thalamus stroke recovery

[RP8476]

Hi, I am 70 years old and  had a mild CVA of the thalamus on 6/2/2008.  Only symtoms were loss of feeling on left side.  All other faculties are good.  Still  have much tingling all over left side and numbness in some areas.  Fine motor skills of left hand are bad.  Gross motor skills and strength are good.  Pain receptors are working for the most part.  Sensory receptors are not functioning very well.  I was wondering if anyone out there may have or have had the same condition and what the general prognosis may be for recovery.  I am currently taking AGGRENOX, ZOCOR, B12 COMPLEXI, FISH OIL. I do strength training every other day and cardio training on the other days.  BP is a little high  145/75. Heart rate 55-60. Any feedback would b e greatly appreciated.

[shb1]

I read your comments with interest.  I had a thalamus stroke in June, 2006.  It happened while sleeping.  I awoke with total numbness and tingling  on my right side, head to toe.  Because this happened on Sunday and I had no pain or loss of movement and several hernicated disks, numbness was not unusual.  When I visited the Dr. the next morning, he sent me to a neurologist.  Over the last two years some feeling has returned to almost all areas of my right side in varying degrees except for the fingers and toes on the right side.  I have trouble picking up small, flat things,  terrible penmanship.  Though I can feel warm or cold air on my left side and limited on my right side, I have lost the ability to feel hot or cold. e.i. I only know I am hot when I sweat and I never get cold enough to feel the need for a jacket.  This is an area that I watch closely.  In summer dehydration is a constant concern.  Dr. state that I have done a commendable job continuing with as near as possible lifestyle.  I have had loss of strength in my right arm, but keep up  normal activities.  I am 66 years old, work 17 hours a week.  Even though improvement is show, I can certainly encourage you to keep up the exercise.  I believe that if I had not kept up with my usual routine, my outlook would be a lot worse.  I'm interested in how you've progressed.  PS  I didn't listen to the Drs. when they told me this was as good as it was going to get!!  and it wasn't!

[wavemann]

I am experiencing exactly thie same left half numbness/tingling and burning sensations after waking one morning and being diagnosed with two small strokes right side thalamus. I am taking very similar meds, Aggrenox, Elavil and Gabapentin. My sensation ave not improved in 5 months. I find it difficult to stand for any length of time as I become exhausted. I am hoping for some improvement in the near future.

[loftycat]

As far as I 'm concerned, I'm afraid that modern medicine can do little in stroke recovery, so I suggest you can take some alternative medicine. Meditation, acupuncture, hypnosis, reflexology, herbalmedicine, and so on are all alternative medicine, and I think there must be one can help you. My friend's mother caught stroke and we are looking for any treatment to help her. I think Traditional Chinese Medicine should be my best choice. After our searching, oral pellet and massage will improve the condition. We are now considering to take Kangnaowan Pellet, which is a Traditional Chinese Medicine, and also we will do massage to help her recover.
Hope it will help you.

[OneGirlRiot]

I had a thalamic stroke two days ago.  Entire left side was numb, but I had about 3/4 of my regular strength and could move all my appendages with ease.  I am on Lipitor and a diuretic.

I am walking with a cane now, and the numbness in the bottom part of my arm has dissipated, same with my toes.  Still numb up the left side, but it's fading, amazingly.

I am 46, smoked for ten years, pack a day, high bp. (Obviously)
Quit now, and changing diet.  
Will miss coffee :( but it was time to toss the cigs anyway.

to shb1: YOU ARE SO RIGHT!  Never give up, no matter what docs say.

[vangie1218]

my dad had a thalamic stroke on Right side of brain, when admited to the hospital he had full sensation and feeling on Right side now 13 days later he cant even walk due to sever tingling and numbness in Right leg, even the therapist is puzzled about this and the doctor does NOT seem concerned.....HELP.............I need an answer as to why my dad is NOT getting better

[me754]

      I had a stroke in Feb. 2012  I think never paid much attention to time.
I have found that most of my function improves when I avoid white bread, etc. , processed wheat ,ie. noodles biscuit...  I also take a good multi vitamin and beta carotene ( A )  now flax seed oil ( achy joints ). It all seems to be working for me just very slow... I used to have very high physical demands on myself and now must take it easy... hard to be patient.
Also I should say I am 52 been a smoker over 40 yrs. drunk for 5 yrs in my teens and weekends for years after, still my body performed perfectly considering... now 6 yrs diabetic ( meds. make me sick til I was in a wheelchair ). I threw away the meds. and started tai chi / chi gong !  Best thing I ever did !  Mostly , believe in your good health and ...um build the dream of good health in your head, the vision will lead you to it !!

[bettyg0818]

I just had a left thalamus stroke on July 10, 2012 with tingling/numbness in right fingers, right cheek, and a numb feeling in bottom of ball of my right foot when I walk/ my writing is not the best yet. I tried doing 5 pound weight lifting plus other band exercises but found when I upped the reps to 10, it created an uneasy feeling in my chest and elevated my blood pressure.  I guess I will try going back to 5 reps as I have lost some strength in my right hand---any other ideas that have worked for you?  thanks for sharing your experience on this sight.

