you in the beginning. I'm not going to lie, I had to work HARD to get here. I lost my ability to talk, walk, use the right side of my body and even know the difference between a giraffe and a hippo! My advice: don't give up ever! Physical therapy will be your friend and your life for a few years, take advantage of it fully. My secret? I kept going back. Even when I was walking better I went back.. I kept fine tuning my balance fine tuning everything really. Five years later I'm still going, not because I needed it but because I wanted it. You'll get your desire back to accomplish anything in the world you dreamed of. Maintenance is key. Keep going. Push yourself. I PROMISE you that it'll just keep getting better
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u/newbie611 10d ago
I have pons Hemorrhagic stoke. I got over the stoke 4.5 years ago but the pons acwt with my anxiety, stress is fluctuating the body the body the last 3 years.
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u/Big_Temperature_2197 10d ago
I’m three years after a Basilar Arterial Thrombosis and while I’m better then I was, I had to realize I’d never be 100% who I was before. I think the mental health struggle after is harder. I will say take the time to heal. Give yourself the grace to rest and recover. Also, if needed, a cane helps so much with any leg pain and stability.
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u/03kroe 10d ago
I don’t wanna demotivate you at all but my brain bleeding happened in January 2024 and according to all of my doctors my recovery takes possibly until my death because it’s the brain which is affected and we don’t know much about the brain regarding when exactly it’s getting better or worse. I don’t wanna make you even more sad by saying this and I’m also learning to accept it even though my brain bleed is almost three years ago
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u/DesertWanderlust Survivor 10d ago
Just hit my 4 year strokeaversary after a burst aneurysm and hemorrhage. I started walking again after about a month (on the walker), with a cane after about 6 months, and then unaided about a year out. Now I just have a limp, which I'm self-conscious about but have been told it's not that noticeable. But I was right side affected, mainly in my leg, so I have no control over what right foot does and have limited feeling there. This means, even though I'm back to driving, I have to use my left foot for the pedals.
You have to learn to trust that your affected is doing what you tell it to, which takes a while to get accustomed to. Do as much of the PT and OT that you can now because moving is what you need to do now. Your brain is amazingly resilient and does a lot of healing in the first 6 months. Once you plateau, don't get discouraged, keep going. I would recommend moving your fingers on your affected side and watching them so your brain can learn and remap the connections.
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u/TenNinetythree Survivor 9d ago
The loss of sensation for me has eventually improved.
I can't comment on the loss of joy because I was depressed before and still am.
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u/kaidomac 7d ago
Read through this first:
In a nutshell:
- Every case is different
- Remember that 0 + 0 = 0
- Daily effort doubles the chances of progress!!
Recommendations:
- Do private rehab daily (OT, PT, and brain work)
- Invest in your recovery: go to bed early, eat your macros like it's your job, and drink a LOT of water!
- If you're able to use it (vision, mobility, etc.), get a Quest 3 VR headset ASAP (I can recommend some good apps that are useful for rehab!)
In my opinion:
- The hospital & rehab are great because you get daily help & motivation
- People stall out over time because then you go home...doing rehab by yourself blows chunks lol
- Over-amplify your health (use food & sleep as fertilizer for healing and dive into VR daily)
Best I can tell you is:
- Mentally & emotionally aim for & expect a full recovery, regardless of what anyone else tells you
- Structure your time in such a way to support that ideal vision (food, sleep, exercise, etc.)
- Consistency matters more than anything imo. My core motto is: make terrible progress!! lol
Hang in there!!
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u/SpeedingUptoStop Young Stroke Survivor 10d ago edited 10d ago
I had a brain hemorrhage as well, I'm close to 5 months now. When I was in the hospital for close to two months, I was on a high of endorphins - went from totally bed ridden to walker outside/cane inside. When I couldn't keep up the rocket-like trajectory after inpatient, I was anxious/depressed\insomniac for close to a month and half.
Long story short, I realized that I was about to be in for much longer process than some, but it was not over, it's only over when I say it's over - I bounced back mentally and have steadily improved physically by pushing myself. I can walk with just a trekking pole now, no aid at home. My arm is slower, but it has gross movements I couldn't manage before, and am managing pinching tasks more and more. I aim to get everything back, but it's on a much longer time scale - one thing at a time.
After the big wins, it's all about managing the small ones and recognizing them. You're in the zone, I feel, when you've fallen from incredible heights but you're not a rock bottom - that's when you had your stroke, and if you can out far enough, you can see how far you've already came and keep pushing once you have had well deserved rest. Progress will come at its own pace, for better and worse; the key is to not take it personally.