Interesting article

A very interesting article in the Mail today about strokes and brain damage and ways to help the brain recover. It is exactly the same way that I helped my husband get back to some semblance of normal after his bi and I, too, was told to put him in a home as he would never recover. Very hard work but the results are extremely good

[Julesgettingthere]

Hi Jan - Jules here.

Oops - do you mean a newspaper article, sorry.

Jules

x

[Hidden in reply to Julesgettingthere]

Yes, in the Daily Mail Health section

[cat3]

What was the author of the article recommending Jan ?

[Hidden in reply to cat3]

The man in the article was so badly affected by his stroke that doctors suggested he should go into a nursing home. His family took him home and worked with him. His right side was affected so they bought a harp to play and hired an art teacher to encourage him to use the arm. It was suggested that therapy starts about 3 days after the stroke. It suggested that when stroke survivors mentally rehearse activities that they do in therapy, they get twice as much practice and a much better outcome. It suggested eating lots of protein to repair lost brain tissue. It says as people practice activities the brain forms new networks of brain cells to perform lost functions. It also says that people who are depressed after a stroke are less likely to participate in rehab and suggests that Prozac given in the first 90 days after a stroke may enhance recovery. It also suggests that when visiting a stroke patient, people should sit on their 'bad' side and touch them on that side to arrange stimulation on the affected side of the brain.

A;though this is aimed at stroke patients, I am sure it would work for most types of brain injuries.

I hope I have got the gist of the article there.

[cat3 in reply to Hidden]

You've explained it well Jan. And it all makes good sense, especially the use of antidepressants to motivate survivors. I know quite a few folk who've gone into a decline because they've no motivation, meaning that when family members try to bully them into making more effort the result is animosity and falling out.

And so the patient becomes increasingly isolated as family then start to avoid them or spend as little time as possible with them. My neighbour used to be constantly active 'til his stroke. He was retired but never idle with many interests, but since the stroke he's depressed and does nothing. His daughter is expecting a baby any time and is fraught with worry, but he refuses to move into her home so she & her husband can provide a caring and more stimulating environment.

Still, it's reassuring to know that the medical profession are still coming up with more & more ideas, some quite radical, to improve life after brain injury. Thanks for the info. Jan ! xxx

[spartan300 in reply to Hidden]

it took 10 months for me to find out what was wrong the neurologist said i cannot help you you are 10 months too late

[Hidden in reply to spartan300]

It's awful isn't it. We can only hope that the interest in mental health at the moment will rub off onto help for brain injury too.

[spartan300 in reply to Hidden]

can still remember that day just like yesterday cried nearly all the way home on the bus it was bad enough the first ten months my life turned upside down , but i am still here

[Hidden in reply to spartan300]

It is nice that these things are getting printed and hopefully taken note of. It has been far too long that problems with the brain have been virtually ignored when, with the proper information, care and treatment, many people would be a lot less disabled and more able to live normal lives following horrid episodes in their lives.

[spartan300 in reply to Hidden]

i totaly agree with you the trouble is that you see a gp with very little time then a consultant with limited time more needs to be done to prevent MH problems for people with BI a totall lack of knowledge and understanding from the start ,that is what i experienced

i have been in hospital 3 times now 2 not related to BI i told them i had vaccination damage and the side effects

the doctors said are you sure , i have not heard of that one, and is that confirmed , very frustrating indeed

having to explain to a doctor my symptoms in hospital

and try to get them to belive you one even laughed at me

you would be surpised how many senior doctors have never heard of vaccination damage and side effects

and problems it causes

[cat3 in reply to spartan300]

It's understandable that when specialising in one area of medicine, doctors aren't familiar with all others. But to mock a patient, who lives with that condition every day and obviously had a clear diagnosis, is both unprofessional and arrogant.

Why can't these people credit us with some intelligence and go off & Google the condition ! Thankfully they're in the minority. xx

[spartan300 in reply to cat3]

thank you for that xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[cat3 in reply to spartan300]

I know how you've struggled with it John.............makes me mad !! How've you been ? xxxxxx

[Kirk5w7]

Fantastic article, everything I did and still do, and interesting that my family asked that I be put on antidepressants early in too, they were worried that because of my history of intermittent bouts of depression I would suffer after my illness and the consultant agreed.

Janet x

[Julesgettingthere]

Ahh Jan - forgot to get a copy.

[Julesgettingthere]

Hi Jan, Just Jules here quickly

Can you tell me what to put in the search bar on my computer on google to bring up that article from the Mial ? I would like to send it to mum/read it myself - sounds good but i cant find it.

Kind regards

Jules

x

[TaIaV]

Hi All, I believe that the URL for the article is this:

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

Very timely as my cousin just had a stroke. Thank you,Jan.

Taia

[sospan]

It is what we have been saying for a number of years on this forum;

- protein to fuel the brain remedial process and good diet will help as well

- anti depressants to take the strain off the brain and give it more free time to re-develop

- activities and rehab to redevelop old skills and establish new neuro pathways

The frustrating thing is that this knowledge has been around for a long time, isn't expensive to follow and has very good outcomes for patients - yet there is little support for it within the NHS

[magdolna]

This story reminds me of Jill Bolte who wrote a book about her experience A Stroke of insight. I recently watched a talk by her on Ted.com. Her story too is quite amazing. Thanks for sharing and all the best to you on your journey.

[jayne_h]

Interesting. So there is indeed a point in me going on about Tina Sullivan Nourish your Noggin. It all helps.

[sospan in reply to jayne_h]

Absolutely