Stroke Recovery Rehab

A lot of healing after stroke isn’t visible. You can look “fine” to others but feel completely different inside as you work through identity shifts, frustration, fear of another stroke, and more. In this episode, I share an article that I wrote with my friend and fellow AVM stroke survivor, Florence Acosta , where we discuss the mental and emotional challenges that can come with recovery after str...

Stroke survivor resources often emphasize the importance of exercise, but it’s discouraging to try lifting weights or running when you can hardly move one side of your body. However, once you find routines that really resonate with you – especially ones you can do at home or outside – you’ll find exercise can have a profound impact on your recovery after stroke. In this episode, I’m joined by Tric...

Driving was one of the most significant, frustrating, and unexpected challenges in the years after stroke. In this episode, I share a few simple tips that helped me to feel more comfortable behind the wheel. For more information on driving after stroke, be sure to review the links and resources in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2025/02/01/learning-to-drive-after-stroke-tips-and-tool...

In this episode, I share an article that I wrote with my friend and fellow AVM stroke survivor Tracy Myers, where we highlight the common details you learn after finding out your stroke was caused by an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM. Since arteriovenous malformations are quite rare, it can be challenging to find information relevant to your situation that explains this unique medical conditio...

Creatine is a popular supplement for enhancing physical performance, but it also has some impressive claims about its potential to support brain health. In this episode, I share my experiences with using creatine after stroke and how this common supplement may be beneficial for stroke survivors. For more information on creatine and how it can potentially help stroke survivors, be sure to review th...

In the years after a stroke, recovery can feel like a lonely journey as you seek to rebuild the life you once knew, and it can be difficult to piece together advice as you bounce from one medical specialist to another. In this episode, I share an article that I wrote with my friend and fellow stroke survivor Anadee Nikte , where we discuss some simple tips to help stroke survivors build a personal...

Much to my surprise, one of the most effective practices to help my stroke-affected left leg feel more like the leg I remember and less like a thousand-pound steel beam has been slacklining – a sport I knew little about pre-stroke. In this episode, I describe my experiences with slacklining after stroke and why this has become one of my favorite lower-body rehab exercises. For more information abo...

After a stroke, you can look “fine” to others but feel completely different inside as you work through identity shifts, frustration, fear of another stroke, and more. In this episode, I’m joined by Florence Acosta of the Becoming You With Florence Acosta newsletter to discuss some key takeaways from our recent article - The Hidden Mental Health Journey in Stroke Recovery . *Note: This podcast was...

Like anyone else, I received some great – and not so great – advice from doctors, therapists, friends, and family members on how I could improve my recovery after stroke. In this episode, I reflect on some early experiences after stroke and share some of the best advice I received, some of the worst, and some advice that I would now give other stroke survivors. For more information on any of the s...

Learned helplessness is an underrated challenge in stroke recovery. How do you push yourself safely when you’re not sure what your true abilities may be? In this episode, I share an article I wrote with my friend and fellow stroke survivor Nir Peled on the importance of not shying away from the challenges that stroke recovery brings. To learn more about Nir or any of the topics covered here, be su...

Stroke can fundamentally change who we are, how we process information, and how we react to situations. Feelings of irritability, confusion, anger, and anxiety are common after stroke. I was oblivious to any mental or emotional challenges I might face in stroke recovery during my time in the hospital and inpatient rehab. However, once I returned home and my physical abilities did not come back as...

Stroke survivors know that recovery doesn’t end when the physical and occupational therapy sessions end. Instead, you’re often on your own to find a way to rebuild your strength after a stroke, and the gym can be an important part of that. In this episode, I share some of my challenges with working out in a gym after stroke and four strategies that helped me feel comfortable in the gym again. For...

After stroke, just the thought of planning a meal, cooking it, and cleaning all the dishes felt overwhelming for me. It seemed impossible that I could do all of that in a timely manner. As I was stuck at home with little energy to cook and no ability to go to the grocery store alone, I was reminded of the 800-gram challenge, a simple nutritional framework that encourages you to eat more fruits and...

