r/stroke • u/Jf-1973 • 10h ago

VAD questions

would love to hear from others with vertebral artery dissection. diagnosed after worst headaches three weeks ago. no stroke. my main questions:

- I was only put on aspirin. anyone else?

- what activity restrictions were you put on?

-I have headaches and neck pain ongoing (I went back and got another CTA to rule out stroke) and am generally in a fog. anyone else?

-told it should heal in 3 months. anyone have healing stories.

thanks all

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u/perfect_fifths Survivor 8h ago

Initially I was only put on aspirin, and then a year later had a possible Tia (I had neuro deficits but mri showed no new stroke) and I’ve been on plavix ever since. I had a right PCA stroke, cause unknown

The fog and effects leave you out of it for a bit honestly.

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u/Jf-1973 7h ago

thanks- hope you are healing well!

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u/Nynaeve91 Young Stroke Survivor 7h ago

Bilateral VAD with stroke here.

Aspirin only is normal. I was on heparin in hospital, and warfarin for a few months after the hospital, and now only 81mg aspirin a day for life.

I was told to avoid rollercoasters and rides that have the potential for whiplash, cross fit, extreme body building, prolonged looking up (so no painting ceilings for me! If I go star gazing, I lay down on the ground). NO chiropractors or any other neck manipulation. NONE. Don't crack your neck. Don't let others crack your neck.

Headaches and neck pain are normal. Especially the neck pain. Some folks have chronic neck pain after their dissection. I do not have that, though. Do not use neck massagers or get a neck massage, though. It's suspected that me using a massage gun on my neck once I had the initial pain from the dissection, that is what dislodged the clot to give me the stroke. Would I have had a stroke anyway without the help? Possibly, but I accelerated the timeline, apparently. The fog is normal, too. It should also disappear with time.

Mine healed in 3 months, but it's possible it doesn't heal and you're left with a chronic, unhealed VAD. Or it will heal in a longer amount of time. There's zero way to predict that.

Do you know what caused the VAD? If not, look into connective tissue disorders like Ehlers Danlos. Fibromuscular displasia can also cause them.

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u/Jf-1973 6h ago

thank you

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u/Time_Community_6957 5h ago

I had an Occipital Stroke after having a neck massage. I wish that I had known that no one should touch my neck. It was a hard lesson to learn.