Neuroplasticity

Let's talk about neuroplasticity -- the brain's capacity to change. What do you know about it? How do you apply it to your own life? Can you? How can it
help with aphasia?........

I had a craniotomy in 2003 to completely remove an AVM that I was born with. After the brain surgery my short term memory, my high-level executive skills, my ability to "visualize" within my mind/brain was severely damaged. In fact, in addition to the aforementioned skills, for almost 10 years, I had no ability or recollection of recalling/remembering any of my dreams. In fact, I felt as though I didn't dream at all.

Several years ago, as part of my recovery process, I began seeing a Neuropsychologist. One of the things/ideas that he introduced me to was neuroplasticity. I told him that my brain surgeons had told me that my brain would only continue to build neural pathways for about 2 years following my craniotomy and that after that, I probably would not improve much. In fact, my brain surgeons told me that the state of recovery I was at after 2 years, was probably going to be my "peak". I found this to be very depressing because two years after my craniotomy I was nowhere near where I was before my craniotomy. In fact, I felt very defeated and depressed about my future.

Well, I can tell you, that NOW, almost 11 years after my craniotomy, I continue to improve and I'm absolutely positive that my brain continues to build neural pathways. I do believe that the concept of neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to build new neural pathways to compensate for the brain's damaged neural pathways has proven itself to be very accurate and very true within my own brain/experience. I honestly don't know A LOT about it, other than my own recovery process, but I am very interested in learning more :)

Ive found and am raising money forbhyperbaric oxygen treatment ive read a few articles and by greatly increasing the amount of dissolved oxygen in your blood, it can induce new neuroplasticity in metabolically damaged areas of the brain years after “peak” its even been successful over ten years after stroke and tbi, far past the expected “acute recovery” time, the study reported such positive gains in many patients even reversal of paralysis in patients who hadnt made gains in years

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130123144218.htm check it out

After my stroke (following 5 embolizations to reduce the size of my AVM) I read a great deal about neuroplasticity. “The Brain that Changes itself” by Norman Doidge, “My Stroke of Insight”, by Jill Bolte Taylor… I had numerous conversations with my OTs and speech therapists about brain plasticity. Improved brain function happens continually with aphasia. Sometimes a large amount improves, in some cases, very incremental improvements are made. So many factors to take into consideration.

I have a theory that in my own case, there would have been so much language deficit in the development of my AVM that the function was relocated to a different part of my brain that was NOT affected by the location of the AVM, very early in my life . I think it is responsible for the rapid return of my language function. I still struggle with apraxia (motor function damage resulting from the stroke), and other dysfunction related to aphasia.

In my heart, in most cases, continued progress is a reasonable expectation in years to come. I’m counting on it.

Doctor Ruth...I looked up neurophasticity and having aphasia, I had it very hard to read and understand.

Has my aphasia become better since my brain bleed in 2007...not really. Perhaps somewhat better, but not what I would like.

Do others with aphasia think it has inproved over the years?

Thank u for the info.Book by Taylor is very impresive. Sine my stoke in 03' have inproved in many areas, except motor function. I will do loads of research on Neuroplasticity. Sure miss being able to play with grandkids.

4 years ago I had three bleeds in my thalamus due to a cavernous malformation. I had surgery to cauterize it and ended up paralyzed on the entire left side of my body.

I have had improvements as recent as three months ago in my balance. It has been an amazing journey. Last year I caught a baseball, with my left arm, for the first time in four years. I've relearned everything from tying my shoes to riding a bike.

I have found what works best for me is swimming for cardio and yoga for my balance. I heard cardio is suppose to stimulate neuroplasticity. Before the event I lifted weights a lot and now I stick to push ups and pull ups because I have trouble stabilizing the weight. My arm wants to drift when it is tired and I have dropped the weights a few times.

I sometimes have trouble communicating with people especially if I'm tired. I know what I want to say and the words get jumbled up and it's frustrating. But I have coped with it by talking only in small groups or one on one. I find if there are too many people talking back and forth I have trouble keeping up so I don't say as much as I'd like. I am continually forcing myself into social situations and It's getting a little easier each time.

I wonder...Perhaps when I had my brain bleed when I was 57 years old, I wonder if my aphasia and other brain damage didn't inprove as it would with a younger person. I went for speech therapy for 2 years and was told that my reading level was like those at the 4th grade. I accept that, but it is frustrating trying to understand certain words. Are there other members of this Group who feel the same way?

My speech therapist gave me assignments for comprehension, writing, spelling, reading (I was omitting small words both in reading and writing). I originally tested low in reading, but have made progress. She asked my to write about my stroke, try to spell words without asking for help first, proofread and correct my mistakes, read my writing out loud, write scripts for going to the doctor’s office in case I needed help finding words. I think when I combined all language skills, each reinforced the other. I just started cooking again, writing shopping lists (hard because I have right hand weakness and muscle apraxia), finding stuff I already had in the pantry, shopping (because shopping is exhausting and panics me), reading over and over the directions before I started my first meal. It took a few days to prepare because the brain work was so exhausting. Recovery is so much work, and people don’t understand how difficult it is. I’ll never be the same as I was before the stroke, but I keep at it and always remind myself that little steps bring my closer to my recovery. I just finished another round of speech therapy (I call it a "tune up)and expect to go back again when I need it.

Great work, Anxious! We have the same issues..cooking is difficult as it takes some time to read and understand the directions. Keep going for your Tune Up's"

Another thought: I signed up for a yoga class ( 2-3 times a week) in July. My speech was coming along but I still relied on my husband as my go-between for complicated conversations. Just a few weeks ago, I started feeling stronger in my core. As my strength improves, I’m hoping my balance gets better.

Following class, the instructor serves tea and anyone in the class is invited to contribute to the conversation. As my speech improved, my conversations have become more detailed and complicated. Added to the speech therapy sessions I just finished, my function in all aspects have started to “gel”.

This convinces me the neurons are re-wiring and improving function in all areas of my brain.

That’s awesome!