After Four Years of living the new normal the only continuing force thankfully has been my unaffected side until this week where over working the arm and leg has forced me to rest up or face a wheelchair.
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Just a thought: Iāve tried my first Rolfing session for fascia. It really helped me, and would very probably help you too. I hope your hard working good side recovers smoothly. Put your feet up !!
ciao, R
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Thatās what caused me to upgrade to an electric chair from a manual. If I was going to continue working and doing the stuff I enjoy I had to reduce the strain on my nonstroke side.
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This is definitely something to be mindful of. Itās so easy to over compensate by using your unaffected side. It is something no-one ever mentioned to me in my early days on my road to recovery 8 years ago.
Thank you for reminding us to look after our unaffected side.
Regards Sue
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Thanks Roland,
I had a big walk to my pre diabetic retinal screening in a hospital too far to have made a sensible walk and with a lift out ended up on an escalator to my surprise but when completed my right side was shattered so my physio prescribed a couple bog weeks off anything bar normal walking so Iām resting up and leading more with my left as it may be uncoordinated but very strong plus being numb i cannot feel pain or twinges lik the good side.
Lessons learned. Be careful everyone. But still keep moving if only a little sliwer
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Good advice Mark 
Always listen to you body
Enjoy the gentler walks and allow your body to recover.
Takes care.
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Thanks already feeling a bit better only when all my weight transfers to the right does it twinge badly
Hereās to being back to just stroke impairment o its own, never thought Iād hear myself saying that. But there you go.
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Good advice Mark @mrfrederickson you do need to look after your non affected side too. Thereās no harm in pushing yourself but a little at a time is whatās needed.
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The continuing journey. It is good to hear how itās going. All those suggestions too, thanks for sharing.
I fell off my scooter again. Someone beamed down four helpful passersby. Donāt know where they came from, but it restores my sense of a caring humanity. I was okay.
I hope you guys follow your own advice and know when enough is enough.
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Yes Bobbi there are some caring people out there who have helped bus all especially when we need it. Take it easy on your scooter and perhaps have someone accompany you if you need to rebuild confidence.
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I know this might sound daft but those falls are boosting my confidence.
You know, if it donāt kill you it makes you stronger.
A fall teaches me I CAN cope, though I am not seeking spills and falls I can use them to build on.
I see those caring people which is good to experience in this strange stroke landscape.
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@pando
After reading this, I just had to research āRolfingā and was surprised and excited to find I have a certified practitioner operating just a few miles away in Tunbridge Wells! He also does something called āSomatic Experience Therapyā which interests me.
Iāve recently been learning about fascia, thanks to you, Roland. My Neuro therapist has now confirmed both my muscles and fascia are very tight, predominantly in stroke side arm and leg. As uncomfortable as it is, itās been a huge relief to be able to identify the problem and has given me renewed motivation to keep going with stretching exercises and generally stretching more in ADLās.I also believe that the parathesia in my hand may well be due to the tight fascia in the forearm as itās worsened since last Summer when the forearm became tighter.
Can I ask how the Rolfing has helped you so far? Has it been a more positive experience than deep tissue massage? I had my first deep tissue massage last week and was very sore afterwards, which was good - the soreness pretty much disappeared after 24 hours. Also, the parathesia in my back improved considerably.
Iāll be looking into the Rolfing more to learn what I can about it. It might be prohibitive financially but will cross that bridge if I come to it.
Thanks, Roland.
Trace
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Hi, @Trace57
I think youāre onto a good thing, well done. Iām reading āDermo Neuro Modulating: Manual Treatment for Peripheral Nerves and Especially Cutaneous Nerves ā, by Diane Jacobs. Kindle ed. Ā£8ā¦ DNM for short.
My session with therapist Nick Pepper was amazing ; he did Sleeve day 1 program ; loosening fascia, teaching me how to unload my nerves, teaching me how to decompress my fascia. The DNM book talks a lots about all 47 miles of our nerves, and I could not have discovered a more exciting and relevant therapy !
Good luck, R
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What are Rolfing āSleeveā Sessions?
- They are the initial three sessions in a 10-session Rolfing series, also known as Structural Integration.
- The primary goal is to address and release restrictions in the superficial layers of connective tissue, or fascia, which can impact posture, movement, and overall body function.
- These sessions are designed to create a foundation for deeper work in subsequent sessions.
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What happens in the āSleeveā Sessions?
- Session 1: Focuses on freeing the breath by working on the ribcage, shoulders, neck, and head.
