Thalamic Stroke Symptoms

A thalamic stroke or hemorrhage is a potentially life-threatening type of intracerebral hemorrhage. Since quick medical treatment is the best way to prevent permanent damage to the brain, it is important to understand the symptoms of thalamic strokes.

Identification

• A thalamic stroke occurs when a blood vessel inside a structure in the lower part of your brain known as the thalamus suddenly ruptures. This causes bleeding that seeps into other parts of your brain, damaging cells.

Causes

• Possible causes of thalamic stroke include aneurysms, high blood pressure, protein deposits within your brain or a sudden brain injury.

Time Frame

• The symptoms of a thalamic stroke are most common during times of activity. Typically, symptoms come on all at once and rather suddenly.

Types of Symptoms

• Common symptoms of thalamic stroke include loss of coordination or balance, numbness, tingling, facial paralysis, double vision, drooping eyelids, headaches, nausea, vomiting and difficulty speaking, swallowing, reading and writing. Some patients become very sleepy or completely lose consciousness.

Treatment

• Sometimes, surgery is necessary to remove the ruptured blood vessel that caused the hemorrhage. After a thalamic stroke, it is common to need physical, occupational or speech therapy.