Had a thalamic stroke about 5 months ago, all things considered I think I got exceedingly lucky. I don't know the specifics since I've had to go through this whole journey in a country that doesn't speak my native language. All of what I've been doing/understand is from piecing together bits of what the doctors said/what I could google. I spent 11 days in the hospital and 11 days at home resting before returning to work (I might have tried to get more time off if I'd realized how hard things would be that early on lol.) It feels like right now I'm complaining that my 'lobster is too buttery and steak too juicy' but sometimes I feel like the extreme mildness of it all has itself been hard. I am still experiencing fatigue, and I've had to take steps at work/at home to protect myself from overstimulating my brain. But somewhere deep down I can't help but feel like maybe I'm just using that as an excuse. That I COULD go back to working like I did but I'm just using what happened as a crutch to slack off. My coworkers have been pretty supportive, but sometimes I can tell they don't quite understand why it's taking me so long. I feel like I should be better already. I feel like I'm letting the people around me down by not being able to work like I did before. I understand this is mostly me putting pressure on myself and I know I'm extremely fortunate in all aspects of this so I shouldn't really complain. I don't know, all things considered things are going well, I just can't help but feel like I could be doing better. Like, I look at the tag on this post and think, "can I really call myself a survivor if I wasn't in much danger to begin with?"

So this happened to me pretty recently on May 14th 2026. I was laying in bed about to stretch and suddenly felt this deep pop at the back of my neck, as if you were too crack your knuckles kinda pop. It wasn't painful but the static pain I got in the back of my shoulders caused me to sweat, It was like my body had hit me with its own version of a lightning strike.

In the span of 1-3 hours I became completely paralysed from the neck down and although what happened to me was 1 in a million I got lucky in some way. First my left hand became paralysed then my right and shortly after my legs went too (the left then the right). Luckily my mum was home and I was able to go to her when I was still able to walk.

Eventually we rang the ambulance after we realised that I could no longer walk and I was like a ragdoll, I had no control over my own body and for the first time, I felt like I was close to death. I was forcing myself to manually breathe using all the strength I had left to just stay alive. I had never felt so close to the end than this point in my life. Since no one had any idea what was happening to me it took 2 FULL hours for the ambulance to arrive (we only live like 15-20 minutes away from the hospital). We even told the people on the phone that I couldn't move at all but still at the time it wasn't deemed as serious as it was.

Let's skip forward...I've been in hospital for about a month now and I am struggling.

I can't walk properly I can't go to the bathroom I feel filthy all the time and I'm constantly feeling vulnerable in front of everyone. I couldn't accept whats happened to me but still I have so much hope for myself. I look at other people's stories and see how I've actually gotten kinda lucky, I didn't need a tube in my throat and I could breath and eat food properly (with help).

Month 2 and I'm taking more and more steps every day, I am determined. I am in more control of my body and I feel better about my future! My hands still haven't come back yet...

Month 3 and I'm learning how to be more independent. I'm able to dress myself, brush my hair and get up to use the bathroom! I still have a few accidents but way less than when I first started out. I'm regaining my strength and I'm just starting to get the perfect physio...

Month 4 and I'm almost considered fully independent. My hands still aren't working and I was loosing hope until suddenly my right arm starts getting overly itchy and suddenly my fingers are twitching and wiggling! Nothing from my left hand just yet... I go to events and I'm standing/moving around enjoying myself.

And then I get dispatched from the hospital I was in and as of right now being home has been so hard.

I can't help out around the house like I used to, I used to be strong. I used to be efficient and artistic and now I struggle to just hold the tools I used to put hardly any thought into. I used to game and play online and now I can just about push one button at a time..I've only talked to one other guy that said that he felt that being at home was the most difficult and in some ways? Yes. But I'm proud of where I'm at now. I am getting stronger each day and I'm still learning how to adapt and fully control this new system my body has given to me. I want to be able to share my story and help others to get through theirs. I want to help advise others that it can get better. And it always does! It just takes time.

