Hi all. I experienced an ischemic stroke on Christmas Eve. (Never piss off Santa he has become a nasty old man now).While as many of know there are a lot of extras that come with a stroke. One issue I am struggling with is muscle stiffness in my legs. I feel like pinnochio most days ie wooden legs. Some info has suggested spasticity. But I don’t have tremours or that extreme. I am walking 5 km per day to keep mobile but is this forever? Does the brain finally let go and relax?
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Hello Larsog,
I read you clearly
- 5 km is excellent ; bravo
- spasticity is not the case (IMO)
- spasms are a possibility, but you have not mentioned this so unlikely
- contracture is the most likely explanation. Some will say contracture is too strong a word. Are your muscles stiff in the morning after sleep, then gradually loosen up during the day? Do stretches help? (they should) Does it feel like an ongoing battle and everyday the same relentless stiffness strikes again? Make sure you go through full ROM (range of motion) and keep fighting it. You will prevail it just takes time.
That’s my guess based on your short story
Good luck, ciao, Roland
PS. I also battle with contracture almost everywhere on affected side every day
PPS brain will relax when your higher brain functions are fully incorporated into the muscle-spine loop AND your muscles are put through their paces. Keep up the 5 km ! I can only do 1 km on my best day
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@Larsog Hi & welcome to the community. Sorry to hear you’ve had a stroke but hope that you find this a useful place to be. There’s usually someone around for advice and support so feel free to ask away.
I can’t answer your specific point as, luckily, my issues don’t include muscle stiffness… what I can say though with the right exercises, determination & patience stroke affects can & do improve in the majority of cases. Revovery can take a long time so don’t expect it to change too quickly though.
As @SimonInEdinburgh mentions a physio might be a good place to ask the question. If no physio involvement then try the stroke team or your GP.
I too say well done on walking 5km a day. That’s great given how early in your stroke journey you are.
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Very positive response. I am encouraged. I like contracture because thats what it feels like (I think my arms are getting shorter and my legs longer). Reaching or even tying a shoelace is becoming a distant memory. Your words “You will prevail it just takes time” resonates. Not sure I understand the PPS but it sounds good.
Thankyou again for the quick feedback.
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Thankyou Simon for taking the time to respond. I guess I should have been more specific. I started my own physio day 1 from hospital…Put in 3-4 hours per day for about 3 months and so recovered in some areas very fast. I did attend physio and got alot of exercises and tips to do at home that I did not need to go back. But perhaps a progress check as you suggest is in order.
My stroke came as a result of AFIB. My speech has recovered reasonably well as have my face droop. Dysphagia is so much fun…the joy of pureed food can never be understated. I can swallow okay but a steak is no longer a menu option.
Like you my toes curl but mostly to correct my balance. As noted below I agree with use of word contracture rather than spasticity. If it is a time issue then I can work towards that even though patience is not a virtue of mine
Again thankyou
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Your second paragraph sums it up. I will take solace in those words. By the way the walking is prompted by my dog. She is a great motivator, the reason I walk!
To be clear 3kmin the morning 2Km in the afternoon.
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Sorry about the PPS not being so clear, but do let us know how things are progressing. I did 550m and 10’ treadmill today, but I thought about your 5km… I wonder how long it will take me to manage that ?
Anyway, glad the idea of contracture resonates. It’s totally beatable, just a question of work.
ciao, Roland
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Hi @Larsog and welcome 
I did at least get to Christmas day, opened presents and even had Christmas dinned…just never made it to the pud 
Hey-ho, that was over 3yrs ago.
So for me it’s no, the stiffness doesn’t last forever. I drive, attend fitness classes, and even a couple of months ago I realised I could jog. We become so unstable and therefore super careful after our strokes we forget to test our limits.
You are walking good distances, though progress is slow after stroke, progression in your activities will reduce that stiffness over time.
You could try your local AgeUK to see if they run anything like Strength & Balance classes which you would benefit from or check online. Strengthening your core will improves your posture and gait. Subsequently this improves balance, relaxes some of the leg tension thus reducing some of the stiffness as rebuild your confidence in walking.
So walk with your back straight and your held high get your arms swinging and don’t stoop 
Thanks for encouragment especially walking posture which I forget to focus on. May have to put a sticky note on exit door as a reminder. I am self motivated. While my daily kms are near 5 now they were not always so. First week home I was on the local track pushing my walker. I got that up to 3 laps and tossed it.
The dog helps me walk now. We both need it. But fatigue and stiffness are there and I push through it. I might add that I am 75 years young and up until this stroke was still playing competitive squash. Also a competitive curler. So it likely helped that I was reasonably fit for my age. I spent an hour a day initially focused on face and swallowing exercises. About another hour/day on OT exercises like working with buttons, marbles and other items to improve dexterity. Opening a beer can topped my list though.
but you are right about pushing limits.
I think underlying message I am getting from y’all is to perserver!
regards Gerry
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I have the same reason to exercise, my Whippet Luna is my motivation. She is also a great therapist.
Hi @Giovanna just popping by to welcome you to the community. Pets areca great source of inspiration aren’t they. What a great photo of you & Luna.
Best wishes
Ann
Luna loves cuddles and loves tummy rubs. Not really in to the ear rubs.
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How long did it take you to drive?
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Hi @Angie-USA and welcome to the forum 
I started driving again 14-18 months after my stroke (which were TIA’s). And it wasn’t nervousness that held me back but the condition my brain was in. I even struggled as a passenger, I couldn’t look out the windows for long without getting the sensation of vertigo. So it was things like vision/fog/fatigue/slow response-reaction times that were holding me back. For the first few months of driving I would only do it with my hubby in the passenger seat and only for short distances.
It got to the point that the more I drove, the more independence I regained, the more the brain improved and the further I could go.
I’m nearly 4yrs post stroke now, I still have some minor issues including Broca’s Aphasia, but even that has improved some more recently. So even the recovery is slow/frustrating/arduous at times, it’s still well worth putting in the time and effort to regain at least some of what you’ve lost. The more you put in, the more you get out of it
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Just popping by to say hi & welcome to the community.
Hope you find it a useful place to be.
Ann
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Thank you. I appreciate your help!
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