I had a stroke about two years ago which weakened mobility on my right side.
Some time ago @SimonInEdinburgh asked me about a method he was attempting to discover to aid recovery from stroke. I told him I knew of no secret fast means of recovery. I still hold that view. Since that time I have seen a little improvement but nothing on a scale I would call remarkable.
I will describe a couple of things that have produced small but noticeable improvement.
Now in my third year post stroke I have a very long way still to go. I don’t push myself but don’t suffer much pain or fatigue either.
Result one.
After using a pair of banister rails, a little clumsily, my right side has begun to show signs of coming back together. I only use the staircase a couple of times a day but it seems to have helped with my weak right hand, arm and shoulder. This effect has become noticeable after months rather than days. The exercise is light to moderate involving little or no repetition. Each time I climb or descend the staircase I get this gentle work out.
The second result appears after a gentle self massage .
Using the hand of the strong side on the weak side.
Starting at the finger tips squeeze each finger pushing towards the palm of the hand.
Once all the digits have been dealt with in this way proceed to squeeze gently across the palm to the wrist repeating across the back of the hand.
Then squeeze and push from wrist to elbow, followed by working from elbow to shoulder.
In the same way, work on toes, then across the foot to the ankle, from there up the lower leg to knee, then upper leg to hip.
Both of these exercises can bring back some sensation and control. They can also bring pain and stiffness if used vigorously, so I suggest going gently and only occasionally. Slow and steady, perhaps, wins the race. I’m not sure vigorous massage increases the effect.
The idea is to increase blood flow and to encourage restarting of nerve paths in the affected limbs.
Those with loads of cash to throw about might try using a professional masseur.
I am someone who has suffered stroke, but was fit for my age before the event. Post stroke progress has been slow but definite. I am not qualified other than this, having had no training in any of the skills professionally employed in stroke treatment. I simply note what has been my limited experience of dealing with the form of stroke that I encountered.
This forum is a worthy place to share our experiences and is a good source of practical “hands on” information, even if the method is simply how to bake a chocolate cake, something I hope to address again, later today and to good effect.
I would like others to be able to see what I post, hoping it will spread the knowledge. Some of my posts are recipes which can liven up a lacklustre day. They won’t cure you, might be regarded as unhealthy, but do please both me and my partner. Perhaps they might please you. Use the famous magnifying glass to search for chocolate cake to discover the attack suffered by both my wife and myself.
keep on keepin’ on
. I can’t do the exercise on the stairs as we moved to a bungalow after my stroke but I do go to our local Sainsburys where Argos is situated upstairs and try to do this once or twice a week.
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I was originally told it would take 18 months plus to sort with physio. I hasten to add that I do my exercises at least 3 times a day because shaving even a few days of pain off the recovery time has to be worth it.
I’m very pleased with how it has turned out.
