Sheila

Vertebral artery Dissection/ Dizziness
(This article submitted by Sheila on 3/12/99 - Neuro Forum)

I had a stroke in July 98 ( verterbral artery dissection) at 44.
I was previously in excellent health and had no prior warning of the stroke. Apparently I had a predisposition. I was diagnosed in ER. I couldn't walk, had double vision and terrible nausea and dizziness. Also have lost the ability to tell the difference between hot and cold on my left side and have minor paralysis in my right hand. Spent two months at a rehab hospital and doctors thought I would recover completely within three months.

Now, 8 months later, I go to therapy every day and can walk with a walker as long as it isn't too far and am working on walking with a cane.

I am being held back by dizziness which I've had since the day of the stroke as well as my vision ( no depth perception). My neurologists have told me I've had a very unusual stroke and that most people who have my kind of stroke recovery fully in a few weeks.

As a result they feel that I will not make any further progress . They have said I will never work again and that i will never read again. Meanwhile, I can't drive and unless accompanied ( because I get so dizzy) It is hard to get out of the house. Luckily,I function very well in the house although the children miss their "old mum".

Even my physiotherapists tell me they have never had a case like mine which I guess makes sense if most people recover quickly they would have no reason to go to therapy.

The good news is I have a very supportive family ....

I just wondered if anyone has had a similar stroke or has the residual effects?

Would love to hear any advice or ideas.

(This is the very first article on vertebral artery dissection that I saw in the neuro forum. Unfortunately, I never succeeded in getting in touch with Sheila, to find out how she was when I started searching the internet for answers. It is now 23 months since my stroke and I am still experiencing all sorts of attacks and symptoms. This just means that if you do not recover fully soon after the stroke the chances of a full recovery are minmal.

Ramboaus, 30th March 2002 )

reply to Sheila
This response submitted by john on 5/20/99.

I had a dissection of the left vertebral artery in Feb. 99. Initially, they missed it in the ER, thought I had vertigo. As the stroke progressed, I experienced all of the symptoms you described: double vision, dizzyness, very weak voice (a vocal cord was affected), my left eye drooped, I could barely walk using a walker.

It's now May of 99 and I am progressing well. What seemed to help the most was physical therapy. I'm a runner, so I was very anxious to get back to my running. I was in the hospital for 1 week and just walking down the hall (with a walker and a nurse) was barely tolerable.

Once I started working with the therapists, I pushed myself fairly hard. When I first got home, walking to the mailbox (with someone along in case I fell) was the challenge for the day. Within a month, I was taking several mile long walks, and last weekend, I ran in a 5Km run (not as fast as before, but glad to be there.) Everyone is different but for me the physical exersion seemed to be the trick, and I really worked myself until I dropped. I also installed a gym in the garage so that I could continue the exercises I did when I had physical therapy. I still have some residual problems (fatigue - I'm just getting back to a full work schedule this week, wierd sensations in my right side, burning foot, left eye gets blurry as I get tired.)

I've found that when I have troubles with things (e.g., my balance is a little off), I can come up with an exercise to help. For example, I started walking on parking lot curbs to fine tune my balance. In a week, I saw quite a difference. I even tried training the feeling to come back in my right hand. I put the left hand (good one) in cold water, then the right hand in cold water (repeatedly). After awhile, I could feel some cold feeling in my right hand (could be coincidence, but it seemed to work for me.) I'm 43 and they are not sure what caused it (possibly a quick neck movement). My blood pressure was a little high, but they don't think that had anything to do with it.

Best of luck!

DIZZINESS
This response submitted by CORA on 3/19/99.