- Session 2: Aims to provide a stable foundation by balancing the feet, lower legs, and knees.
- Session 3: Addresses the āside viewā of the body, focusing on how the head, shoulder girdle, and hips are positioned when standing, and how they relate to each other under the influence of gravity.
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Why are they called āSleeveā Sessions?
- The term āsleeveā refers to the fact that these sessions work on the outer layers of the body, like a sleeve on a garment.
- The idea is to work from the surface outwards, preparing the body for deeper work in the following sessions.
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What are the benefits of āSleeveā Sessions?
- Improved posture and alignment.
- Increased flexibility and range of motion.
- Enhanced breathing and body awareness.
- A foundation for deeper structural changes in subsequent sessions.
Dermo Neuro Modulating (DNM) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on addressing chronic pain and dysfunction by targeting the skin and its relationship with the nervous system. This method is based on the idea that the skin, as the largest sensory organ, plays a crucial role in modulating pain signals and neural activity. DNM involves gentle, specific manual techniques applied to the skin to influence the nervous system and reduce pain.
Here are some therapies or approaches that may include or align with Dermo Neuro Modulating principles:
1. Manual Therapy
- DNM is often incorporated into manual therapy practices, such as myofascial release or soft tissue mobilization. Therapists use light, precise touches to the skin to stimulate neural pathways and reduce pain.
2. Neuromuscular Therapy
- This therapy focuses on treating trigger points and addressing imbalances in the nervous system. DNM techniques can differ from neuromuscular therapy by targeting cutaneous receptors to modulate pain.
3. Pain Science Education
- DNM is often paired with pain science education to help patients understand how the nervous system processes pain and how interventions like DNM can help āretrainā the brain to reduce chronic pain.
4. Somatosensory Rehabilitation
- This approach involves retraining the somatosensory system (the part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information). DNM techniques can be used to desensitize overactive neural pathways and improve sensory processing.
5. Fascial Counterstrain
- This gentle, hands-on therapy focuses on releasing tension in the fascia and nervous system. DNM techniques may be used to enhance the effects of fascial counterstrain by targeting cutaneous receptors.
6. Craniosacral Therapy
- DNM can be integrated into craniosacral therapy to address chronic pain and nervous system dysregulation by working with the skin and its connection to the cranial and spinal systems.
7. Chronic Pain Management Programs
- DNM is often used in multidisciplinary pain management programs that combine physical therapy, psychological support, and education to address chronic pain conditions.
8. Sensory Retraining Therapy
- This therapy is used for conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) or neuropathy. DNM techniques can help retrain the nervous system by providing gentle sensory input to the skin.
Key Principles of DNM:
- Gentle Stimulation: Light touch is used to avoid overstimulating the nervous system.
- Cutaneous Receptors: Focuses on stimulating mechanoreceptors in the skin to influence neural pathways.
- Pain Modulation: Aims to reduce central sensitization and chronic pain by calming the nervous system.
- Patient-Centered: Tailored to the individualās specific pain patterns and nervous system responses.
If youāre considering DNM or related therapies, itās important to work with a trained practitioner who understands the principles of pain science and nervous system modulation. Always consult a healthcare professional to determine the best approach for your specific condition.
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This is fantastic along with pandiculation which is different but equally amazing
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very likely completely different experience, dealing with fascia rather than musculoskeletal though rolfing = structural integration to line up your body vs gravity
If only I could get my message through - it / I / they could help so many people
Itās what I call a breakthrough moment ! I need many to keep me going !
nerves ! usually an awakening , or nerves beckoning to be awakened
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I must admit my left arm complains a bit sometimes. It is having to do all the work these days. I try to involve my right side as much as I can and, though far from whole, the old machine has come long way since coming home.
In those early days I remember a physio wiggling my limbs around with scarcely a response. Iām not back to my old self but I do see tiny improvements, little by little.
Life is worth living. Sometimes it is a struggle but I wring every drop of joy and hope that I can out of what I have.
keep on keepinā on
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My physio emphasised I should take two weeks of nothing but normal walking. Then my father in law has entered his final hours on this day so I had a long and painful walk into the car home for a family vigil and we all wait now to hear he has gone. Joy
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Sorry to hear the news of your father in law. Hope his final hours are peaceful. Sometimes some things are more important than following the physios advice.
Love & best wishes to you & your wife
Ann xx
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Thanks Ani thought that and pushed through the pain barrier which is a good job as he had passed just this moment
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