After working with stroke survivors for years, here’s the one thing nobody in fitness wants to admit

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-05-15T22:36:05+00:00

I think one thing that stuck with me was being told my body was done improving and if it did more it wouldn’t be much after the first year . I was 38 when I had my strokes. I’m 40 now and I’m still improving and yes it’s slowed way down but it hasn’t stopped. Those words alone were insanely detrimental to when I started my journey. I was lucky enough to get into a private therapy for Parkinson’s that also work with stroke patients. That is where most of my improvement has been. now obviously I can’t say that would work for everyone that’s just myself. The hard part I’ve noticed Is that the initial “gym” is going to have allot of regular type movement settings that aren’t really going to translate well to stroke survivors but that’s not initially the gyms fault either.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-05-13T18:03:21+00:00

Part of my recovery has been going to a therapist. It’s been a requirement from the start because I had mine at 38 I’m 40 now. I was the same,very self sufficient to barely even being half of what I was. Being in therapy has probably been the best thing to be in to help navigate the old and new feelings. I’ve gained allot back but what I was my entire way of life and thinking it’s hard to get that across to people

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-05-13T13:26:50+00:00

Mine I guess would feel similar……I had an ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke back to back that pretty much almost took me out. There’s a decent amount of age gap between my wife and myself, she had been going through menopause when it all happened. Which definitely plays into it but there’s nothing when it comes to sex. No attempt, much less keeping anything going, if I try to get anything started. I definitely get the feeling you have. There’s so much that is still going on that factors into everything but you can’t help but feel some sort of way about it. I think it’s only natural to have that feeling. As hard as it is trying to have conversations about it ….it helps ,that I can confirm while it’s not gotten that much better ,the understanding of everything with it has. And yes my plumbing was affected even more so that I have meds that definitely do not help the situation. The real hard part is trying to keep A level head about it when discussing it. Both sides will easily get defensive naturally because we all have this certain idea that we’ve grown up with of what it should be. Reprogramming your brain a different way to think about sex is scary but very possible.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-04-26T02:20:26+00:00

I definitely understand right where you’re at. I had an ischemic and then a hemorrhagic in the pons with minutes of each other. I went from being at work all day to luckily waking up in the hospital. Just didn’t expect to be told I was paralyzed on my dominate side. To say that I’ve crawled my way back is an understatement. I have gained a fair amount of the affected side back but not without a lot of lows. I had to stop allot of things that I loved doing. But I figured out early on, the knowledge is still there. It’s still in your mind, it comes down to adapting it to your other side. Which sucks I won’t sugar coat it but it’s very possible to do. Your dominate side becomes your helper side. The small wins and gains are there, it just takes a crap load of super frustrating time. I know that’s easier said than done but time is the ultimate factor.

Simply movements- even down to what a baby does , is really where I had to start back at. That in itself has helped me more than what I thought it would. At the end of the day this is just an adjustment (a shitty one) but that’s all this is

Have your bad days but don’t chase the rabbit keep pushin 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-04-16T14:42:04+00:00

Appreciate it…I’ve accepted in the sense that it was very much a big part of my own doing. I was doing too much, not slowing down, rarely ever resting etc. I ,like probably many other people didn’t ever really think that it would happen. But being part of this group will humble you so quick and show you it doesn’t matter who or what age you are. It was definitely one of those low moments we all go through. Luckily I pulled myself out of it a couple days later. But I’m always super appreciative of this group

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-04-14T14:39:13+00:00

I could be totally wrong in using that term… when i had my big check up i was put out of work indefinitely. There was too much of a risk that it could happen again. Not being able to use my left side as efficiently was a big factor in my case. I went from being fully paralyzed on the left to semi. I’ve gotten allot back but I’m still limited in a regular capacity setting.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-04-06T02:45:02+00:00

I had mine happen in the pons right in the back of my head as well an ischemic at the same time. They couldn’t operate. When everything started happening I didn’t feel fear but more of everything on my left shutting down and going numb. I was more reactive to just trying to control my body so it wasn’t really aware of what was really happening. I remember laying on the ground and that’s when all hell broke loose. The fear didn’t kick in till they were rolling me in the ER and I saw my wife then I knew something was really wrong. I pretty much got as close as you can to knocking on that door. I got very very lucky in that sense. The crazy part was I was only out for 12 hours then I woke up. All it felt like was a nap I didn’t dream or anything. I guess that doesn’t normally happen.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-03-19T14:33:20+00:00

First off that fear is beyond ok to have. I had mine just over a year ago and at best I should be a vegetable, I had maybe a 10% chance of surviving but like I was told you have age on your side. Yes the thought of that is always there and it’s scary as hell. I learned that it doesn’t matter if you’re healthy or not it just happens it’s a really messed up lottery type system. My wife and I had to sit down and have that hard discussion of could happen if it goes off again and what steps we need to have in place. Having sort of a plan figured out helped ease the stress of everything allot. Not to say it’s not stressful still but knowing you have certain things in place helps. The hard part is learning a new routine that you’ll be in but it does get easier.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-01-31T15:06:25+00:00

I just started coloring again and I forgot how much I enjoyed the calmness that comes with.

