Cerebellar strokes happen when something interrupts blood flow to the cerebellum at the back of your brain. Cerebellar strokes can cause symptoms that might be easier to ignore than other strokes. Don’t dismiss sudden new headaches, balance loss or vision changes, or any other new symptoms that make you feel worried or uneasy.
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A cerebellar stroke is a stroke that affects the cerebellum in your brain. They’re also known as cerebellum strokes or cerebellar stroke syndrome.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
The cerebellum is a part of your brain at the back of your head, near where your spinal cord connects to your brain. It helps you move your body, maintain balance, learn new movements and process some types of thinking. Strokes that damage your cerebellum can permanently affect your ability to move and use these functions.
A cerebellar stroke happens when a blood vessel in your cerebellum is blocked by a blood clot or breaks (ruptures) and bleeds.
A cerebellar stroke can cause different symptoms depending on what causes it. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Cerebellar strokes can cause symptoms that might feel easy to ignore. Don’t dismiss things like dizziness, headaches or losing your balance, especially if they happen suddenly.
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Each half of your cerebellum controls the opposite side of your body. So, if the stroke affects the left side of your cerebellum, you’ll experience symptoms on your right side. And if the stroke damages tissues in the right side, you’ll have symptoms on your left.
Cerebellum strokes can cause lots of different symptoms. To recognize the warning signs of a stroke in yourself or a loved one, remember the acronym BE FAST:
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) — sometimes called a “mini-stroke” — is like a stroke, but the effects are temporary. Symptoms usually last a few hours. These are often warning signs that a person has a very high risk of having a true stroke soon. A person who has a TIA needs emergency medical care as soon as possible. Call 911 or your local emergency services number right away.
There are two types of cerebellar strokes that have different causes.
Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your cerebellum. Health conditions that increase your risk of blood clots can include:
Hemorrhagic strokes happen when a vessel in your cerebellum breaks or tears. Causes can include:
Anybody can have a stroke, but you may have a higher risk if you:
Having certain health conditions can increase your stroke risk, including:
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A healthcare provider will diagnose a cerebellar stroke with a physical exam, a neurological exam and some tests. Providers in the emergency room may diagnose a stroke if emergency services transport you to the ER.
Your provider will use some of the following tests to confirm that you’ve had a stroke:
Which treatments you’ll need will depend on which type of cerebellar stroke you had. Your healthcare providers will try to restore normal blood flow to your brain as fast as possible to reduce your risk of permanent brain damage and death.
If the stroke is ischemic, your providers will break up or remove the blood clot. You’ll need thrombolytic medications (clot-busting medications). Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or tenecteplase (TNK-tPA) are common clot busters. You may need surgery (a mechanical thrombectomy) to break up and remove the clot. Your providers may also give you medications to manage your blood pressure.
If you had a hemorrhagic stroke, your providers will work to stop the bleeding in your brain. You may need medications to control the bleeding and manage your blood pressure. You might need surgery to reduce the pressure inside your brain.
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Your providers will tell you exactly which treatments are best for you and what to expect.
Stroke rehab is an important part of stroke treatment. You’ll need rehab to help you adjust to changes in your brain and body after a stroke. You might need a combination of:
Maintaining your overall health is the best way to reduce your risk of a cerebellum stroke. In general, try to:
Visit a healthcare provider every year (or as often as they suggest). Many of the conditions that can cause cerebellum strokes develop or build up over time. Some don’t cause symptoms you can feel or notice. For example, lots of people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol never sense anything wrong before they’re diagnosed. Your provider will help you catch and manage any warning signs before they increase your stroke risk.
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It’s hard for experts to estimate an accurate cerebellar stroke survival rate. Any stroke can be fatal, cause permanent disabilities and affect how long you live (your life expectancy). There’s no one standard recovery timeline or outlook that’s accurate for everyone.
Ischemic strokes usually have better outcomes than hemorrhagic strokes, but that doesn’t mean your recovery will be easier, faster or better if you have one type or the other. Everyone’s bodies respond differently to a stroke.
What you can expect (the prognosis) after a cerebellar stroke depends on a few factors, including:
A full recovery looks different for each person. You might regain all your original brain functions and abilities to move. This usually takes at least a few months. But you might have long-term effects like new or different disabilities.
Your provider will tell you what to expect. They’ll help you set recovery goals and expectations that fit your unique health and situation.
Recovering and rehabbing after a stroke is hard work. Once you and your provider finalize your treatment plan, follow it as closely as possible. In general, you should:
Call 911 (or your local emergency services number) if you think you’re experiencing stroke symptoms again. Another stroke has an even higher risk of being fatal or causing severe complications. Don’t wait to call for help.
People who’ve had a stroke have an increased risk of other potentially serious complications, including:
Call emergency services or go to the ER if you think you’re experiencing any symptoms of these complications.
Questions you may want to ask your provider include:
Cerebellar strokes can cause symptoms that might be easy to dismiss. But you know your body better than anyone. If you feel off, different or even think you might be having a stroke, get emergency help. The faster your providers diagnose and treat a cerebellar stroke, the better.
It might seem like a cliché, but give yourself credit for all your progress during rehab. Recovery comes in lots of shapes and forms, and you deserve to celebrate them all. Your providers and therapists will help you set and reach your recovery goals.
Last reviewed on 12/04/2024.
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