The Experiences of the People Who Suffered from Post Apoplectic Numbness as Viewed through Their Daily Lives and Its Meanings

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to describe how the patients who suffered from post apoplectic numbness experienced their daily lives and also the meanings of those experiences. The study conducted unstructured interviews and analyzed all data by qualitative methods. After the analyzed, the following results were found.Because of the numbness, the movements were uncertain ; the understanding of the living space that performed unconsciously became difficult, too. If this daily lives continued, there was a potential that the self-support foundation and the patients self-esteem might be unstable. Also, the following results were particularly recognized : the patients were stressed because of the numbness and their decreasing body-control whenever they attempted to move their muscles for ordinary actions, which reminded them of their disorder. This can be said that, for the patients, this was the manifestation of the phantasmagoric of the numbness. Moreover, the notable point is, after they repeatedly adapted their new movement and found improvement ; they will become 'familiar' with the new movement. By this process, even if they were not completely recovered from their numbness, the patients could gradually reduce their stresses.