It only occurred to me today that although I am careful walking because I don’t want to fall 7 months post stroke, ..".actually slow seems to be my default speed, I’m still numb down my left side with arm and leg still getting pins and needles but the limbs are strong, there is no weakness just the feeling of an iron band fitted tightly, I wonder if it’s my brain going slow?….anyone else feel they are walking slow?
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I walk very slowly. I have tried to speed up but I just end up with my feet in a knot & my brain just doesn’t seem to be able to process it. But I also can’t lift my foot off the floor.
I’m not sure when you had your stroke but it may be thay you need to give yourself a little more time. Aa your walking & confidence improves the speed will probably come too.
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I also am very aware I walk slowly.I mean I never( pre stroke) walked fast anyway. I do lift my foot off the floor though and my physio has given me excercises to do which SHOULD help.me walk ? normally! Fingers crossed!
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Thanks Mrs5K I think going any faster isn’t possible? I think I walk normally but feel my brain won’t let me be any faster….its probably safer this way! I think you are probably right though I’m 7 months post stroke I’m not seeing OT’s and Physio’s no one tells me it’s still early days…
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Hello Gorrie, I’ve not has physio since the community stroke team ended in January, I’ve just booked a session with a private physio, I’m hoping she can help with the hardened feeling in my leg and arm muscles…
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Yes, that’s exactly my issue 4 years on. It’s like my brain defaults to one speed. I can walk pretty much normally, and I can walk at speed, but if I’m not constantly checking in with my brain or distracted, then I automatically revert back to the slower pace. Probably because the brain can’t process information as quickly as it used to 
Lorraine
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I’m not seeing any physiotherapist either and i haven’t for 13 weeks. I had my stroke 5 and a half months ago. Is that usual for most people who have had a stroke. I’m a new person and thiscis my first post and i am not sure if you will receive it. I do hope so as i would like to be a part of your discussions.
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Hello Winnie, reading you loud and clear, welcome to the Forum, I’ve found it very helpful reading other people’s experiences, I’m sure you will too…I think we’re lucky if we’ve had good help from the community Stroke teams but it does feel like you’ve been left high and dry when your 6 weeks is up. I’ve decided to try more physio, I’m hoping she can help, on top of my numb limbs I have arthritic knees, strange how that pain isn’t masked by the numbness?
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Although, physically I can move at a steady pace, my brain can’t quite calibrate all the moving parts together and so I have quite a shambled gait. Interestingly, my brain also brakes my step if it thinks a surface might be slippery, even if it isn’t slippery but just could be.
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‘First gear’ has been my default speed for the past 11 years. I can pick up speed to 3.5kph on a treadmill (holding on), so my legs can do it, but I just can’t replicate it elsewhere because my legs/ankles/feet won’t bend like they do on the treadmill. They just feel as though they’re encased in thick silicone.
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Hi @Winnie ; welcome to the community. Are you waiting for more physio or have they discharged you now? I know they don’t tend to keep people on their books long these days if they can help it. I found I made more progress after thr physios let me go as i could do whatever exercises i felt would help then.
Hope you find the forum useful.
Best wishes
Ann
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I know what you mesn about the brain stopping you going faster. In my head I think I can do everything notmally thrn i try it & nope it doesn’t happen. It really is like my brain can’t process what it needs to.
Best wishes
Ann
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Hi Winnie sorry to hear of your stroke but welcome to our community. We are a merry band of stroke survivors and their carers and families and between us we have a wealth of information and experience and I hope that you find it a useful place to be.
Unfortunately, after stroke, once you have had your standard 7 weeks physiotherapy you are pretty much left to your own devices and this is pretty much a post code lottery and what is available in your area!!
Following my stroke 8 years ago, we have paid for a private physiotherapist, which is very expensive. Feel free to jump on here if you have any questions or need information and advice and someone will be along to assist.
Look forward to hearing from you as your road to recovery continues.
