It came like a bolt out of the blue. A vital man suffered an ischemic stroke during his usual morning workout. He was in his prime, had a thriving career, and a happy family life. The stroke changed everything. „For the worse, of course,“ says 53-year-old Erik.
Today, several years after that „black day“ in 2021, he is still trying to reintegrate into normal life. But he is aware that things will never be the same as before. Outwardly, he seems to have recovered from the worst, but appearances can be deceiving. Erik has to live with post-stroke pain (CPSP) – a rare and extremely challenging neuropathic pain syndrome that arises as a result of damage to deep brain structures. „It affects me every single day. It limits my mobility and makes even the simplest activities exhausting. I would describe it as a combination of goosebumps, stabbing, burning, and tingling pain,“ Erik explains.
He admits that constant pain is a huge strain on the psyche as well. Initially, however, it was extremely challenging. He was nervous about himself, and his surroundings „suffered“ too. „The marriage eventually fell apart, but my now adult children are, without a doubt, the greatest joy in my life.“ In fact, he also lost his job, which largely depended on frequent travel. But Erik can no longer drive; he rationally weighed the pros and cons. CPSP has weakened his cognitive senses, „I voluntarily decided not to get behind the wheel anymore. My perception isn't one hundred percent, and I'm not just endangering myself in a car, but others as well.“
Post-stroke pain remains an unexplored area, and Erik tried everything and never stopped trying. He took medication, underwent physiotherapy, tried various treatments, adapted his lifestyle, and searched for anything that would help him regain functionality and alleviate the constant pain. „Some things helped at least a little, some not at all – but I'm not giving up. In addition to neuropathic pain, he also developed intestinal problems, which are very uncomfortable and destabilizing. Despite this, Erik tries to think optimistically, „if my condition can no longer improve, let it at least not worsen.“"
He has high hopes for an intensive rehabilitation stay at Adeli, which is one of the most advanced centers in Europe. Erik already thanks everyone who decides to contribute to his stay at Adeli in advance. „I want to be more independent, self-sufficient, I'm looking for a job, and I want to live life to the fullest. Adeli is not just rehabilitation for me; it's an opportunity to significantly improve my mobility and coordination, gain more independence in daily life, and potentially reduce the intensity of CPSP. I wouldn't wish post-stroke pain on anyone.“
