Is there a cure for spasticity after stroke? OT Answers

Hi, I’m Elyse, am occupational therapist and certified stroke rehab specialist, and today I’m going to answer your questions about spasticity after stroke.
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Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:09 What is spasticity?
01:28 What is the difference between high muscle tone & spasticity?
02:28 When does post stroke spasticity start?
04:10 Will spasticity go away on its own?
05:02 Is there a cure for spasticity?
06:27 What can I do to manage spasticity on my own?
08:43 What makes spasticity worse and what can I do about it?
10:34 Outro
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Music from epidemicsound.com
Medical Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for medical advice or treatment from a physician or qualified healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise or therapy regimen.

[@teapotgranny6422]

My mother had a stroke back in October of 2023, the doctors tell me that because her leg muscles are soo contracted she'll never be able to walk again. She hasn't had an real physical therapy and the doctors refuse to admit her to a rehab and are suggesting a nursing home facility. Even after asking them questions on if they've done any stretching exercises with my mother, they just tell me that her muscles are far too contracted for sooo long to do any therapy. I thank for these videos since now I'm using them as a way to help her!

[@MakeItHappen223]

I’m in similar situation except my mom hurt too bad to stretch anymore..

[@teresaroatch6983]

I have to my own conclusion about drs who really did nothing but put me on medication and send me home, i was sent to a rehabilitation for 3 weeks but sent me home without having therapy for a month and depression kicked in even then my drs didnt listen so just recently i decided to look into the meds the drs prescribed and found some of those meds are holding me back and im changing drs, look at her meds online do research. prayers for your mom

[@drumit4youdrumit4you96]

I love your channel as it touches on so many parts of our new lives post stroke.

[@PostStrokeOrg]

@drumit4youdrumit4you96 Thanks so much for the kind words! I try my best ❤️

[@JPyron30]

Thank you for the in depth explanation if this issue

[@gtek1357]

Thank you, I thought I noticed changes in my spasticity in times of stress, This is validating and something I dont't recall anyone else mentioning

[@hemasookram4655]

Awesome as always

[@lisaward2562]

Great video!

[@onehandedwonders]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@robertlopez1592]

Thanks for your advice

[@TheRebirthOfWisdom]

And I truly appreciate your knowledge and recommendations for a healthy recovery. Very relevant to my life!

[@NYtoNC]

My parents are new to this world and you've helped so much!!!!

[@ameliawinderman2775]

Thank you so much for doing these videos! They are very helpful.

[@irishphilly]

This summary is SO helpful. It's gently informative, affirming & realistic to stroke survivor AND a great reference resource to explain the condition, & reasons the answers are not 'easy', as in formulaic or predictive. One of the hard aspects I find recovering from Stroke is the Neurological realities underpinning anything. Things & people 'working my nerves' is our little lighter joke in my life. Thank you for this.

[@colettemacton4875]

Very informative. Thank you. It’s good to know it’s not just me.

[@ktinmaeg]

This is very helpful ❤❤❤

[@medithsalig4070]

it's relieving to hear from you about stroke.. thank you❤

[@sharonschnieder5923]

Thank you so much for answering the question I always had about spasticity! So happy to hear using a heating pad may help. Been wanting it try this when it is acting up! Your the best and I love your informative channel 🥰

[@kentallen8481]

Thank you, I thought I noticed changes in my spasticity in times of stress.

[@bwalk1963]

4 years post stroke and my spasticity is worse than it has ever been. No amount of daily stretching has ever helped me and none of the half dozen hand splints can keep my fingers in them so frustrating to know I will most likely never get any better than I am now with what I call feeling loose

[@jamesm2577]

I find low dose CBD (ie 10-20mg) helps dramatically with improvement usually going for days after a gummy. Plus if you get the right gummies & it even helps with sleep :D

[@TheRebirthOfWisdom]

I used to use CBD pre-stroke and then I stopped everything altogether. Thanks for your input on its effectiveness. 👍🏽

[@teresaroatch6983]

Also research your meds, i did cuz i got tired of swelling in foot and leg made me not want to walk, one of my meds was causing the swelling, the vitamins i take help with swelling, not saying do what i did, im always looking into natural meds and i eat better than i did, i quit smoking and joined the YMCA for swim therapy and i watch and do these videos, because i not only had swelling i had major depression and now i want to get back to living and getting through this, good luck to everyone and God Bless. Thank you for the videos very helpful

[@AnneWintle-ro2cm]

You indicate that specticity sometimes goes away on its own, but in itself is incurable: a grim prospect for those afflicted with it! Is the latter really the prospect for the future? Anthony

[@poojahm120]

Mam thank you so much for sharing the video. I still face a lot of spasticity. With oedema in the feet . Despicable taking medicines to overcome spasticity.