I couldn't have done this current journey without my family, girlfriend and friends. They have all stuck by me and made everything so much easier. I am lucky to have them and still have them now, this is truly the lowest I have ever been and for them all to still stick by me even if with how hard everything has been. So if anyone has read this to the end, thank you and whatever you are going through whether its the same or something completely different. Coming from someone who's life will be forever changed. It gets better, just keep pushing forward and keep on staying strong for yourself and for others.

I could go into more detail about my story but my hands still don't fully work lol so I'll have to end it here. :)

Hello, I had a stroke caused by a traumatic carotid artery dissection about a year ago, and I underwent carotid artery stenting.
I am currently taking aspirin. Will I have to avoid coffee and energy drinks for the rest of my life? I assume smoking is also off-limits, right?
I’d appreciate any advice from people who have had a similar experience or from anyone with medical knowledge. Thank you!

Those who have had mini strokes what was it like? I thought it was a visual migraine cause I never had one before but now looking back im worried it was a mini stroke. Started having this wave come over me, Got bad tunnel vision and everything was dark and blurry and static-like. Especally in one eye, i couldnt see at all. Almost like my eyes were almost comepletly squinted shut. Couldn't concentrate or focus. Then a horrible thunderclap headache, or what I imagine one to feel like, came on so fast and so painful and lasted over an hour as well as the vision issues. When I say it was painful I was rolling on the couch crying and borderline screaming. I tried to take a bath but for some reason three centipedes came out of my shower, like wtf, I thought I was lossing my mind at that point cause ive never had that happen so alot of weird stuff at once. I couldn't even do anything or kill them because i couldnt think I just walked back out of the bathroom and continued to cry on the couch. I didn't go the the hospital because I thought it was a migraine and had a couple migraine/thunderclap headaches, or what I thought they were, leading up to this. I tried to look up what I was feeling and it told me migraine or thunderclap headache but idk wasn't matching exactly what I was feeling.

I had another issue where I experienced nausea, facial and arm numbness, slurred speech, couldnt think and almost blacked out in like the span of half a second and lasting around 30mins. I did go to the hospital after that and no signs of a stroke. I was 22 i think when this happened. This all happened a couple years ago as im 26 now. My doctor said it was my anxiety and I got on anxiety medication and havent had any issues since.

Seeking information about support groups online for survivors. Any info is appreciated. TIA

Why is it that much of a deal ? Why cant we drink ? I am becoming alcoholic since my brain hemorrage and the death of my father, i dont know if the fact that i drink a lot 2 or 3 times a week is dangerous, i stopped taking medication some years ago, i need to smoke weed and drink to cope with the reality, is that a big problem ?

Hello, I'm joining here caused my mother diagnose with Stage 2 hypertension, she had a stroke last Aug, her right arm is affected.

just want to seek advise for food and herbal recommendation for her fast recovery.
thank you so much!

Hi! I (24F) have been taking care of my 80-year-old grandmother for almost 7 months now. Her recovery has been difficult because of a few different incidents. At first, a good friend of mine gave us 3 PT sessions for free during the first month, and it really helped! She could sit on her own bed without help, and her left arm and leg gained movement again.

The thing is, right after that (1.5 months after her stroke) we tried to sit her on a chair and she fainted. She also had problems eating (everything tasted bad to her for months). When we went to the hospital for the fainting episode, the doctors thought it could have been a seizure, so they gave her medication for it, and the nurse hurt her affected hand (extravasation). That event delayed her whole recovery: she was afraid of fainting again, my friend stopped coming to give PT sessions, and she couldn't move her hand because of the pain.

That, combined with the food issue, made her lose muscle mass (or at least that's what I think), and when we tried to make progress again, she had severe pain in her knees and joints in general. She can't stand up or walk yet, and I'm scared to think that it may be too late. (She can move her affected side, but it's weak and she says her joints hurt.)

Before the stroke, she was completely independent, but she had always suffered from knee pain. Mentally, she is almost the same as before, with just some focus problems sometimes or minor forgetfulness.

Is it too late for her to walk again? :')

Thank you for reading!

