Newbie with mystery

[Oceanflow]

My friend has had a strange loss of sensation in 3 fingers and an accompanying loss of use of his thumb in his left hand and he feels numbness around his left elbow too. This happened in the summer and when he saw his doc,apparently he thought it was carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar nerve entrapment . But he has also had speech difficulties that seem to be getting worse not better. Almost 6 months later he can barely talk and I’ve noticed some cognitive difficulties,so they had him do a scan last week. The result: “Sub acute infarction with possible haemorrhagic transformation involving the right frontal and parietal lobe and right medial cerebral artery territory”

Can anyone with experience and/or medical knowledge help us understand what this is and what the prognosis might be?

Thanks!

[reedboat2]

Infarction = “obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or region of tissue, typically by a thrombus or embolus, causing local death of the tissue.” This seems like a very serious medical issue. Your friend needs expert professional help ASAP.

[Oceanflow in reply to reedboat2]

Thank you.... he’s in emergency right now!

[reedboat2 in reply to Oceanflow]

May he be well

[Wittycjt]

How is he doing? Sounds to me like he was having a “stroke in evolution” when he initially saw his doctor- they should have scanned him then. This was a mistake.

[Wittycjt in reply to Wittycjt]

See my reply above.

He had a three hour window to receive a clot busting agent-after waiting days it is no longer an option. His prognosis is difficult to explain as it depends on how he is now and what they have and are doing for him

[Oceanflow]

So .....6 days later my friend is home after a zillion tests and a rather urgent CEA surgery. They say it was jolly good we came into ER! The MRI they ordered showed he had several strokes.... I have much to learn !

[Wittycjt in reply to Oceanflow]

He is s very lucky fellow- does he have any residual effects now?

[Oceanflow]

Yes he is indeed! Speech and left hand are going to need therapy. I wonder if he can regain normal function again...

[Wittycjt in reply to Oceanflow]

Speech can be very difficult but practice practice practice. My left came back but i did not have a problem with my speech . So there is hope. He must believe in himself and fight very hard to regain- the mind believes what you tell it he must tell it good positive things and work hard to believe it. I send tremendous wishes for hope-be strong he will need positive and supportive encouragement🤗

[Oceanflow in reply to Wittycjt]

Thank you so much! Your reply gives me more hope. He is very strong minded and that will hopefully go along way!

[teresahunter]

Get him checked for aps I had similar symptoms prior to my stroke I had no blood test or scan. but told I was neurotic. But I then went on to have a severe stroke Snd then finally diagnosed with aps I think if I had been treated earlier I wouldn’t have had such a severe stroke so get further advice

[Wittycjt in reply to teresahunter]

Me too, i have APS- worthwhile to get APS checked for- very good thought

[Oceanflow in reply to Wittycjt]

Thanks for your suggestion I’m going to Google APS now ....

[Wittycjt in reply to Oceanflow]

There is also an APS-hughes- sticky blood site here on healthunlocked

[moo196]

I'd advise checking out the headway section of this forum... Many people there have had strokes and understand the huge difficulties faced by many of us relating to the brain injury, speech, lack of motivation, frustration etc.

[Oceanflow in reply to moo196]

Thanks for your advice. Excuse my ignorance but what do you mean by the headway section?

[moo196 in reply to Oceanflow]

Hi,

I mean this is called "different strokes" group. There's a group called "Headway".... Just use the search option top right corner of the page. 🙏

Headway section were an invaluable support when I needed them.