11 months since stroke, and I have been feeling very discouraged at my lack of progress. Today I share with you lovely supportive people that I have walked about 50 yards uphill, using a quadstick. Something to build upon!
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Well done. Do you keep a diary? It can be useful and encouraging to look back and see how far you have come.
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Yes, you absolutely can build on that.
You don’t have to go uphill. Walking on the flat is perfectly fine and in fact it may be better for you as it would be less strain.
To build on this you can do something as simple as one extra step a day.
You might be surprised just how much of a difference this can make. Just one extra step a day means seven extra steps a week …
But if at any time you need a rest, take a break. Take a day off, let your body recharge and when you’re rested, start again. You are not in a race - this is about getting your body and mind stronger.
Well done - excellent work. Keep going 
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Dexster–that’s great what you did today. Getting strong takes a long time. I used to increase my steps gradually. Every few days I’d add maybe 10 more steps if I was up to it. As the months went by and I got stronger I moved from a quadstick to a cane. Sometime later I graduated to no cane. Then I proceeded to do the same thing. Count my steps and very slowly increase the amount of steps every few days. There is no one right speed at which to improve, because every case is different. Just keep on keep’in on. Never give up. You’re in the company of millions of us who have gone through the same thing–so you’re not alone. I had a mantra I repeated as I walked --“Every day in every way I’m getting better and better.”. Remember, it’s been shown that for most, improvement doesn’t end after a few months. It keeps on for years. I am 7 years post stroke and I still notice improvement. 
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Don’t feel discouraged, I am five years and still rehabilitating. I think the grass roots of the dilemma many survivors face is that there is supposed to be some sort of marker for progress. In my view, there isn’t one. The marker comes from how we were before stroke and trying to achieve that goal and, perhaps, that is not reasonable in relation to the injury we have suffered. Not entirely, as many will be satisfied with a compromise, however, determination knows no bounds, so each personal achievement you reach for the day is a win in the stroke survivor book, or booklet, depending on the length of the journey.
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Thank you all for your kind empathetic replies. I had to go uphill because the path along the side of the house from front gate to back gate is uphill. My husband/carer finds it very hard pushing me plus wheelchair up this gentle slope, and we have been thinking of splashing out on a motorised wheelchair. Now if I can walk it, we don’t have to. Also this should build up strength in my weak leg. I might get a rollator to help. I haven’t decided yet. I had a try of one, but I only have one usable hand, which was a problem. Now I know I know I can keep on improving, and it’s a great morale boost. I hope it will help people here to know it’s possible too.
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Hi @Dexster Well done, you should be very pleased with yourself. Keep up the good work.
RegardsSue
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@axnr911 , the bunny has more energy than me at the moment.
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Well done @Dexster that’s a great achievement and thank you for sharing it with us.
Add a few steps each time & before you know it the distance will be greatly increased.
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Well done Dexster,
Great achievement. Been there i just kept pushing for a bit more each day, presumably you are doing similar? Some days not achieved but in the main kept improving thank goodness.
Keep at it mate……
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@Dexster , no matter how small this may seem it is truly amazing, well done to you sir and be proud. The recovery is lifelong every little step is progress , your recovery is a marathon not a dash. Like Aesop with the hare and tortoise ( I think) slow and steady wins the race.
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With the marathon distance running record having been set to below two hours at the recent London marathon, we may have to rethink the use of this phrase “It’s not a sprint/dash, it’s a marathon!” 
Just for the record (no pun intended), Sabastian Sawe ran at an average speed of 21.2 km/hr that is 13.2 miles/hr) during the 2026 London Marathon, achieving a remarkable time of 1:59:30, which is the first sub-two-hour marathon record. I also believe he ran the second half of the race faster than he ran the first half. Now that is what I call quite remarkable!!
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Congratulations, you did it And under your own steam too 
Keep it up and in a couple weeks your legs will absolutely grow stronger, no need to plod out on a rollator. You’ve done it once you can do it again, and again, and again. Gradually over the weeks you’ll find it gets easier. Before you know it you’re wanting to venture a little afield and you suddenly realise you’ve been out walking for a couple of hours and your family have sent out a search party in a panic because you forgot to check the time 
Well, that’s what I did when I first started going out alone 
Keep the momentum going
Lorraine
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These phrases relating to races, whether the hair and tortoise or sprints and marathons always make me think of racing to the end, and I’m in no hurry to get to the finish line. I shall plod, ramble and meander along the final stretch of my desire path.
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I managed the same distance along the same path yesterday and today. Was knackered afterwards! But intend to keep on keeping on.
Thank you all for your kind words. Means a lot.
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OK, but don’t forget to have a rest day too
Maybe do something different or do a half distance etc.
Allow your body to recharge.
Think of it like this - when you go to work, do you or do you not get the weekend off?
Stoke recovery is no different
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Good advice. My body has nominated today as a rest day because my knee hurts and I can’t walk as easily.
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And tomorrow is Sunday - another rest day.
Do something nice as a treat.
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Hi Dexter, I fully understand your feeling of lack of progress even though I am one of the fortunate ones who was thrombolised within 40 minutes of my stroke - 4 years ago and had only memory and part sight loss plus fatigue, but that knocked me back from my normal activities. I immediately decided to get something done to help my mental health so, continuing my hobby/passion, I decided to build a race car which I previously did and enjoyed. not on a race track but Hill climbing which is a timed event, so relatively safe as only me on the track, any problem are of my making. This project got me out of bed at 7ish each morning and gradually over 4 years I could work more than 5 hours. Not bad for an 82 year old.
I am pleased to say that I have just returned from racing the car at Shelsley Walsh, a 4 hour drive with trailer to get there AND I made it up the hill albeit in a slow time which to me is success and gives me a feeling that I have made progress.
We are all different but I have always pushed myself very hard and that works for me but appreciate others have a different approach to the damned stoke problems.
All I can say is, keep at your activities and appreciate each day that you are able to do it.
Apologies, if I have appeared flippant to the problems, but as Frank said “I did it my way” , each to his own.