Stroke after effects

Stroke: Preventing injury to the affected side of your body

• Prevent cuts and scratches.

  Keeping your nails trimmed can help.

  • If you tend to clench the fist of your affected arm, keep your fingernails short and smooth.
  • If you can't feel sensations in your feet, cut and file your toenails straight across.
  • Soaking your hands and feet may make your nails easier to cut.
• Avoid burns.
  • Bathe and do dishes in lukewarm water.
  • Test the temperature of bath water or dishwater using your unaffected side.
  • Use pot holders whenever you work near a stove.
  • Turn pot handles away from you to prevent spills.
  • Wear nonflammable clothes when you cook. And don't wear clothes with long sleeves or ruffles that could get caught in an appliance.
• Take steps to prevent a frozen shoulder.
  • Support your affected arm. For example, wear an arm sling when you sit up or walk.
  • Maintain full range of motion of the affected joints. You can do this either by moving your arm or by having someone move it for you.
  • Don't overexercise your arm. This can cause pain and make it hard to exercise.
• Prevent swelling in your affected arm or leg.
  • Prop up the affected arm or leg. If your arm hangs down at your side for long periods of time, you will have more swelling in the arm.
  • Follow your doctor's advice about what daily exercises to do. There are exercises you can do to help drain fluid from the affected arm or leg.
  • See a physical therapist. The therapist can teach you how to do special massages that can help move fluid out of your arm or leg. You also can learn what activities would be best for you.
  • Try compression stockings to keep fluid from building up in your arm or leg. Your doctor or therapist can help you know what size to buy.