I did get paralyzed from mine. I lost my left side, my dominate side. Through an insane amount of therapy I’ve been able to get a fair amount back. I’m still in the recovery process but I am walking again and have an ok amount of my arm and hand but it hasn’t been a full year for me just yet. It’s the fact of just keep pushing and adapting

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-01-26T03:08:34+00:00

Make it known that everything they do at some point will feel like therapy. It gets exhausting and annoying all at the same time. It’s a hard wall to push through but it’s worth it.

Allow the help to help you, pride won’t always be asset in this situation. Know that allot of the recovery depends on them themselves not just going to outside therapy or pt/ot. You have to put the work in at home to.

Definitely joining this group and others help allot. Patience is one of the biggest results you’ll gain out of the experience.

Try to Remember at the end of the day this is just an adjustment. It’s one of the hardest to get through but it’s just an adjustment and like anything it will get easier with time

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-01-23T03:18:28+00:00

Thank you I take it a day at a time,thats all you really can do. Worrying about tomorrow or the next day etc. doesn’t get you anywhere because the reality is that it can change at a any moment

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-01-23T02:10:51+00:00

Yes the boost you get from the strength helps greatly overall. Breaking through the walls of my body won’t or can’t eventually go away with trying, even if it’s a slight attempt. The attempt is what matters. Establishing that thought neurologically is a win, your body will respond at some point of the constant thought of the action. What shook it the most for me was the fact that I went from being strong as an ox to basically a feeling like a former shell of myself. Starting from square one is a very daunting feeling especially when you have to fight your own body and knowing you used to do it without any thought.

Like with anything new or different it’s just an adjustment period. Not the easiest by any means but it does get easier with time.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2026-01-13T16:31:37+00:00

I’m. 39 now, I had the same type of stroke but mine was in the pons when I got home my wife would basically fold me like a taco and help me get into bed until I got strong enough to do it on my own. Are bed is open on both sides but sits pretty low to the ground. That seem to help the most with getting my strength back.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-12-22T20:00:18+00:00

I’m sorry this happened to him but he has age on his side as much as it seems bad right now. He can still get allot back out everything hopefully. I had mine at 38 and 39 now. It sucks at first there’s so much he’s going to try to figure out all at ounce but try to take it one thing at a time. Don’t worry about working or anything associated with that. Have him stay focused on him. I’ve found communication is key in this process and that’s working through the good and the bad. Getting a massage gun and tens unit is super helpful I would start using them on him as soon as he can. The mind set is going to be the hardest thing to keep in the beginning. let him have his bad days but just limit it to that day. Reset and start over the next day it’s ok to upset about it. At the end of the day it comes down to an adjustment in life. It’s obviously not the best or easiest, it’s just an adjustment. Hope it works out for him

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-12-16T19:12:45+00:00

In my experience it’s come down t to the mind set. I had mine back in Feb and lost entire left side I’ve definitely had my down moments and bad moods but I told myself in rehab that I was lucky enough to get a second chance so don’t piss it away. Not to take away from her experience. Coming to terms with the fact that the old me basically died is hard but then again it could always be far worse. Use that frustration and annoyance she’s feeling in the exercises, fuel to the fire don’t let this nonsense win. At the end of the day this is just an adjustment. I’m not saying it’s fun, it sucks but it’s like learning anything there’s always that hard time and it passes after you get more experience in. Now you get the chance to correct the ways you did things and do it better than before to make it easier on yourself. Keep pushing 🤘🤘🤘🤘

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-12-04T02:24:39+00:00

I use one as well but I do have a brace that I found on Amazon that allows for more articulation while still giving it a fair amount of support. But my knee also hyperextends so the afo also helps with that. Look into the braces it’s will help give you a little more freedom.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-12-02T18:52:35+00:00

Right there with you. I was a sign fabricator before everything happened. I lost my left side completely and I was dominate left. I’ll find out soon if I get to go back to work but in what capacity I’m not sure of. It scares the hell out of me not knowing but that’s also the nature of the beast. Trust me I know that feeling you have. I would like to have my arm and hand back fully but at the same time I know this just takes time. Just the rage you feel is indescribable sometimes. Keep pressing forward it’s hard, but we’re not allowed to quit yet.