[@robertlopez1592]

What is it when your muscles and nerve shake

[@georgepnf8596]

Great and very informative video Elyse!! Spasticity is the same in Parkinson disease patients? Can we apply this information (static streching, warmth) in Parkinson patients? Thank you

[@cherrymaniego209]

Can you do a video the difference between dystonia and spacticity. Thanks

[@davidbrownell-we3jj]

I had a stroke ( it will be 3 years in July) I wake up really stiff in the morning. I find my toes curling on my right foot when I get anxious or fearful. I used to try and grip the ground before I had my stroke. I found it quite informative the information that spasticity can come on after a stroke. Keep up the good work!!!

[@Hoytbuff]

I love your videos! Thank you for everything you do

[@twhite91911]

Great & informative video! Just took my mother for her botox shots for her left arm today (she is post stroke 14 months). With these treatments and daily stretching, arm splints & stim over injected areas (as you mentioned) have seen a decrease in her spactitcy and tone. We have done needling, similar to acupuncture) in her arm but primarily in her leg but have seen positive results from this as well.

[@vj9222]

Hi. Is botox completely safe and impactful? Please suggest. My doc just suggested for same

[@twhite91911]

​ @vj9222 It has worked well for her with decrease in tone & spactity while increasing range of motion and flexibility after each treatment but things to know; It is meant to last 3 months so you will see a return of tone the closer to that time. Again doing therapy and stretching helps. It took about 3 treatments before we found the most impactful muscle areas to inject for her. The machine used has audio and wavelengths and you can hear and see the tone through a static output and when the injection goes in you can hear it decrease (very cool). The only negative experience was an OT pressed our doctor to inject the hand and it actually worked opposite for her hand (they're no longer our OT therapist btw)

[@robertwalle5087]

Mine acts up when I go by an airconditioning vent or a cold part of a building. I worry about playing guitar and need to stretch more. 1st stoke early Jan 22, 2nd 15 Aug 22, both in pons RL. Mental effects minimal, but balance and foot drop problems.

[@440hz7]

I keep finding out about my stroke on yt and not with my doctor or physical therapist! I'll ask questions and they ether look at me like they never herd of what I said or like I shouldn't be asking ...

[@PostStrokeOrg]

Ugh, this is not surprising but still so frustrating to hear. I’m glad you’re finding resources on KZbin but I’d hope that your doctor or therapist would be the first people you’d be able to go to for answers ❤️ unfortunately, that’s not always the case

[@jecatwrangler]

Anat Baniel methods and trained practitioners cannot be dismissed when discussing post stroke spasticity, IMO and experience.

[@madhavik609]

Thanks much for your useful content... My mother had a stroke 4 months back. She is having shoulder pain and physio mentioned that it is due to muscle tightness. Can I conclude that it is spacticity issue you mentioned? Is Shock wave therapy works for this??

[@galafish]

Young man 24 yo. Brain tumor, glioblastoma high-grade. Year and a half after diagnosis, craniotomy, radiation and multiple chemos. Severe spasticity in left arm and hand, high tone in left leg. Last three months became unable to walk, stand or sit on his own. Can you recommend a facility/rehab/pt specialists/doctors to help him with this condition? In NYC/BROOKLYN area? Many thanks

[@lisaward2562]

Could you explain why they tell you not to sleep on your affected side?

[@marianneg.6599]

Thank you for this video, my spasticity began a year after the stroke and now (7 years later) I am able to walk, but my spasticity is getting worse (since 2 weeks I started doing the hip spasticity stretches and using a TENS against neuropathy). I hope to get through this stage and move into a better (movement) phase. My physiotherapist said she did not believe in stretching, so I am working now solo with a natural healer who says cannabidiol is proven to lower spasticity. Searching and hoping to find.

[@mauricemaeterlinck8799]

Thank you for your video! Is it possible that eventually I wont need to continue my botox injections every three months?