Hi everyone,
I’m 29 years old, and I had an ischemic stroke in November 2025.
I’ve undergone extensive medical testing, but doctors haven’t found a clear cause for my stroke.
Two months before my stroke, my dentist told me that my wisdom teeth were in very poor condition and needed to be removed. I recently visited the dentist again, and all four wisdom teeth were severely decayed, with pus in the gum pockets around them.
I’m wondering whether a chronic dental infection or inflammation could have contributed to my stroke at such a young age.
Has anyone here experienced a stroke in their 20s or 30s while also having severe tooth decay, gum disease, or dental infections?
Did your doctors ever discuss a possible connection?
I’m not claiming that my teeth caused my stroke. I’m just trying to understand what happened and would really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences.
Thank you!

Mom (68) had a stroke 20 months ago. She’s actively in PT, OT and Speech therapy 2x a mo for each session. She’s making little gains and is able to assist with standing and transferring, she’s pretty lively but her speech on the other hand is still considered severe by the SLP. It’s heartbreaking because she’s very well aware she cannot communicate well. Is anyone out there caring for a family member with severe aphasia this far out? Does it improve? In what aspect can we expect and not expect to improve? I know every case is different but knowing others are going through it would be helpful.
I was able to tell mom that there are many who suffer with aphasia because I don’t want to lie to her and say she’s fine or will be back to normal. What can we say at this point?

I am 38 and unfortunately has a stroke that affected my left side in July of this year. I had PFO-closure surgery on September 2nd. Since my surgery I have had right leg discomfort/pain (tightness on front thigh, occasionally sharp pain on inner thigh, some tingles and feeling of foot being “asleep”). I now more or less limp on my right leg. I have been back to the cardiologist multiple times and the first time they found a hematoma (ultrasound diagnosed). It started to subside and then the one hematoma enlarged and other smaller ones formed around my incision site about 2 weeks later. Fortunately, I can tell the hematoma is decreasing in size but my symptoms are not. In fact, since I am up and moving more, I am now noticing occasional shooting pains in my leg as well.

I am just looking for someone who has had a similar complication? When will this go away? Since my stroke, I have had a considerable amount of health anxiety and I would like some reassurance that my healing is just taking longer than most. Or that I should go get a second opinion?

My 41-year-old brother had a hemorrhagic stroke nine weeks ago. After 13 days in a skilled nursing facility, insurance is forcing a discharge in two days. They claim his cognitive progress is insufficient for continued coverage, despite the improvements we've seen.
Taking him home would only make it more risky since he is on trach and long term care is completely out of pocket, costing ~ $7500 plus therapy costs and medication. What are my options? Need help and recommendations

Share your weekly wins with us! Nothing is too small or too big. Everything deserves to be celebrated!

After 18 months still have pain in left shoulder and heavyness in the face.

Hi everyone!

A while ago, I shared a tool on Reddit that I built out of pure necessity. Today, I'm back to share an update that makes me incredibly happy: the application is a huge success and is now being used in rehabilitation centers and homes all over the world.

📖 The Origin: From Necessity to Action In 2023, my partner suffered two severe strokes caused by an AVM, resulting in right-sided hemiparesis and aphasia. At her first hospital, she was treated using a hospital-grade immersive robotic/virtual system ('Tyromotion Amadeo') with incredible results for her neuroplasticity. After the second stroke, we had to move to a different region and lost access to that expensive technology, limiting us to a traditional wooden Mirror Therapy box, which just wasn't as immersive or effective.

Since I couldn't buy her a medical robot, I used my coding skills to replicate that immersive visual feedback. I took the clinical concept of the mirror box and turned it into a Virtual Reality app for smartphones.

🚀 Current Impact: Global Accessibility What started as a homemade tool to help my partner has grown into something much bigger. Neurological rehabilitation clinics, occupational therapists, and patients at home around the world are integrating this app into their daily routines because of its high efficiency.

The biggest achievement is breaking down the financial barrier of immersive neuro-rehabilitation. To use it, you only need your smartphone and a basic VR headset (like Google Cardboard or the plastic ones sold online for about $10). You don't need thousands of dollars in medical equipment.

❤️ My Commitment Remains Intact I know firsthand how hard and expensive the rehabilitation journey is. That's why I am sharing this with the community following its original philosophy:

• 100% Free: There is no profit motive behind this whatsoever.
• Total Privacy: No login required, and absolutely no patient data is collected.

