Mind of my Stroked Brain

I wrote sometime back (a while back actually I think) that I used to have a very good teeth set but it has become more like a shark teeth set after the stroke. (https://mindofmystrokedbrain.blogspot.com/2021/11/20211125-my-teeth-set.html) One more effect of the stroke was that I couldn't open my jaw much for almost 3+ years. I could Max open my mouth 1-1½ cm. So for all that while I have not brushed my teeth. Though I was not consuming anything orally, i still used to have a mouthful of secretions from the lungs and the saliva. All of this would become a thick fluid because I can't swallow. Imagine it stagnating for hours together. Apart from the small of a septic tank, the other thing is what all this stagnation would have done to the teeth. From about 6m back, I have been able to open the mouth wide enough for a toothbrush head to sneak in (the electric toothbrush). I still can't open it wide enough to reach the back of the molars but I can get to the front of them  Recen...

My Physiotherapist does a particular stretch everyday. He holds my right leg on his right shoulder, holds the knee with his left hand ( so that the leg doesn't bend), holds the foot with his right hand and presses the leg down. Releases it and repeats is few times. If I had voice, the neighbours would have surely complained! It stretches the hamstring, calf, achele's tendon and presses the hip down to the bed (it's a bit out of place) It is not a new routine. From my recollection, he has been doing it for last 1.5 years at least. For the initial many months, I could feel nothing. I used to be distracted with some other thoughts while he went about it. I used to be watching the process like a mannequin's leg being worked on. Now, when he gets to that part (yes, there is a complete pattern everyday), I keep telling myself to relax, but the mind goes bonkers. So what is this pain?  It is the same leg, same muscles and same stretch. The reason is straight forward - the neur...

For the past 2 days, I have got some very bad headaches. After the stroke, I have rarely had any all this while. Few rare instances here and there. Very mild ones. Before my stroke, it was a regular feature. I used to have a strip of tablets with me always. I don't think I have not been having them, I have them just as frequently. I just am unable to feel it. The pain receptor circuitry is probably fried.  From a few months into my stroke, my right shoulder has been very sublexed due to the muscles having fully wasted and atrophied and the arm dangling without support all the time. I could see the arm away from the shoulder socket very much. It was excruciating. Only to see, for I could feel nothing and no pain . It looks much better now with my physiotherapist constantly ensuring it is supported and regular taping. But I look forward to the pain, when it comes... These aches and pains keep starting, with no change in routine, diet, sleep, etc. I can only assume it was always there...

My head is aching more , back paining a lot, lot of pain in the neck, when sitting on wheelchair, bottom hurts more, the hamstrings pain a lot where it presses the wheelchair, my ankle joint hurts a lot, etc... Basically i am aching a lot more than ever.. Much of the time I'm sorting out between new pain or old pain and should i ask for a painkiller. For ex, my left shoulder pain is new, attributable to the physio focussing on exercising the shoulder. The shoulder blade pain is due to the standing for longer periods, so is the ankle. These are all new pain because of some new activity and i am cautious of these. All other aches and pains , nothing new has been done, same drill followed for ages now. I can only conclude that all this pain existed forever but i am able to feel it only now.. that's painful no doubt, but indicates some sensation in these places is slowly returning. That thought brings joy... Extending that logic, a lot more pain is in store as sensations slowly com...