Neurofatigue describes the condition of profound tiredness common to stroke survivors, TBI survivors, and others with brain injuries or neurological conditions. It is significantly different from the levels of exhaustion other people experience due to lack of sleep or overwork.
The brain does much of its repair work while we sleep. It’s like shutting down a freeway overnight for construction. It’s not because the freeway is lazy. It’s because that work can be done only when there are no cars on it. It’s the same with the brain.
That’s why it’s normal — and healthy — for stroke survivors to sleep 8, 12, or even 18 hours a day. Especially in the early months.
Neurofatigue can continue to strike months and years down the road. When we’re sick, inebriated, overworked, acquiring (or re-acquiring) skills, or just not getting another sleep, it can strike.
This week, I explore neurofatigue, why it happens, and my own relationship with my favorite frenemy — sleep.
Hack of the Week
Jan Douglas shared her strategy for getting up the stairs to someone’s house, especially when they lack railings — use a chair. A dining room or folding chair will do fine. Put it on a step, sit down, rotate your legs onto the step and stand up. Then you can move the chair up to the next step and do it again.
Links
| Seth on Strokecast | |
| Kristen on Strokecast | |
| Jan on Strokecast | |
| #Stroke on Instagram | |
| Cliff Ravensraft show | |
| Bills_Strokecast on Instagram |
Where do we go from here?
- How do you deal with neurofatigue? Let me know in the comments below, message me on Instagram, or send an email to Bill@Strokecast.com
Check out the stroke community on Instagram by following #Stroke. - Follow @Bills_Strokecast on Instagram by going to http://Strokecast.com/Instagram
- Do you know of a Stroke Survivor run Etsy or similar show? Let me know and I may feature it on a future show.
- Don’t get best…get better.
Strokecast is the stroke podcast where a Gen X stroke survivor explores rehab, recovery, the frontiers of neuroscience and one-handed banana peeling by helping stroke survivors, caregivers, medical providers and stroke industry affiliates connect and share their stories.
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