(Note: This app is an immersive complement, not a magic cure, and should be used alongside conventional OT and physical therapy).

📥 How to get it (No spam links): Because Reddit's automated filters often block posts with direct app store links, I can't post the downloads directly here. However, I have created a dedicated community where I posted the tutorial video and all the official, safe download links:

👉 Please visit r/StrokeVRTraining to get the app for free.

You can also send me a DM or leave a comment below, and I'll happily share the links and instructions with you.

To all the healthcare professionals and patients fighting this battle: I hope this tool is as useful to you as it has been for us.

Happy training!

Anyone else been diagnosed with carotid webs potentially being the cause for their stroke? I apparently have them on both sides, although my stroke was on the right side, so the neurologist wants me to get both sides stented. It’s been almost 7 months since I had my stroke, and the procedures are scheduled for beginning of December.

Just curious to hear about other people’s experiences. I did see a few posts when I searched but didn’t see a ton of info. Would love to know how things went for other people. Thanks in advance!

Did anyone feel “odd” after your stroke like your brain definitely felt a change and you don’t physically feel like your brain is the way it was prior? I don’t mean thought processes or feelings but like your actual brain

Hi all. I was told a few years ago I’ve previously had a stroke. I have 0 symptoms and obviously didn’t realise at the time. I’m 18.
It’s on my thalamus and I have gliosis on this. This wasn’t really explained to me, so I don’t really know what it is. I was just told if I get headaches and especially behind the eyes go seek help.
I had a severe headache behind the eyes a few months ago and went to the walk in centre. They told me because I don’t have any symptoms there’s nothing they can do. This worries me because with my first stroke, I didn’t even know I was having it, so what if I’ve had another and don’t know?
Last night I had shooting pains in my left armpit, a severe headache lasting from 11am - 5am getting increasingly worse. It was behind my eyes and felt like my head was going to explode. I’m the UK and don’t want to waste NHS time or resources so I just ended up falling back asleep, as last time I didn’t have symptoms but the headache no one seemed to care or think it was important. Has anyone else had a silent stroke and how do I know if I’m having another one? How severe does a headache need to be? It’s so hard and really confusing, and every time my head hurts I get really worried.

А если человек получает инфаркт или инсульт там вроде либо левая либо правая сторона парализоваными становиться теперь вопрос а яйцо может стать также парализованым или нет

Like the heading says, I am feeling lost. Mine was approx 3 weeks ago, hospitalised for 8 days, home for 3 and readmitted. I’m back home now but outside of my GP, there’s no real aftercare.

The support services where I am are not great and they’re basically telling me to live life normally with a little extra rest here and there. My GP (who is my only life line in getting to the bottom of this and my biggest source of aftercare) is telling me the opposite, the dissection needs to heal and that means I cannot do certain things (sudden movements, extension and flexion etc.) and that I need to be careful with myself, no over doing it.

I’m exhausted if I do something, I’m dizzy/lightheaded, I cannot describe the headaches, I’ve a lot of tremors but they’re on and off, I’m nervous being driven in a car, especially if it’s manual. Plus many other things.. Hardest part is nighttime, I’m afraid to sleep in case I don’t wake up - there was no cause for this dissection so I have no comfort/reassurance, alongside that, they’re now querying vEDS which is super scary.

I have no confidence in myself which I guess is the real problem, no trust that I’ll know if somethings wrong because I knew I was sick and still waited 5 days to finally get it checked. (Part of this was down to my daughter having a VIP app that she needed me for and I didn’t want to let her down).

I would love advice, tips, anything at all to see how others are doing and getting/got through this. Particularly on the dissection healing side, has anyone’s healed? Has anyone else been sent for vEDS checks and it turned out to be fine and just a freak event? Sorry about the formatting, I’ve never posted on Reddit before. I appreciate any advice or guidance 🙏🏻

I had an appointment today; my advisor filed an application on my behalf. Personally and morally, I don’t feel like a disabled person—but my documents and diagnosis confirm it. I feel strange.