One stroke survivor’s journey

8 One stroke survivor’s journey



John Brown



Chapter contents



John’s story


Stroke and hospital rehabilitation


Important first steps


Broadening horizons and tackling frustrations


Ongoing challenges


Current gym programme


Key messages


Editors’ comment


The purpose of this chapter is to share one stroke survivor’s experience of returning to exercise following a stroke. Being physically active and engaging in sport had been a lifetime habit for John, and his motivation and determination to return to the gym was high. This will not always be the case; other stroke survivors participating in exercise following stroke may need to change their behaviour to reap the benefits of improved fitness and increased mobility (see chapter 6). John’s story gives us an insight into some of the highs and lows and the milestones reached.


John’s experience has helped shape the content of the only UK course for exercise professionals on stroke. We are indebted to him for sharing his experiences with exercise professionals and tutors undertaking the Register of Exercise Professionals Level 4 course on exercise after stroke. Names have been changed to provide anonymity to the health professionals involved in John’s care.



John’s story


I have always been enthusiastic about keeping fit. My wife would probably say I’m obsessive! During my Diploma of Education year I opted for Physical Education as my second teaching subject, so at the end of it I was qualified to assist with it in school. I was once told by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors that I was unique in Scotland, being the only Principal Teacher of English to be teaching games.


I played my last game of rugby just before my 50th birthday and after my ‘retirement’ from the game would spend 3 hours a week in the gym and swim 50 to 60 lengths once a week. We also enjoyed holidays walking in the Lake District or Perthshire, so you could say that January 21st 1997 was something of a surprise to me!



stroke and hospital rehabilitation


It was a Tuesday evening and my wife, Audrey, and I had decided to go to the gym as usual. The fitness room was relatively quiet. I climbed on an exercise bike, set my programme and started pedalling. Audrey, meanwhile, was on the treadmill. After a few minutes, I felt stiffness in my right calf. Thinking it no more than that I pedalled faster. The feeling moved slowly up my right side, my vision began to blur and when I tried to call to Audrey the words wouldn’t come. Two others helped me down from the bike and laid me on mats. The doctor arrived and diagnosed a stroke. It was 6 months before my daughter’s wedding.


The ambulance came and I was taken to hospital. By the time I’d reached the hospital my voice had returned, though it was pitched several octaves higher. I had various tests and then spent 3 days in a general medical ward until a bed became available in the stroke ward. During my second day I had my first meeting with James Carter, the Senior Physiotherapist, who, when he learned of the July wedding, was adamant that he would have me walking my daughter down the aisle. I had never thought otherwise.


My 9 weeks of treatment got off to a most inauspicious start. I’d noticed sharp pain behind my right knee and, after an ultrasound scan, it was diagnosed as a deep venous thrombosis, so I was given a large dose of warfarin and put on a heparin drip for 1 week. This was most frustrating as it meant postponing the start of physiotherapy. However, 2 weeks later I’d reached the first benchmark of standing unaided for 10 seconds.


My daughter flew from Chicago to see me over Valentine’s Day weekend and when I said goodbye to her I promised I’d reach the last objective, walking 10 metres, for her birthday on March 1st. I did. I had now been in rehabilitation for about 5 weeks and I was able to get out of bed and into my wheelchair unaided. I could also walk a little and stand up in the shower, so I thought discharge must be coming. At the end of the first week in March, James Carter suggested the 24th as my ‘release’ date, which was ideal as it was the start of the Easter holidays and Audrey and I would have a fortnight to work out a routine before she went back to school. I had a home visit with my physiotherapist and an occupational therapist on March 13th and on Sunday 24th Audrey picked me up and took me home. I had spent 9 weeks in the stroke ward.



Important first steps


The next 2 weeks at home were important. I needed to show Audrey I could cope at home alone. I still needed considerable help showering, drying and dressing. Walking up and down stairs too was tiring. However, the 2 weeks gave us enough time to establish a routine and, when Audrey’s new term began, I felt confident about being left in the house on my own. There were just over 3 months until the wedding so I began the work needed to enable me to walk my daughter down the aisle. I knew this was not going to be straightforward as her wedding was being held in Dirleton Castle, a very old castle which had restricted access for people with mobility problems! I began by walking up and down the living room until I’d almost worn a path in the carpet. I had two falls; on both occasions I turned too quickly, caught my right foot in the pile and over I went. I crawled to an armchair, dragged myself onto my knees and then onto my feet and continued walking. I was still apprehensive about walking outdoors as our pavements were rather uneven, but I had to make a start. I decided to make the post box, 20 yards down our street, my first goal. I did the trip daily for a week or two then I increased the distance, until I could manage 50 to 100 yards. During this time I had also been attending bi-weekly physiotherapy sessions at the hospital, so by July I was able to walk over the moat bridge and climb the wooden steps at the castle. I even shuffled around the dance floor that evening.


In my physiotherapy, my balance and limb strengthening were paramount, but I was also given what I thought were rather meaningless tasks such as turning over cards from a pack or undoing knots in a long piece of string, but I realised how useful they’d been when, in September, I tied my shoelace for the first time in 9 months! However, shirt sleeve buttons were proving more difficult and I would get angry and frustrated at not being able to manage them.

Related posts:

Evaluating exercise and fitness training after stroke: outcome assessment What is a stroke? Post-stroke problems Physical fitness and function after stroke Communication: getting it right Designing and delivering an exercise and fitness training programme for stroke survivors

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Mar 17, 2017 | Posted by in PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION | Comments Off on One stroke survivor’s journey

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