Recovery from stroke - analysis

There is as accepted fact the proposition that all strokes are different.

With a few dissenters. (Me).

Another piece of accepted fact is that the largest increases in stroke affects recovery take place within the first six months, tapering off to negligible after four years. I shall call this the 6/4 rule. It is a nonsense to suggest that variable strokes follow a fixed recovery course!

I shall need help to sort out this problem so I call on “the average punter” to simplify it for we confused mortals.

The strength of a stroke from low to high is as follows: being bashed on the head with: a feather duster; a wet rolled newspaper; a dry rolled newspaper; a half full cereal box; a bamboo stick; a broom handle; a baseball bat; a cricket bat, thanks “punter”, I will expand on this picture.

My stroke was medium intensity. My leg received no reasonable therapy for the first two months (see recovery from stroke) so my recovery started from September 2012 till September 2013 when recording stopped at 12 months intensive therapy (see recovery) kept me improving, I believe, at a steady rate.

Now to my left arm, (see recovery from stroke), its recovery started at the four year end of the rule and stayed there for the period under review. To amuse my physio as she set up arm exercises I describe my arm as three planks of wood tied to my shoulder with strings.

So we can see that variable stroke intensity and variable quality of physiotherapy together with determination to work makes the 6/4 rule a load of old rope as “the punter” would say.

And another thing. A worried and puzzled family seeking information about granddad’s stroke should not be hit with a bland statement of the 6/4 rule. Anyone guilty of this should be taken out the back and flogged, according to “the punter”.

Try this instead ‘You are the Jones family? Mr Jones arrived in good time to receive damage limiting brain treatment. It went well. He is in critical care where the extent of any physical limitations is being checked and his general health stabilised. In the next week if things continue to go well we expect to transfer him to a recovery ward where therapy on his leg can start.’

I am sure there must be many more recoverers who have had a similar experience to mine which exposes the 6/4 “rule” as probably nonsense. Due to changed circumstances I can no longer continue any 6/4 study.

On 13/10/13 I broke my left hip followed by other problems which lead to early fatigue afterward so I am still learning to walk proficiently. At my usual gym*, we make our own targets starting from zero.

Angus July 2015

*This is the recovery centre as acknowledged in “Recovery from stroke”.