What can we expect?

[Devastated1961]

My Mother had a stroke a week ago while in an ICU at a major city hospital. They did not use TPA.
She has lost the use of her left arm, and left leg. The left side of her mouth has also been affected.
The Doc. said that the stroke was in the carotid artery of the right side of the brain, deep in the cortex.

Does someone have knowledge as to what we can expect? What does this part of the brain controll?

Thank you,
Devastated1961

[oc1dean]

You need to ask the doctor about the origin of the stroke, the right carotid artery feeds the brain but is not in the brain. Ask which cerebral artery was affected and have him/her show you a three dimensional map of the brain with the affected area highlighted. Ask about the motor and sensory homunculs maps to get a basic idea of what functions may have been affected. tPA is only given if the stroke was a clot so I am assuming that it was a bleed. Ask to see the CT scan or MRI. rehabilitation is possible even with a major stroke, I looked at my MRI and it looked like 1/3 of the right half of my brain was dark and I am recovering fairly well. Get the medical records from the scans so you can ask the drs about them. I found stuff out two years later that should have been told me immediately so I could have taken precautions.
Dean

[sue_in_oz]

Hi

Sorry to hear about your mum's stroke :(

I too had a stroke that took my left side away (from my eyelid to my tippy toes).  Although we probably have different areas of brain affected (mine was in the corona radiata) it sounds like we have somew deficits in common.

As each stroke is different, no one can tell you how things will go for your mum.  If they do, they are lying or sooo ignorant.  What I can offer you is hope.  Things can improve (extent unknown) if your mum puts the effort in through rehab.  I can walk unassisted,  use my left arm/hand a bit, drive, look after myself, cook, work, etc.  My face & tongue improved through talking - speech therapist prescribed :), LOL.

All the best for you & your mum.

HTH

Sue