Post-Stroke and Brain Injury Concerns

After a stroke or brain injury, a person may face a variety of challenges. Every survivor is unique and may exhibit different impairments. Most are common and will improve with time and rehabilitation. Below is a list of possible challenges stroke survivors may exhibit. Some may struggle with many of these, while others may be affected by fewer of them.

Physical Conditions

• Weakness, paralysis, and problems with balance or coordination
• Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations
• Fatigue, which may continue after a person returns home
• Inattention to one side of the body, also known as neglect; in extreme cases, you may not be aware of your arm or leg
• Urinary or bowel incontinence 
• Difficulty swallowing
• Memory problems, poor attention span, or difficulty solving problems
• Visual problems
• Difficulty recognizing limitations caused by the stroke 

Communication Challenges

• Difficulty with word finding
• Slurred or unintelligible speech 
• Difficulty writing  
• Trouble using numbers or doing math
• Understanding spoken language
• Trouble following directions
• Difficulty reading 

Cognitive Problems

• Difficulty maintaining attention
• Memory loss
• Trouble with insight and making judgments
• Disorganization
• Disorientation
• Trouble processing information
• Difficulty with problem solving
• Reasoning
• Difficulty with executive functioning (planning, focusing attention, remembering instructions, and managing multiple tasks successfully)

Emotional and Behavioral Changes

• Sudden mood changes
• Feeling anxious, worried, pessimistic, or hopeless
• Isolating one’s self from others
• Having thoughts of death
• Loss of energy
• Increase or decrease in appetite
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, thinking, or making decisions
• Headache
• Digestive problems
• Sexual problems

Talk to your doctor if your loved one is exhibiting any signs of depression. Antidepressant medicine may be available, or it may be better to get a referral for a psychologist or psychiatrist.