Shock stroke at 44 adjustments busy physician’s way of life

UNC Health doctor Dr. Michael Craig has seen many stroke sufferers, however he didn’t anticipate to develop into one at age 44.

“In 2023, I went out for a jog, and about half a mile from my house, I realized I couldn’t bear weight on my left leg, and I fell,” Craig says. “I thought I sprained my ankle, which I had. Then I realized I couldn’t roll over on to my back.”

Fortunately, one among Craig’s neighbors rushed to assist, calling 911 when he seen Craig was slurring his phrases.

“Symptoms of a stroke can be really subtle, which is why too many people wait too long to come in,” says UNC Health neurologist Dr. Dena Williams.

The most common signs of a stroke are issue sustaining steadiness, sudden imaginative and prescient adjustments, a numb or drooping face, an arm or leg feeling weaker on one facet of your physique and difficulties talking or understanding speech.

Strokes can occur to anybody, even Craig, who ran half marathons. “I don’t think the realization really kicked in until I was getting a thrombectomy, a clot extraction, from the neurosurgeon,” Craig says.

Craig felt properly quickly after therapy, however later he skilled left-side neglect, not even realizing he wasn’t utilizing his weak facet, and deep fatigue set in.

Craig went via intense rehabilitation after his stroke, together with bodily, occupational and speech remedy. (Submitted picture)

Individualized rehabilitation

After an individual receives stroke therapy, their care staff begins planning for rehabilitation and looking for out why the stroke occurred in order that another stroke can be prevented.

For some individuals, that will imply addressing their ldl cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure or smoking behavior. For Craig, it was the invention of a congenital heart issue, handled with a coronary heart catheterization process.

Then, he spent two weeks on the UNC Rehabilitation Center in Hillsborough for inpatient restoration.

“I could not walk at all when I got there because of the sprained ankle and left-sided weakness,” Craig says. “The rehab was aggressive, but I was incredibly impressed with how individualized everything was for me. I did physical therapy to work on balance and strength and occupational therapy to work on weakness in my left hand. By the time I left, I could walk and go up and down stairs.”

Craig additionally had speech remedy. “It was about making sure I could write notes, interpret clinical findings, give a presentation,” he says. “I had a lot of cognitive testing, learned how to manage fatigue and worked to make sure it was safe before returning to work.”

Another bodily therapist helped him return to working. “I really had to focus on balance and learn how to adjust when I was on a long run or when I could feel myself getting tired,” he says.

A marathon, not a dash

Six months after his stroke, he was capable of run the Tar Heel 10 Miler. That appears like a fast restoration, however it’s not the entire story.

“When people see me walking, they think I’m 100% better,” Craig says. “They don’t see the times I’ve struggled with fatigue or trying to talk when I’m at home.”

Recovery can take a 12 months or longer and far work and energy, Williams says. “We have to remind people that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Craig has gone again to work and returned to sports activities like working and kayaking, however he’s additionally made some way of life adjustments.

“I was probably spending too much time at work and ignoring some parts of my health,” he says. “Now, my wife calls me Mike 2.0, because I put more focus into my marriage and my relationship with my kids. The stroke did bring into focus that I needed to change my priorities.”