Common Side Effects of a Stroke

Suffering from a stroke can be terrifying. You feel out of control of your body and that feeling doesn't go away. After a stroke, there are a number of common side effects that can linger even when you've received the best possible medical care. Understanding those side effects is critical to shaping your decision to return to work or start participating in normal activities again. In this article, we review those side effects, adapted from more detailed resources that you can find on the website of the National Stroke Association.

Fatigue

Following a stroke, it's normal to have significantly less energy than before. Even on your good days, you may start out feeling as though you'll be able to accomplish whatever you need to, only to end the day struggling. Running out of energy or struggling to find the motivation to accomplish normal tasks are normal parts of the stroke recovery process. For this reason, stroke victims returning to work may need prolonged reasonable accommodations as they slowly recover their pre-stroke strength and energy levels.

Muscle Weakness

It's common for stroke victims to experience hemiparesis, or muscle weakness on one side of the body. The side of the body that experiences the weakness depends on the part of the brain damaged during the stroke. This weakness may improve substantially over time, or you may find that you struggle long-term. Reasonable accommodations and assistance devices can make it easier for stroke victims to handle normal daily tasks. If you've had a stroke and are experiencing muscle weakness on one side of the body, it's still important to continue using those muscles every day. Failure to do so can lead to learned non-use or even paralysis in those muscles.

Incontinence

The inability to control either bladder or bowels isn't just frustrating it's also embarrassing for many stroke victims. Fortunately, therapy often restores lost function and makes this symptom disappear or at least decrease over time. Unconscious leaking, rather than large accidents, is a more common form of post-stroke incontinence; however, complete incontinence, or the inability to hold either bladder or bowels at all, can also occur.

Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia) or Speaking (Aphasia)

The muscles that control speech and swallowing can also be impacted by a stroke'a side effect that can be extremely difficult for stroke survivors to live with. Difficulty swallowing (called dysphagia) is often remedied by eating soft foods in an upright position, which can be less dangerous for stroke victims. Difficulty speaking (aphasia), on the other hand, can be more problematic because speech is such a necessity for returning to normal life. Many stroke survivors find that singing is easier than normal speech. If this is the case, singing therapy (also called melodic intonation therapy) can help improve communication following a stroke by teaching stroke victims to sing the words they have difficulty speaking. Communicating through song may also give stroke victims a greater feeling of connection to the people around them, since they ll be better able to connect and share their needs, feelings, and more.

Vision Impairments

It's frustrating enough that a stroke makes you feel as though it has made you lose control of your body. Having visual impairment along with the rest of the symptoms can be even more frustrating. Beyond simple loss of vision, stroke victims may also have trouble focusing clearly on things in front of them or maintaining visual attention. Visual impairment may occur in both eyes, or victims may struggle to identify or focus on things on a single side of the body. Therapy can help improve outcomes in patients who are struggling with these types of impairments.

Sensory Loss/Unusual Pain

After a stroke, many survivors experience sensory loss or unusual pain. They're unable to feel common, familiar sensations or may not experience sensations the same way they once did. This can include a struggle to feel hot or cold, inability to taste or a drastic change in their sense of taste, a pins and needles sensation across any part of the body, or overall numbness in a part of the body. Typically, sensory reeducation is used to help stroke victims return to normal functioning. In the meantime, it can be helpful to have help identifying common sensory inputs, including hot and cold, to help reshape appropriate responses or avoid dangerous reactions.

Avoiding sensory triggers that your body can't recognize for example, avoiding cooking over a hot stove when you're unable to properly feel heat can also help stroke victims avoid unpleasant complications.

Headaches

Mild headaches are considered to be a normal part of stroke recovery. Your brain is trying to heal itself, and it may take time to return to normal. Drinking plenty of water can help relieve many headache symptoms, especially if you tend to be dehydrated. If, on the other hand, you experience a severe headache during the stroke recovery process, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Severe headaches are often a sign that there's more going on with your body than you know, and having a medical professional identify the cause of those headaches is critical.

Emotional Concerns

Following a stroke, it's normal for patients to experience a range of disruptive emotional conditions, including depression, anxiety, and anger. Patients may also experience personality shifts or struggles with identity issues, depending on the area of the brain that was impacted by the stroke. It's critical for post-stroke patients to receive the support they need to redefine their lives and understand the changes taking place in their brains and bodies. In some cases, uncontrolled emotions or mood swings may also be a product of the damage that occurred during the stroke. Many of these symptoms will ease with time, but therapy can help many stroke victims get back to feeling normal sooner.