The world watched this past December as Jamie Foxx opened up about his “mystery illness” that had left the world curious. His absence was felt and the lack of clear answers made us all the more concerned. As he shared in his Netflix special, he experienced a hemorrhagic stroke. This left him paralyzed and he had to go extensive rehab to regain his function. Thankfully he was able to demonstrate he’s “still got it”!
Jamie is not alone in his experience however. About 800,000 people a year experience a stroke in the United States, with about 25% of them under the age of 65. Women have unique risk factors related to pregnancy, eclampsia and hormone therapy, which has resulted in strokes being more likely to be fatal. And while we have been able to take life saving measures with speedy intervention, stroke is the Number 1 cause of disability worldwide. Most of these strokes are ischemic, or caused by a clot cutting off circulation to the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when there is bleeding in the brain. These bleeding strokes are often the most debilitating.
If you recall the early seasons of the show “ER”, there is an episode where two doctors spend their storyline arguing over whether to give a stroke patient that came in a new clot-busting medication. Before 1995, when someone suffered a stroke there was not much that could be done and the damage was thought to be irreversible. Since then we have developed new medications, endovascular surgery to remove clots and stop bleeds. This has made strokes less likely to end someone’s life when treated immediately. So if you see someone experiencing these signs of stroke, call 9-1-1 right away:
B – balance loss
E – eyes (vision changes)
F- facial droop
A – arm weakness or numbness
S – speech difficulty
T – time to call 9-1-1
The Road to Recovery: Challenges and Triumphs
After a stroke, there are many aspects of recovery to consider in order to regain
the best quality of life. Advances in stroke rehabilitation have demonstrated the body’s ability to heal itself, known as neuroplasticity. The recovery is fastest in the early days after a stroke. It slows down after about six months, but the remaining neurons can still learn and make new connections, with stroke survivors seeing improvements as much as 15 or 20 years later!
It can be a slow process at first. Especially with those experiencing larger impacts like paralysis or aphasia (difficulty communicating). Simple things that were done without thinking before suddenly require much more effort, or perhaps one entire side is paralyzed. Vision is also often impacted, with up to 65% of people who experiencing stroke having some form of vision loss.
These things can be addressed by a combination of therapies to address the person’s needs holistically. Starting while in the hospital, Physical, Occupational and Speech therapists can begin working to teach the body to regain abilities lost with the stroke. Vision rehab is also a growing option, and a full vision assessment is often recommended. Driving assessments and Vocational rehab can help stroke survivors get back to work.
Every stroke is different, but almost all stroke survivors will experience fatigue. Stroke is a brain injury. Even if there are no visible symptoms, a stroke survivor is likely to be easily tired when doing normal activities. Allowing extra time to complete those activities, as well as taking breaks and naps is an expected part of the healing process. In the aftermath, it’s important to learn what can be done to prevent another stroke from occurring. High blood pressure and obesity are two things that can have the biggest impact on your risk for stroke. Having frank conversations with your primary care provider to get your blood pressure and weight under control can be the most effective at decreasing the likelihood of that scenario no one wants to see repeated.
Another invisible part of stroke recovery is the emotional impact it has. To an outside observer, you may see no sign that the person you are looking at had a stroke. But even those with no residual symptoms may feel a huge change. Before the stroke, they may have felt more invincible, and now they are afraid to go to sleep because the reality hit them of what a close call they just experienced. Or if they are unable to participate in activities that gave them purpose, like taking care of others or joy, like playing music that can lead to feelings of depression. It is important that they know they are not alone in this experience.
Thriving, Not Just Surviving
The idea of a “new normal” often feels limiting, suggesting resignation rather than growth. But stories like Jamie Foxx’s, and those shared on Stronger After Stroke, remind us that recovery is not about simply accepting limitations—it’s about discovering new strengths. Survivors have gone on to run marathons, start businesses, write books, and become advocates for stroke awareness.
Support from family and friends is very important to having the best recovery. It is a huge learning curve for everyone involved. Resources like the Stronger After Stroke podcast from the Norton Neuroscience Institute provide answers to frequently asked questions from experts, as well as stories from survivors and caregivers on what was most helpful for them in their recovery.
Joining support groups of others who have experienced stroke has been incredibly validating. As a stroke nurse navigator, I have spoken with thousands of stroke survivors, and they have often expressed hesitation to join a support group, because the ones who are physically able to come feel like they would not be in a position to share their struggles if others in the group had suffered more disability than they had. Knowing this is a normal concern, if you have survived a stroke, don’t let that keep you from connecting with others who understand what you are going through. There are in person support groups as well as virtual support groups. You can find one near you using the American Stroke Association’s finder tool.
Every small step in recovery is a victory—What’s one step you can take today to move closer to hope and healing?