[@laurieborgers2685]

Hi, I too am getting botox every three months in my quads and calves. Do you find the injection benefits follow a curve and do they last three months for you?

[@legendary8838]

I didn’t develop spasticity until about 2 2 or 3 months after my stroke

[@pavelmahmudmix3737]

Is it possible to cure by taking occupational therapy?

[@justinweaver7428]

I had low grade brain cancer last year that affected my right frontal lobe. I didn't know anything was wrong until I had a brain bleed. The general symptoms are similar to a stroke, left side weakness. My OT guy says I'm fighting muscle tone. Are spasticity and tone the same thing?

[@PostStrokeOrg]

@justinweaver7428 I'm so sorry to hear about your brain cancer. I hope you are doing well. I actually answer this question in the video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHiwaZV9aJqFd6csi=sklwe-hQOWFRs3-t&t=88

[@justinweaver7428]

@PostStrokeOrg I've been getting regular MRIs, and so far, so good! I had two crainotomies. After the first one, I was ok. The second one a week later rendered my left side useless. I was left handed for everything, including writing, so this has been difficult, haha. I'm still unable to activate my extensors, but I have a hard splint that I go to bed with every night. I've been browsing through your OT posts trying to get my hand and arm better. I still can't move my arm all that well.

[@kicknowledgesmith8608]

For me exercising, and using a massage gun, tires out the muscles and decreases the spasticity.

[@geoffpetrie7437]

❤

[@sajanninan4520]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheRebirthOfWisdom]

I had two strokes in one year 10 months apart and, although my speech and body were progressing and getting stronger, about a 1.5 years later the muscles in my mouth are tighter and I speak faster than I should, causing my speech to sound like it’s slurring. Can the remedies in your video address spasticity with speech? Is this spasticity or something else?

[@TheRebirthOfWisdom]

No response?

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

💖❤

[@rhpabp]

What about a stiff hand. Is that spasticity?

[@waderidsdale402]

Ah, Spastic Paralysis the bain of my existence 😵‍💫

[@PostStrokeOrg]

@waderidsdale402 Ugh I'm so sorry. Spasticity is such a bear.

[@David-dz6dv]

When I yawn I get muscle all stretched up like my fingers are open up as my other hand does.

[@zolekahewu3791]

Hivthis is what is happening to me as well

[@zolekahewu3791]

Myarm just shoot out and my fingers open upbut different with the le . If Isleep thepainjustcome and Iwant to put my leg high up and I jut do that . Mindxthe leg is so hevy🥺

[@zolekahewu3791]

Inow verywell.its really abad experience to bavestroke

[@zolekahewu3791]

Iam very much thankful tourMightyGod I wake upeveryday. Ivcan speak ,feed myselfand ican read and right veery weĺ. I lke word searh and puzzles gamesIcan doit nmuch better than mypeple at home🙏🙏🏻❤

[@David-dz6dv]

@@zolekahewu3791 I can't even read because I have aphasia and I can't even write because it happened at my dominant side.

[@davidbrownell-we3jj]

By the way I am not David Brownell. I am only using his computer. I am a woman

[@garywalling4341]

Look..........for the bazillionth time, until they learn how to fix our brains there'll 'NEVER' be a cure. Therefore until governments stop wasting money on wars, space exploration, lining thier own and thier friends and families pockets we strokies, MS, Cerebral Palsy, brain damage/spinal cord injury sufferers etc, are doomed. Humans think they're so clever we can't even fix ourselves. Thanks for your tenacity though Elyse, your videos are informative.

[@derekterrell3465]

Exactly

[@willgardner3054]

This person would have a much higher believability if she would drop the affected accent. I think that she has much to offer

[@laurieborgers2685]

Gosh, I just don't hear it. I have been learning from her while I have been working to recover from my stroke and have found information to be accurate and helpful to me. Talking about accents though. what about people who have a stroke and then speak with a different accent? Is that real or click bait? Smiles

[@dickkirkland]

Thanks for this. It’s very comprehensive. I had no idea. The pair is an increase in spasticity so much later post stroke. The dreaded “super curl yarns”!! Funny but not. I do have to dress during colder weather and even in the office if it’s cool. My affected hand gets very swollen from non use at the computer. I have to remember to get up and stretch. It seems to help get the blood moving.