I've just been discharged from hospital having had a stroke which left me with a mild weakness in my left arm and hand. But when I had a look at my discharge letter it said I had a right CVA. Was this a typo?
No, your doctors have not made a mistake; the confusion is the result of convoluted medical terminology. A cerebral vascular accident (CVA), more commonly known as a stroke, is a disorder in which the arteries to the brain become blocked or rupture, resulting in damage to brain tissue. But because nerves in the brain cross over before entering the spinal cord, those on the right side of the brain control the left side of the body and vice versa. Therefore, a stroke on the right side of the brain produces symptoms on the opposite side to the site of the stroke.
While I experience weakness in my arm, others on the ward with strokes had more severe problems. Why was this?
The extent and degree of the effects of a stroke will largely depend on its location and the amount of brain tissue that has been damaged. Problems such as muscle weakness, balance disturbances, speech and swallowing difficulties, and perception and memory problems will occur in the area of the brain responsible for these functions.
Although I have been reassured that I had a relatively minor stroke, three weeks later full power has not returned to my arm and hand. How long will it be before it is back to normal?
When brain tissue is damaged as a result of a stroke, its recovery will depend on a number of factors including the site and extent of the damage. Many people find that over the first few weeks, some degree of function returns because while some brain cells have died, others have only been damaged and have the ability to recover.
In some cases, other parts of the brain take over the functions previously undertaken by the affected area. A good rehabilitation programme will encourage your return to as much normal function as possible through improved physical conditioning, reawakening of old skills and the acquisition of new ones. See a physiotherapist or occupational therapist if you have not already done so.
Marion Kerr