Regards Sue
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Hi Sue, thankyou so much for sharing your post with me. I have looked at private physio and they are much too expensive. I have taken to the internet for physio exercises but don’t know which one is excellent for foot drop or arm exercises. It is absolutely awful to experience such a devastating situation that i find myself in and although i do feel like bawling my head off, i don’t because i share a bungalow with my friend whom i have known such a long time and she will soon be 80 years old. She has severe athritis and uses a wheelie to get around. I am very, very lonely and at the moment i have ne friends here and two who live far away. What do you do in order to receive the social stimulation that we as people need. Thankyou once again for answering my text.
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It’s very hard for you dealing on your own post stroke Winnie, it’s worth looking at the local support groups seeing if there is one close to you..
Support groups in your area | Stroke Association.
It may also be worth seeing if you can get some more physio on the NHS, there may be a waiting list but would be worth asking your GP.
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Hi Winnie, sorry to hear that you are feeling lonely at the moment. If you are able to get out and about, would you consider attending a Stroke Survivors Support Group. My husband is my full-time carer and in the early days of my recovery we attended a weekly support group local to us and both found it to be very informative and beneficial.
The group was attended by a wide range of people ranging from 18 to 74. Some came alone and others with partners or carers . We met some lovely people and it was great to speak to people who know exactly what you are going through. Some weeks we would chat whilst enjoying a coffee and we also had the occasional evening out for a meal or other event. You can found out what’s available local to you through the Stroke Association website.
Also, you might like to receive a Weekly Volunteer Call, which is also available through the Stroke Association website.
I wish you well and I hope you soon find something to help you combat your loneliness.
Regards Sue
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Hi @Winnie
Welcome to the Online Community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and that your physio hasn’t been great.
I also note you have mentioned that you feel lonely. We have a couple of services which you may find helpful.
Firstly, we have Online Activities we offer a wide range of virtual sessions you can choose from. Learn about the effects of stroke, share experiences, take part in exercise groups, social quizzes. We have a specific exercise programme which you may like to help you with your physical recovery. All our Online Activities sessions are a great way to meet new people too. You may also like to try our volunteer calls. A volunteer stroke survivor will be able to give you a call for 8 weeks and you can discuss your journey with them and get tips and advice from someone who has been through similar.
If you need any help whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Anna
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Hello @Winnie - Welcome to this community.
I note you have had an excellent response to your post - I hope this has reassured you on a number of levels 
Having read the responses already, I think there is nothing more I can add to your question about whether your experience is “usual for most people who have had a stroke”. I believe the answer is a resounding “Yes”
But, that is not all bad news as you have hopefully seen from responses by @Susan_Jane, @Mrs5K , @Sunshine55 and Moderator Anna @Anna_Moderator. There are things that you can do yourself at home without having to engage a private physio when the cost is prohibitive.
I note that @EmeraldEyes (Lorraine) who is one of our regulars and possibly the leading authority on this forum on exercises and foot drop corrections has possibly not yet seen your message and so I am tagging her and hope she will come along and share her extensive expertise on “DIY” exercises.
Finally, I hope you feel suitably welcomed and comfortable knowing you are more than welcome to be a part of as many discussions as you would care to join. Of course, you can create your own topics for discussion if you so wish and more than likely someone will drop by to join
Namaste|
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Hello Nastame, i would to thankyou for your most welcome text. It was such a surprise to me that someone should care enough about a person whom you do not know, i would like to again thankyou for your reply. I would really like Lorraine to contact me with her great knowledge of foot drop as i do find it a wee bit difficult to walk properly. So,Lorraine please, please would you contact me because I would be indebted to you and i would be extremely grateful to you for any help. Thankyou to both of you.
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@Winnie I am sure Lorraine will be along soon with some useful tops. In the meantime I have put below a link to her post in relation to her footvdrop in case that helps.
Best wishes
Ann
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