Hi Dean,
Thank you for your enquiry. I’m sorry to hear about the challenges you’re experiencing with spasms, your balance, walking and the associated pain since your holiday.
After a stroke your posture and walking pattern can change due to changes in muscle strength and tone (this may include spasms) in the major muscles groups used for walking and posture. Other muscles groups may have to work harder or compensate to accommodate these changes and this can lead to soreness or pain. We suggest you be reassessed by a neurological physiotherapist to see what might be causing this recent change and pain. The physio can give you appropriate stretches, exercises and advice tailored specifically to you.
If using the walker is helping the spasms or providing you with better posture and support to walk, you might consider using this more until you see a physio. Do you think you were walking more while on holidays or over different terrain? If so, these may also be contributing factors. We recommend you also book an appointment to have a chat with your GP. They can review you, address pain management and make the physio referral if you need a new one.
In regards to the cognitive fatigue, many stroke survivors report fatigue after stroke. It can be debilitating for some people. You might like to read more about it here and also listen to our podcast on fatigue, if you haven’t already. There is also a great conversation on here specifically about cognitive fatigue and another one on the more practical things you can do to manage fatigue.
If you would like to speak to one of our health professionals to discuss your spasms and walking further please call us on 1800 787 653 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).
Best wishes,
Simone (StrokeLine)
what they don't tell you are your limitations , stoke has signs of recovery , it might take years before you are walking a short distance with out pain , the so called specialist don't know what you have to put up with , excerciser might help , but it might not help , depends on your injury and some times your brain doesn't heal , exercise keeps the muscles healthy .