A Stroke Survivor's Journey
Amanda James-Hammett was only 37 when she suffered a stroke while doing the dishes at home.
"I heard a pop in my head, like a big bubble,"
"I tried to scream, but it wasn't a normal scream. I knew something wasn't right."
Within hours, Amanda lost the ability to speak and move her right arm. She later had to relearn how to talk, read, and perform everyday tasks.
Six years later, Amanda took part in a nationwide NHS trial testing a new at-home device designed to help stroke survivors regain hand and arm movement.
"It's about freedom," Amanda says. "It's given me my freedom back."
The technology is being trialed at 19 NHS sites across the UK, led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with the University of Sheffield.
The £2 million study, called the Triceps trial, is described by researchers as the largest brain stimulation and stroke trial ever conducted, aiming to recruit approximately 270 participants.
Understanding Stroke and Its Impact
Dr Sheharyar Baig, a neurologist at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, explains:
"Stroke is an interruption to the blood supply to the brain,"
"When the blood supply is interrupted, unfortunately the brain stops functioning in a certain area. That can lead to all manner of symptoms, from weakness to visual problems and speech problems."
He advises that anyone showing such symptoms should call 999 immediately.
Dr Baig notes that stroke is the leading cause of adult-onset disability in the UK, affecting about 100,000 people annually, with over a million living with its long-term effects.
Approximately half of stroke survivors experience ongoing arm weakness, ranging from reduced dexterity to complete loss of movement, which complicates everyday activities like dressing, cooking, and working.
This ongoing disability places additional pressure on health and social care services, highlighting the importance of solutions that support recovery at home.
How the Device Works
Participants in the Triceps trial use a small electrical device that fits inside the ear and stimulates the vagus nerve—a major nerve connecting the brain and abdomen—while performing rehabilitation exercises.
Dr Baig explains:
"The recovery process is unfortunately quite slow for many people,"
"So we're interested in ways we can boost the effects of rehab and create a brain environment that's more responsive to it."
Unlike earlier vagus nerve stimulation methods requiring surgical implantation, this treatment is non-invasive and suitable for home use.
He adds that the electrical pulses delivered by the earpiece are set at comfortable, pain-free levels.
Amanda's Experience
Amanda used the device for up to an hour daily over 12 weeks, combining it with exercises and routine tasks.
"At first I didn't think it was going to work at all,"
"But after a couple of weeks, I started to see changes in my hand."
One of her significant milestones was returning to sewing, a passion she had been unable to pursue since her stroke.
"I feel like a new woman now that I can cut material and use my sewing machine again,"
"I can put my socks on, I can do my shoes, I can do my house," she tells the BBC.
"I don't have to wait for anyone else."
Early Trial Results
Over 200 people have participated in the trial so far. Researchers do not yet know who is receiving active stimulation versus placebo but report promising early results.
"We have seen some wonderful improvements in people's arm function," Dr Baig says.
"But he also stresses the treatment is not a cure, rather something they hope will help people in everyday life."
"Somebody who was unable to carry a cup of tea with one arm can now walk from room to room holding it stably,"
"Another person set their post-stroke personal best in a 5K run and noticed their arm function was better when they were running."
The Stroke Association, which is part-funding the research, is closely monitoring the trial's results.
"The team are doing brain imaging and taking blood tests because we know that some stroke patients really respond well to this technology while some don't," said Maeva May, the charity's associate director of systems engagement.
"We want to understand what patients respond best and how."
Dr Baig suggests that if effective, the technology could be widely adopted due to its affordability, convenience, and ease of integration into existing rehabilitation services.
"It's about being independent again," Amanda says. "Those small things make a big difference."
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