It’s not easy to walk when little or no feedback from the weak side. I think the brain panics a bit when there is little sensation and that’s where all it’s focus is.
I have found if I concentrate hard on the good side,really feel/notice the ground under my good foot, it is much easier to walk, it seems to give reassurance and I can walk nearly as well as when the weak side isn’t as numb.
Obviously bit tricky on uneven surfaces but on the flat, it seems it’s a matter of thinking differently.
Hi Nigelglos. Will try that as I have trouble with my left numb side foot turning over suddenly. Think it’s partly because I’m frightened of this happening as unless someone is holding on to me I can easily fall.
Nigel, I have exactly that problem, due to paraesthesia (my foot tingles)
plus I have severely reduced sensation on my right/stroke side limbs
Your strategy is correct ; but it’s possible to learn to trust the weak (“invisible”) foot
How long ago was your stroke? mine 8 months ago
I also have borderline spasticity + bit of clonus which creates havoc
Good luck with your progress, ciao, Roland
Hi Nigel, that was a very interesting post. I will definitely give it a try. I’m 6 years post stroke following a hemorrhagic stroke which paralysed my left side and I have very little sensation on that side. I find it very difficult to trust my left side when I’m walking, although I know it’s really strong and can hold me, following the hard work I’ve put in with my physiotherapist. My physio once told me that because of my lack of sensation, my brain feels safer keeping my left leg straight and stiff. I just need to learn to trust my “invisible” left leg. Easier said than done but definitely worth a try.
Thank you for sharing.
Regards Sue
I kind of do that with my foot drop, I concentrate on the motion of the good foot in the hopes the stroke foot will follow through on pickup…still a work in progress though
@Nigelglos
I’ve noticed I seem to walk better, maybe I should say wobble better, if I don’t think about it too much.
i’m about a year into recovery and have only begun ‘wobbling’ in the last few months.
It can all be a bit variable though, hence calling it wobbling instead of walking.
I do tell myself I’m pleased with my progress.
I have some foot drop & virtually no feeling in my left foot and it has taken me more than a year to master it. I’m almost 2 years post stroke now, but it was about 8 months ago when I started working with a neuro OT to try and help with fatigue management. One of the things that came up was the amount of concentration I was putting into holding my toes up and watching out for trip hazards. It wasn’t directly mentioned as way to help the fatigue, but rather a contributor that was adding to it.
So, shortly after this conversation I experimented with trying not to focus so much on it. As a result I find that the previous year of focussing so hard on it seemed to have reprogrammed my brain to start doing it automatically again. This hasn’t helped the lack of feeling but has stopped me consciously thinking about pulling my toes up. It has certainly helped and I liken it (perhaps unfairly/incorrectly) to walking with a prosthetic foot.
Sorry if this was off topic but I started with good intentions.
It’s like the trick of walking around with a full cup of water, if watch the water you are likely to spill it, but if look straight ahead as you walk, you won’t spill.
Hi Sue, think one of the key things is before our strokes, we didn’t need to think to walk, it was sub conscious. I think that’s still in there somewhere.
It’s much harder if we consciously walk and the hyper sensitivity kicks in with the lack of feeling.
I have only come across this in the last few days. My weak leg seems to move without thinking.
Hi bobbi, if I walk across the kitchen, focus on walking, not so easy. If I really concentrate on the clocks I have at either end, the walking seems to take care of itself-not totally but partially.
I’m thinking concentrating on something else forces the walking to be more sub conscious as it was before the stroke
Hi Roland,16 months on for me. Was flying 3 months after and then the central post stroke pain started. Pins and needles one day for a couple of hours in my face. Been increasing in severity numbness,pain pretty much ever since. All the best with your recovery
You should try It’s just a matter of walking around with a full cup of water, looking straight ahead and not down at the water…for experimental purposes use your good hand just to be on the safe side
That sounds rough, but so is my own ride.
Both physios that work with me say paraesthesia / tingling is a good thing ; nerves reconnecting. Let’s hope it stops one day.
Wishing you good things for recovery,
Ciao, Roland
Has anyone ruled it out for you that it is central post stroke pain ?
The reason for saying that was when I was reconnecting at the outset, I used to get an itch in the item that was totally numb. Maybe went in for a day or so. Waited a few days and then the feeling would come back. Really looked forward to an itch like never before.
I was lucky in that pretty much everything recovered but then the pain slowly started.
It’s more a tightness that comes and goes from day to day
Not strictly speaking that painful, just I can feel a couple of muscles that will not release
chances are they will release overnight and be free the whole of the day day
It’s just a matter of walking around with a full cup of water, looking straight ahead and not down at the water…for experimental purposes use your good hand just to be on the safe side 