In this episode, I’ll recap an article I recently wrote with the Brain Injury Association of America , reflecting on some lessons learned through four years of stroke recovery . I share some thoughts on how neuroplasticity provides hope for stroke survivors, how to embrace change after stroke, and how to learn from setbacks in the years-long journey that is recovery after stroke. For more informat...

After a stroke, it’s easy to say no to new activities or challenging situations. But while that may feel good in the moment, the comfort trap of learned helplessness is often where progress in recovery slows down. In this episode, I’m joined by Nir Peled, a stroke survivor and author of the Beyond 100% newsletter , to discuss key takeaways from an article we wrote, Embracing the Challenges of Stro...

The first year after a stroke is often held up as this holy grail of how long it will take to recover. While it is true that significant progress can be made in year one, recovery after stroke doesn’t end after 12 months. You can continue to see and feel improvements in your abilities for many years after stroke. In this episode, I share some thoughts on stroke recovery timelines and why setting a...

In this episode, I share my experiences with walking backward in recovery after stroke and how this simple exercise turned out to be pretty helpful. Studies show that stroke survivors may benefit from walking backward in a variety of ways. For example, there’s evidence that this practice can improve a stroke survivor’s balance and gait – a person’s manner of walking. In my experience, the cliché “...

A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things that can improve recovery after a stroke since it’s critical for neuroplasticity. Unfortunately, a common side effect of stroke is trouble sleeping. In turn, every other aspect of recovery is subsequently made more challenging than it already is without a good night’s sleep. In this episode, I share my frustrating challenges with sleep after...

In this episode, I’ll discuss my experiences with constraint-induced therapy after stroke and how this can be an effective practice for stroke survivors. Constraint-induced movement therapy is exactly as it sounds – restraining one arm behind the back, so the stroke-affected arm and hand must perform the required activity. Although some rehabilitation facilities provide specialized constraint-indu...

Anxiety is a common side effect of stroke, especially considering people can worry about having another stroke. Research indicates that roughly 20% of stroke survivors may have anxiety-related issues. After stroke, I’ve found a variety of breathing exercises to be helpful in navigating the frustrating challenges that a stroke can cause, including anxiety. In this episode, I’ll be discussing two si...

While cognitive challenges caused by stroke are not visible like physical deficits, they still pose a substantial challenge in recovery. In this episode, I discuss some of the mental challenges that can come with stroke recovery and how these deficits can sometimes be overlooked compared to the physical deficits after stroke. For more information on cognitive challenges after stroke, be sure to re...

While the road to recovery after a stroke looks different for everyone, creating a personalized structure that supports ongoing progress is one of the most important things a stroke survivor can do. In this episode, I’m joined by occupational therapist and stroke survivor Anadee Nikte to discuss neuroplasticity-friendly habits that can support recovery after stroke. *Note: This podcast was origina...

In this episode, I discuss why mindset is important in recovery after stroke and how our perspectives on situations can sometimes help and hurt us. It’s difficult to stay positive after a stroke as you work through various mental and physical deficits for years, trying to get closer to the person you were before stroke. However, simply believing that there can be better days ahead is helpful as yo...

In this episode, I’ll discuss the concept of post-traumatic growth, or how living through a traumatic experience, like a stroke, can make you more resilient over time. Post-traumatic growth is commonly discussed in stroke survivor communities, with ample testimonials from stroke survivors saying their stroke experience has led to some potential benefits. While post-traumatic growth can occur after...

In this episode, I share how setting monthly goals helped me to make progress in recovery after stroke. In the years since my stroke, setting short-term goals that covered a variety of my interests has helped me to believe recovery is always progressing and prevented me from being discouraged that I’m not the person I used to be. Recovery after stroke doesn’t happen overnight, but following some s...