Stroke Recovery Rehab

In this episode, I’ll share some common misconceptions about stroke recovery. While the doctors, nurses, and therapists that I met after stroke largely gave me great advice and suggestions on how to move forward in life after stroke, there are some concepts that I wish had been explained differently. These are the three things I wish I had better understood in the earliest days of recovery. For mo...

Journaling has long been seen as a therapeutic tool to help people navigate their emotions. In this episode, I’ll share why I’ve enjoyed keeping a personal journal on my experiences in stroke recovery and how journaling can help stroke survivors. I’ve journaled regularly in the years since my stroke, sitting down at my desk to write whenever I think of a story or experience that I’d like to rememb...

After a stroke, change is constant From the immediate onslaught of negative physical, mental, and psychological impacts to the years-long recovery journey filled with large and small wins in physical therapy, you’ll notice many changes along the way, sometimes unexpectedly. In this episode, I share some thoughts on adjusting to change after a stroke and why sometimes that change isn’t always negat...

Setbacks are unfortunately a common occurrence for stroke survivors. The cliché “Progress isn’t linear” certainly applies to recovery after stroke. While setbacks are undoubtedly frustrating and discouraging, they offer a chance to reconsider your approach to life after stroke. They can be an opportunity to make changes and learn from any mistakes you may have been making. In this episode, I’ll sh...

In this episode, I’ll be sharing why I started drinking beet juice after stroke, along with some interesting research on how beet juice could potentially support neuroplasticity. Like any supplement, beet juice isn’t going to bring about dramatic improvements in your post-stroke abilities, but it has the potential to improve your stamina for physical therapy sessions, thereby possibly improving re...

Balance issues are one of the most common challenges in recovery after stroke. Due to weakness and a lack of sensation on the stroke-affected side, stroke survivors are especially at risk for falls. In this episode, I’m joined by physical therapist and stroke survivor David Dansereau to talk about our experiences in improving balance after stroke. *Note: This podcast was originally recorded as a S...

In this episode, I’ll share my experiences with meditation in stroke recovery, along with some simple tips that can help stroke survivors who are interested in starting their own meditation practice. A meditation practice won’t solve all of your challenges in stroke recovery, but it can provide a momentary pause from the many frustrating aspects of life after stroke. For more information on medita...

In this episode, I’ll share my experiences in attending stroke survivor support groups. Over the years, I’ve found talking with other stroke survivors to be a valuable resource since you can discuss your challenges with people in the same situation. For more information on the benefits of stroke survivor support groups and to find a support group near you, be sure to review the links and resources...

Since my stroke, I’ve often joked with people that I feel like I’m solar-powered. In this episode, I’ll be discussing one of the most important and one of my favorite lessons learned in recovery after stroke — Get outside as often as possible! Simple things like taking a walk, spending time in the morning sitting outside , and working on physical therapy exercises outdoors, can all support stroke...

In this episode, I share my experience with the app Carbon Diet Coach and how its nutritional guidance helped me in recovery after stroke. Carbon Diet Coach is a calorie tracking and nutrition coaching app that provides recommended weekly calorie counts for those seeking to gain, lose or maintain weight. Carbon has helped me both before and after my stroke to eat in a manner that supported my spec...

In this episode, I’ll be sharing my experience with mental practice in stroke recovery, along with some simple tips on how these exercises can support stroke survivors. One of the biggest benefits of mental practice is its simplicity. It’s something you can do anywhere and anytime. Research has shown that mental training can be an effective complement to real-world practice for stroke survivors lo...

When I finally felt comfortable starting a new book and reading some stroke recovery literature, I was overwhelmed by all of the books for stroke survivors that were available on Amazon. Over the years, as I’ve searched for information that would help me in recovery after stroke, I’ve found that many of the lists that promote the “Best Books to Read After Stroke” are all pretty similar. Instead, s...

After a stroke, there is no uniform stroke recovery timeline. Just as they say no two strokes are the same, no two stroke recoveries are alike. Everyone progresses at their own pace toward goals unique to their situation. Considering the fluctuations in how you can feel day-to-day after a stroke, taking a step back to look at long-term progress is a much more appropriate way to think about making...

In this episode, I'll share why maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm is an underrated strategy for stroke survivors to improve their recovery after stroke. For stroke survivors, a disrupted circadian rhythm can hurt neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections to recover the skills that were lost due to stroke. When recovering from a stroke, learning how to manage your day...

Mancala quickly became a favorite game of mine in the early weeks and months after stroke because it mimicked many of the hand exercises I worked on in therapy sessions. Read the blog at https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2023/12/01/mancala-the-perfect-board-game-for-stroke-survivors/ Subscribe to the free monthly newsletter https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you w...

Every stroke survivor knows how frustrating fatigue can be after stroke. In this article, I wanted to share how a yoga nidra meditation practice has helped me to feel less exhausted throughout the day. Read the blog at https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2022/12/01/fighting-fatigue-in-stroke-recovery-with-yoga-nidra/ Sign up for the free monthly newsletter at https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/...

Welcome to the Stroke Recovery Rehab podcast, your short, five-minute insight into life after stroke. In upcoming episodes, I’ll share my experiences in recovery, some insights I’ve learned, and the therapy options I’ve found to be most effective. Along the way, I’ll also post some interviews with other stroke survivors I’ve connected with over the years. For more information on my story, referenc...