[me754]

I have found that most ( western medicine ) is for them not the person being treated.  I saw many treatments and pros... that in the end only want to make themselves great !  
I think that it is better to build the mind into a great part of how the body works everyday thereby making the whole person work in balance.  The human system is amazingly complex and yet simple to operate if one will just stop believing THEY and do what is really good sense , I chose the method of the old Chinese... it seems to do very well to keep the mind and body working toward working together... many work I think ie, Yoga, Dance, some form of inward peace focus if you will so long as it helps you to get more involved in your own function / thought process.  It has been said to me that the Bio feedback method works... !? One has to be able to see the mind and body working better together that's it for me ! I use the " meditation " videos a lot on the youtube. I find that it stimulates my mind with the wild visual audio ... I feel better after.  I seem to function better also.... picking things up from the counter, refrigerator , etc..
I hope you will find a method that will work for you. Maybe I said something here that helps.... Hope.

[robertajoanne]

Sorry to hear about your dad.  Not sure of your current situation as your post was a year ago but my dad too had a sudden decline while in the hospital after a thalamic stroke (we didn't know what it was when we first took him in).  Drs didn't really do any further testing and it's only been through questioning, pushing, arguing, advocating by the family that he is getting the care he needs.  We are now 3 years post stroke and he's been called the "miracle man" when we've been back to the local hospital.  Over time he has lost 98% of all motor function, his speech, and ability to swallow.  I wish we had pushed harder 3 years ago for physio and occupational therapy as I truly believe it would have granted him better quality of life.  If your dad is still with you, advocate, advocate, advocate!  Do the research, ask the questions, never accept half answers or mediocre care.  Get help!  There are agencies that can offer support, financial and otherwise.  It can be a long row to hoe, but your dad's quality of life is so important.  All the best to you and God bless.

[charla2015]

I am a 53 yr old female who was in pretty good health and had a left thalamus stroke May1, 2015. Its now been almost 2 months and I am still experiencing right side numbness in my face and hand. But it's worse in my lower right leg and foot. I am just wondering if you could tell me how you are doing now and how long it took you to get better? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Raddoc1]

I am 53 also with a left thalamus stroke last week. Just got out of the hospital. Finally have my BP under control.  How are you doing?  I have sensory issues on the right side with quick fatigue on the right side

[Edwinamid]

I had a left thalamic stroke three months ago and still experiencing double vision any one help with any advice please?

[nettie2008]

HELLO I also had a stroke in my thalmus and now have double vision. I have been stuck like rhis since last November 2017. No one knows how to fix this yet.

[Strokecaretaker]

My husband had two strokes in his thalamus and has the same problem. He went to 3 specialists and no one can fix it. It is something he has to live with. One of my issues is he wants to sleep all the time and it’s been 14 months

[Edwinamid]

I had a left thalamic stroke three months ago and still experiencing double vision any one help with any advice please?

[coyotesong]

I just wanted to say it's super to have discovered a group that had a left thalamic stroke. Mine was November 2016 and in spite  of PT, acupuncture, and deep massages, my numbness on the right side of my body has intensified and spread out. Today was the first time my entire calf felt numb; it had been confined to the exterior side and I barely noticed it. And my right foot is almost completely numb although it comes and goes. Ambulation is challenging, to say the least. I had acupuncture today and got a little relief but not much yet. I'm just overwhelmed by the physical challenges at this point. I recently started taking neurontin and had high hopes for its stopping my numbness.  I can't offer any solutions as such. I resume PT week after next. It improved my capacity to balance significantly. I'm committed to learning and sharing as much as possible about coping with and improving the neuropathy.

[Rita83Lisboa]

Hi! I m Rita and I also had an hemorraghic stroke due to the burst of an avm in my left thalamus on March 16, I had radiosurgery on december 2016 and I have exactly your complains, lack of sensation, pain, burning and all the kind of weird sensations from the face to the feet :( I tried acupuncture but it doesn t help too much ;/ if you want to share ideas my email is ritafernandes83@gmail,com

[ZGinaB]

I had a small right thalamic stroke in March 2018
The left side of my body was completely numb. I have regained some feeling on my had, foot and lips. But am pretty much numb everywh5else on the left side. I am left handed.  I am still gtting burning g sensations in my left arm and was told that was a sign of healing. Any one else get told that? As far as ti gli g, for me, the tingling preceded the return of feeling,  so though it was u comfortable, it was a good thing.

[Guaver]

I was 53yrs old when I had a rt thalamic stroke in 2014 after an overseas trip where I caught the flu and a persistent cough. A blood vessel in the thalamus had collapsed on itself. My left foot, leg, and left hand (ring and pinky finger) were numb and tingling.  A month later, I got emotional swings, and episodes of crying when I exerted myself physically or emotionally.  I get tired very easily and have no stamina. I feel as though my left foot has a bean bag tied under it..and I walk on that.  I limped for four months.  Physiotherapy and acupuncture did not help much. The Feldenkrais method of therapy helped me to walk properly again and deal with the symptoms.  I had to find this help myself through persistent research online. Medical rehab was not offered to me. Three years later and the symptoms are all the same..the episodes are very rare.  I no longer limp, and I have a little bit more stamina and I deal with it much better.  I'm on a BP med, and a daily aspirin. I lift weights once or twice a week.  I recommend Feldenkrais passive therapy, craniosacral therapy  as  it helped me substantially.  If you find a practitioner, I hope it helps you too.