HI--I TOO, HAD A VERTEBRAL ARTERY DISSECTION 2YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS 38--DUE TO CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION. DIZZINESS IS STILL MY MAIN COMPLAINT--IT ONLY GOES AWAY WHEN I AM NOT MOVING. THE DOCTORS TOLD ME IT WOULD RESOLVE ITSELF 3-4 MONTHS AFTER MY STROKE, BUT I AM STILL LIGHTHEADED ALL THE TIME. YES, IT HAS DEFINITELY GOTTEN BETTER, AND I AM HOPING THAT THE "LITTLE" IMPROVEMENTS WILL CONTINUE. TO ME, THIS IS THE MOST FRUSTRATING DEFICIT--I LOST MY HEARING IN ONE EAR AND MY BALANCE WAS TERRIFICALLY AFFECTED--MY GAIT IS STILL AWKWARD, BUT GENERALLY,I AM DOING OK. WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS--IT JUST TAKES TIME! TAKE CARE

To Sheila
This response submitted by Andrea on 3/18/99.

I too had a vertebral artery dissection. Mine was at the age of 28...almost 5 years ago. Your ER visit sounds just like mine as I was presenting with the same symptoms. I stayed in ICU for 1 week and was then transferred to acute care for 2 more weeks then released. My remaining difficulties are very minor left sided weakness and moderately reduced hot/cold/pain sensations on the right. Actually very cold things feel warm to me and my right foot is burning all the time. Weird sensations! But I am thankful that I have no motor problems! Dizziness rarely. Concentration difficulties with lots of back ground noise.

The cause of my stroke is umknown. My husband (a pathologist/medical examiner) thinks possibly trauma. I had ridden a rollarcoaser two weeks before as this could cause neck trauma or even cracking my neck as a chiropractor would could cause the trauma?????? We'll never know. I saw enough MD's and no one could give me a straight answer.

I hope you continue to do well and Id love to hear more.

Take care

Vertebral artery dissection/ Diz
This response submitted by Gloria on 3/14/99.

There are many similarities in your condition and my husband's. He had a brain stem stroke in June '97. He was extremely dizzy, throwing up for one month, unable to walk, lost hot/cold sensitivity down left side. Now he can walk (with a cane), never nauseous, balance is improving, still dizzy at times but much less. Was actually out gardening last weekend - pruning rose bushes, which was absolutely impossible last summer. So, keep going -- it's slow, but it does get better. I hope this helps.

Never HUH?
This response submitted by Sheri on 3/12/99.

We could be twins. We could have easily died! I was told that they had never seen anyone like me live. We have the same symptoms. I was life flighted to the big city, as they say and hospitalized for about a month. I will never recover nor will you but we will improve...that we know. The prognosis is unknown for me as I am sure with you, we will be in the dark about that since we are one of a kind I guess. I really go on my good days and rest on my bad days. I call it recharging. Keep up with the therapy. I am dizzy yet and post stroke by 17 months. It takes up to a year for your brain to heal so the first few months you will find improvement fast so now every little improvement is relished! Please email me and I can put you on a great site. I monitor two stroke boards and find that very comforting. I would love to help you keep your spirits high. This is what it is all about! Sheri

This response submitted on 3/12/99.

Hi Sheila In February 1998, my wife had a stroke of the brain stem due to dissection of the vertebral artery. The cause of the dissection is not known.

Initially she was totally "locked-in". At present she has no movement in her left hand and left leg below the knee. She has lost her sense of balance and also has double vision when seeing items close-up. She can now talk and eat.

We were first told that she was extremely fortunate to survive this type of stroke. Now that she has, recovery will continue for a long period as compared with a hemispherical stroke where the recovery is supposedly not as long.

From the information I have seen most people say..keep a positive attitude and do a lot of exercises. Stretching and moving the arm/leg that has been affected regularly may trigger something someday.

Don't give up.

The Search Began Here

My search on the internet for survivors of vertebral artery dissection anywhere in the world began here around July 2000. I felt all alone in this world without too many people including doctors understanding my trauma.

My lucky break came when Andrea and John responded to my emails. This was the beginning of the VAD- Club.

Ramboaus

The email I cherished most. It was like a ship wreck seeing land . There was HOPE afterall.....

Hello there

I am always interested in hearing others stories and sharing my own on this subject!
How are you recovering?
Andrea
26th July 2000