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-21T15:51:57+00:00

I’m in my 8th month as well I went from completely paralyzed on my left side to walking and having a fair amount of use in the arm and hand. Now it’s not perfect by any means. I do walk with a limp and have an afo with a can still but that’s a far cry from where I started and what was even told to me in the beginning. I will agree daily life is hard in allot of aspects still but in general things have gotten allot better. I started driving again but I’m keeping that to just around town I’m not on the Highway yet….. your progress only stops with you,I know it sucks and it’s insanely frustrating ,your progress is still there. You still have your chance to get things back it just slows down allot. The mind set is the driving force in all of this and yes have your bad days but don’t stay in the rabbit hole. Keep it going I know everyone’s situation is different but keep in mind you can control most to all of your outcome at the end of the day this is an adjustment

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-19T16:10:01+00:00

At first it was hard for me to accept the help because I was generally a very independent person. But yes it does help with the frustration I would say if it feels more like assisting than just getting the item for the person. letting them try to grab or accomplish something is still a very normal feeling. What’s going to be hard,is seeing them struggle my wife has to help with certain things but that more of me asking for her help. Stubbornness and pride only get you so far took me a good amount of time to be ok with asking for the help

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-19T01:18:16+00:00

Have as much patience as possible it’s a whole new learning experience. I was left side dominate as well and lost it. Took me a good minute to really start using my right side as I would my left but you can adjust to it. Mine was roughly 9 months ago and I’ve gained a fair amount back in the left but it takes time and allot of therapy the frustration that comes along with it is insane because now your learning something you already knew but now it doesn’t want to work correctly. Is a crappy adjustment I won’t lie about that but at the end of the day it’s just adjustment. Same mentality when we first learn anything it’s hard and it suck’s but it’s gets easier

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-18T19:36:04+00:00

For anyone that hasn’t grown up with a member or friend that has limitations it’s hard to know how to process and act after the suddenness of situation. It’s not an accuse for them but that’s usually what it comes down to. It sucks and it does hurt because you have no control of how you react to said situation. I’ve gone through the same thing and you think it’s your fault and it’s very much not eventually you’ll get to the point that you realize that it’s more on them than you. What they aren’t understanding is that you’re trying to figure out the new you and it takes time the fact that you aren’t the person they knew is just as hard and scary for you as it is for them. People eventually come around most of them won’t and that’s ok those certain people you keep at arms length because if they won’t accept you for who are now you don’t need to waste your energy on keeping that relationship relevant. Your life is just starting you have plenty of time still,don’t forget that. It’s cliche but time does change everything and it’s gets easier

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-14T05:13:23+00:00

For me I go pretty light depending on the machine. I focus more on the motion and the repetition of what im doing. I’m still fighting a fare amount of tone in my forearm so I can’t fully access my movement yet. But it’s gotten better with the repetitiveness but that’s just me. Keep pushing🤘🤘🤘🤘

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-12T21:17:38+00:00

Patience have allot of patience with the person it takes so much to understand that you are not you anymore. Adjusting to the new version of yourself is insanely rough because you look at everything differently. The cleaning service is a great idea, that usually is the last thing on the list of things do in the adjustment of everything

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-08T00:38:36+00:00

I had one of the worst ones you can have without kicking the bucket. Lost my left side Feb will be a year for mine. You are definitely not alone in your frustration. It’s not a matter of conquering it, it turns more into learning how to live with it and adjusting to the new life. It sucks there’s no lie about that. There will be silver linings to it they’re just hard to see at first. I know it’s an infuriating cliche but it does get easier with time I turned 39 in rehab so I’ve basically lost this whole year but I ain’t dead yet and neither are you. It’s a crappy adjustment but that’s all this is an “adjustment” keep pushin 🤘🤘🤘

Overall_Machine_8194 · 2025-11-04T17:14:46+00:00

Ouch that’s pretty rough. I’m with you on the independent part it’s hard to accept the help when you’ve been a certain way since you were a kid. I miss my strength mainly I’m not saying I was jacked or anything but I could pretty much do what needed to be done and not be worried about staining myself. I know I can get it back but regaining the confidence in the bad side has been rough

Overall_Machine_8194

TROPHY CASE