Strokes? Undetected?

[raysnkaysmom]

My father in law has had 4 strokes since December....3 have been this month. March 5th, 18th and 2 days ago. Each time he has gone to ER, then admitted to the hospital for a cerebral 'something' and shown all the signs of a stroke (loss of movement and feeling in his right side, slurred speech, unable to answer questions), yet the MRI's and catscans aren't showing anything.
Today they are going to 'induce' a stroke on him.... What does that entail?

Since his 3 strokes this month, he has been reduced to a walker to get around (this is a man who NEVER had problems doing ANYTHING prior to Xmas).

Is anyone familiar with these 'stroke-like' symptoms, yet it be undetectable through brain scans? The doctors are still calling them strokes, but we're all still in the dark. We beleive they are brought on by severe stress, but just so lost as to what's going on......

 

[raysnkaysmom]

bump
No insight on 'induced strokes'?
Or strokes undetected on MRIs?

 

[ead79]

I don't know much, but I have learned a little bit since my grandma had a stroke in December.

I can't remember the details, but her stroke did not show up on some of the tests the ER ran--it took a more detailed scan to confirm the stroke diagnosis. A few months later, she had what they call a TIA or "mini-stroke." It had the same symptoms, but it was less severe and didn't result in any permanent damage the way the original stroke did.

After the original stroke, they put my grandma on blood thinners to try to reduce the chance of more strokes and they put her in physical therapy to help her regain her speech, ability to walk, etc. Her speech is much better (only a slight lisp remains), and she can walk on her own using a cane for balance.

Has your father-in-law gotten evaluated by a neurologist? That would probably be a good next step if that hasn't happened yet. Also, perhaps he could get some physical therapy for his walking.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I don't know much, but I have learned a little bit since my grandma had a stroke in December.

I can't remember the details, but her stroke did not show up on some of the tests the ER ran--it took a more detailed scan to confirm the stroke diagnosis. A few months later, she had what they call a TIA or "mini-stroke." It had the same symptoms, but it was less severe and didn't result in any permanent damage the way the original stroke did.

After the original stroke, they put my grandma on blood thinners to try to reduce the chance of more strokes and they put her in physical therapy to help her regain her speech, ability to walk, etc. Her speech is much better (only a slight lisp remains), and she can walk on her own using a cane for balance.

Has your father-in-law gotten evaluated by a neurologist? That would probably be a good next step if that hasn't happened yet. Also, perhaps he could get some physical therapy for his walking.

He has seen a couple neurologists, and they started physical therapy once a week for his walking, as well as regaining use of his right side, particularly of his face. Raising of the eyes, chewing gum etc. They also put him on plavix after his second stroke, the first in march... but he's had 2 since plavix, so they are concerned about that as well... Just find it odd with the severity of what is happening to him that they can't find anything on CT's or MRIs...

 

[PatsMom]

One of my dad's doctors told me that a stroke is kind of like a bruise and the evidence in the brain takes some time to develop.

Of course this is the same doctor who said he was having mini-strokes when in fact it was tumors from the lung cancer that had spread to his brain that were causing the seizures. So take it for what it is worth.

 

[DawnCt1]

He has seen a couple neurologists, and they started physical therapy once a week for his walking, as well as regaining use of his right side, particularly of his face. Raising of the eyes, chewing gum etc. They also put him on plavix after his second stroke, the first in march... but he's had 2 since plavix, so they are concerned about that as well... Just find it odd with the severity of what is happening to him that they can't find anything on CT's or MRIs...

I am just wondering if perhaps the 'damage' isn't being caused by a blood clot, which an MRI would detect but an arteriole spasm that temporarily reduces blood flow to that area of the brain, then relaxes but leaves the patient with a deficit. I know one of my neighbors has arteriole spasms in her eye that usually leaves were with temporary blindness in that eye for up to an hour. She has had so many, that now she has permanently lost peripheral vision in that eye and some of the center.