Hi Jane,
Thank you for your question on EnableMe.
We are sorry to hear about your stroke and the difficulties you are having with typing.
For most stroke survivors, recovery is lifelong. The good news is you can still make gains months and years after stroke. Are you currently receiving any therapy? It sounds like you would benefit from an occupational therapy assessment or review. An occupation therapist can assess your coordination, control, sensation and strength in functional tasks like typing then help you with a rehabilitation program to improve your typing if this is a goal of yours. They can also assess if you need any equipment or aids to help you with using the computer.
You can get a referral from your GP under a Chronic Disease Management Plan or get a referral to outpatient or community based occupational therapy. In the meantime practicing using the left hand and continuing to type will be important, even if it is slower than before to begin with. Slowly increase the speed once the control and accuracy improves. Basically keep using that hand! The saying stands in stroke rehabilitation that if you don’t use it, you lose it.
Here is a blog post on ‘tips for exercise – arms and hands’ and another one you might find helpful.
If you would like to speak to a health professional please feel free to call StrokeLine on 1800 787 653 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Best of luck getting back to typing,
Chloe and Simone (StrokeLine)
Hi Jane,
Here are some answers for you from the Facebook community too:
Fiona: As a Human Resources consultant using a computer is vital for my work. I have tried a number of things to return the full use of my left hand so that I can be an 85wpm touch typist that I used to be prior to my stroke five years ago. I finally resorted to using dragon speak which is brilliant software for voice recognition and I am now able to compile major reports, send emails and produce other correspondence quite effectively.
Nicole: I suffered a stroke 3 years ago and I was a full-time Medical (Radiology) typist. I had to retrain myself to get my left hand to work / reconnect to my brain again. Perseverance, practice, patience, and being easy on yourself. It took time but I’m back to my old typing speed. I now only work 3 days permanent part-time as the mental, physical and emotional fatigue is too much. One day I might go back full time but just learning to be gentle on myself.
Sue: I saw a hand physio and also just went back to very basic typing exercises - it’s improved greatly although not completely back to how it was ..... when I’m fatigued it’s worse.... but it’s getting there!
Sharon: Yes, I did. Right from the first minute of my recovery I used theraputty and had occupational therapy to work my effected hand. I also started using my
Keyboard again. I can’t type as fast but it did come back eventually. My CVA wasn’t a ‘big’ one either which probably also helped.
Cassandra: My Dad was a journalist before his Stroke; 4 years ago, but he still has difficulty w typing. He’s been using a massage gel, it’s like putty & each day he uses it to help strengthen his hands & fingers. And that helps w circulation too which could aid in one day maybe getting full use back - All the best!
Tara-Lee: Hi Jane,
Similar thing happened with me and I saw a Music Therapist. I work as a Human Resources Administrator, so I am on a computer all day.
We did all types of exercises on the piano and I had a keyboard piano that I borrowed from a family member to practice myself at home.
Katerini: was my amazing Music Therapist and she maybe able to help refer you and/or how to look for one in your area.
All the best
hi Jane- depending on which city you are in you can find all registered music therapists at the Australian music therapy association austmta.org.au best of luck x
Sinead: I was the same - great typist before stroke - lost all function in left hand. I got the Five-finger Typist program and trained myself to touch-type with just right hand. Not as fast but back up to reasonable working speed (70wpm) after about 6 months of using it.
Kaleece: Hi Jane, occupational therapist might be best person to do daily excercises with.
Meliame: I think it takes time. I'm the same, it's been three years since my stroke and I have am still working on getting the movement back
Mick: I used to type 85 words a minute on a computer keyboard before my stroke but post stroke I can barely type 10. I have had a lot of rehab on my stroke legacies including my dexterity and my fine motor skills - in fact I am still having it - and whilst there’s been some improvement, it has not returned to the degree I had hoped. I do sincerely hope you can get back your typing speed and accuracy, Jane, and that you have better luck than I have had to date. Don’t give up, please stick with it regardless. No doubt you are seeing an OT to help you with your legacies and I wish you continued good health and good luck for your future.
Best regards,
Michael
Duncan: Hi Jane, my stroke was over 3 years ago now, my left side was paralyzed but my fine motor control on my left hand came back pretty quickly however full use of my left arm took a long Tom, and something I'm still working on, being naturally right handed doesn't help because it easy to stop or forget about doing things with my left but I persevered and started .ca daily routine if throwing a ball and catching it, throwing with my left but catching with both, this along with swimming I think helped me the most ad well as physio tips us using a brush or a mop in both hands and using it like a weight bar to raise it above my head, using mostly my right arm st first but the motion pulled my left along with it and just getting it moving helped, another good one was to walk my hand up the wall or kitchen cupboard doors to get my arm extended above my head and build up the shoulder movement, try different things to see what you can do and keep doing it for a few weeks to see how it goes, good luck.
KT: There is a really good free online basic typing program through Sense Lang typing.
Terri: I was the same tried a hand therapist but for me it is still now very difficult to type prob best to say I have lost my fine motor sills in my left hand and as for threading a needle that’s a real laugh and putting the back on my earrings thank god for a cleavage good luck terri xx
Tanya: This website may be helpful to you as you can isolate which finger you want to concentrate on at a time.
A good neuro physio / OT will be able to advise you on specifics but often supporting the wrist flat on a surface and a rolled wash cloth under the palm will help allow you to isolate the fingers without having to stabilise at the wrist and hand at time. Good luck with your recovery.
Check this out too
Karen: Hi Jane, For me its important to focus on what I can do, rather than what I can't. I hold down a full time professional, computer-based job, typing one handed. My one hand functions almost as fast as my brain and any loss of speed creates more thinking space. Many stroke survivors in my networks use alternative keyboards and voice activated software so they can do what they want to or need to do, in modified ways. Depending on the reasons for your 'out of control' affected hand there are many therapies which can help you work towards your goal. Is it a movement or sensory issue, or both, as the therapies are quite different. My tough love voice as a stroke survivor peer mentor says 'The framing of your problem statement needs a reality check.' You are alive. You have good functional use of one hand. You don't appear to be managing congitive deficits. There are therapies and technologies available free or at low cost which can help you make incremental gains. If your priority goal is to be 'a fast and accurate typist' and you are willing to put focussed hours over numerous years into achieving this goal, then my suggestion is that you break the big goal down into incremental therapy steps so you have a realistic starting point. I give this advice in the context of being a headstrong, determined 'never say die' stroke survivor who has spent 10 years achieving unachievable small gains. For me it's vitally important, but it's not for the weak hearted. For me the most effective therapies are those which use my hobbies and interests to make gains across holistic hand function. For me its craft. For others its cooking, gardening, woodwork, yoga, water based exercise... The list is endless. An awesome OT has been my greatest ally. Do what you love, and do it very often. Much love and best wishes in your ongoing recovery.
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