Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 10

In the past few sessions we have been working on my spine. But as with all things Feldenkrais this means everything from tickling your toes to rubbing you neck. As this treatment continues and my body re-learns how to do things the muscle pain caused by the new movement can be huge and take a lot of time to recover. I have learnt to take it slow and easy, after today's session which made it easier to walk I thought lets go for a longer walk. I got about 10 metres away from the car when bang my knee and hamstrings began to ache. so the walk was cut short and a hobbled back to the car. I saw this video clip today of how heavy is this glass of water? holding the glass is no problem for 5 mins so the weight doesn't mater. Hold the glass for an hour and your arm will get sore. Hold the glass for several hours and your arm will go numb and paralyzed. This is what your body does to protect itself and as time passes your mind thinks this is the norm. I remember at the low or high point of Rhuematiod Arthritis thinking if I could just walk a couple of kilometers a day I would get fitter and better (I even purchased a app to see me achieve these goals). Things just got worse, my joints got more inflamed. Although now I can look back and see the funny side, being told in hospital you might never regain more movement and pain relief is all we can offer is not that funny. I can look back and think of all the crazy ideas my brain gave me for a cure, walk more, get into some saltwater, eat better, give up drinking alcohol, wear better footwear the list goes on, but I didn't have time for any of those I had to work and earn money I had no time for my health. Don't get me wrong all those ideas were okay ideas but they weren't going to cure my RA which at the time I didn't know I had. I am learning that you need time to listen to your body. My simple tips for today are; Take 5mins lying flat on your back in the morning before you get up and feel your shoulders,hips, buttocks knees and feet touch your bed. Roll over to get out of bed then roll over and get out the other side of the bed. When you are walking, walk on the inside of your foot and then the outside of your foot. Only do this for 5 or 6 steps at a time and only 3 or 4 times each. don't do too much and remember good things take time.

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 9

The last couple of weeks of Feldenkrais have been very interesting it is amazing to me how the brain controls your body. When I was in hospital they said wiggle your toes, I looked down at my toes they didn't move and I thought how do I wiggle my toes. The overall feeling I got from the hospital experience was I would never move again. Thanks to my sisters belief there must be something that can improve my movement I have gone on this Feldenkrais reflexology journey. We all know the old saying "Move it or lose it" but if you can't control the limb with your brain you can't move it! Also your brain learns not to move things that cause pain so over time you learn not to move or forget how to move. When it comes to relearning movement there are reasons you can't, they can be a physical restraint, pain, lack of feeling or muscular degeneration. My advice when relearning is a little is best and learn to feel the results. Today's session was on the feet, we did exercises like twisting your foot using each toe in turn as the pivot point. As always it is about the brain as I am doing these exercises I try to think what is stopping me doing them and understand why that is happening. I might come away with only 1 or 2mm more movement but that improvement makes such a difference  in mind, body and soul. As we do the foot exercises I can now feel my knee, hip, pelvis and lower back moving. My calf muscles are stretching and starting to ache. Today walking felt much better in bare feet there was no pain and I didn't have to think about my foot movement. I leave the session feeling more upright and flexible walking down the stairs of the building is much easier I don't need to take one step at a time and my overall balance is better.

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 8

Today's Feldenkrais session focused on the eyes! The eyes to the soul no, eyes to the brain maybe. Focusing on an imaginary ball moving left and right then towards and away with your eyes shut. I am sure it has an effect on your brain cause it sure did make me feel queezy. I think while the brain is concentrating on these mind bending tasks your body just relaxes and lets go. They say stress is a killer and ties your body up in knots, well I think stress is more than we think there is. Although today's session was a low key affair and more about calming the body down. I still come away with a lightness in my body with much more upper body freedom and movement.  

I have recently gone to walking barefoot as I can now roll toe to heel before I needed support or boost of a shoe with a heel

Must remember t take it slowly over stressing with exercises can cause an adverse effect on the recovery process

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 7

Today's session was focusing on the pelvis and doing the wave ankles - pelvis - neck. The idea is to get your co-ordination and spine moving the exercise is a bit of a brain teaser. The best result today was when I was asked how does that feel now. You know when you get that question and you really think "well it is just the same". Well I didn't need to make up a story it did feel different and I could explain how it felt. The exercise was to relax and lie on the table and the result was I could actually relax the muscles and I could feel more contact with the table. I have spent so much time with my muscles so tight with the fear of pain just letting go was impossible, but not today. Actually today standing had become more natural. I could just stand without thinking tighten that muscle, lean slightly forward. I could stand relaxed, slouched or at attention which one is best. Although the Feldenkrais exercises aren't massive or strenuous you do feel some soreness after the sessions. Due to more movement and less pain when sleeping I have been able to sleep a full 4 hours where as before I would sleep for an hour or less and wake up in pain get settled again and sleep another hour. We also did steps which is just taking a small step forward previously I was fine on the left side but the right side was a struggle today either foot leading was fine. The feet are now more flexible and I can walk on tippy toes and do calf raiser exercises both of these were impossible before.

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 6

Today's session we focused on feet, simulating standing on the inside and outside of the foot. Then rotating around the heel then the toes. The brain teaser today was not looking at your feet and pointing them straight ahead. Then look at the result after you have done all these movements the direction they are pointing is different to what you think it should be.  The way you perform these exercises seems to be important like the pelvis exercise it is easy to move the pelvis forward and backwards standing up as you just relax the muscles and gravity will do the rest, but when lying down you have to tell the muscles to pull and relax to get the movement you want. When you are growing up you learn a movement then the body just does it naturally without any conscious thought, age, injury or illness change this and that thing called pain takes control you forget or don't move the way you used to after a while it becomes a habit. I think this is why doctors ask you if you are sleeping at night. It is an indicator when my illness was at its worst I was sleeping very badly I could not roll over without conscious thought at one point couldn't roll over at all. The brain had taken control and said don't do that it will hurt after a while the movement was lost. I think I like the Feldenkrais sessions because they have a physics/mechanical background that I can understand. The joy that you get from lifting a coffee cup, taking a step or sitting without pain is hard to describe and measure.

Noticeable achievement: Can sit for long periods with knees bent 90 degrees and feet flat on floor with feet pointing forward!

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 5

Today's Feldenkrais session was very interesting another brain teaser. Christine put a towel rolled up on the table and got me to lie on it. I thought well I will crush that and feel nothing, well I felt I was balancing on a fence we did a couple of movements and worked out that one side of my body was more moveable than the other then I rolled on my side and Christine removed the towel I then lay back down. Wow I felt like the table had bent, apparently this is how the brain interpreted of feeling in the back. This was the beginning of my understanding of the brains listening ability to your body. From this day doing the exercises was more about control and feeling the response  

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 4

After a break from Feldenkris sessions due to my change in medication and decline in health and an increased inflammation of joints we are back and making progress again. Today's session we worked on the feet contact with the floor and to simulate walking. I think the movement is called the wave, but basically to walk properly without plodding you need to touch the ground with your toes (and feel it) then the ball and then push your pelvis forward then lift the foot, landing on the heal rolling on to the ball and toes then repeat. Sounds so simple but if an injury or lack of feeling in the feet then this can become difficult. I think the best exercise we did today was sitting on a chair and lifting each buttock and walking forward in the chair, it showed me how you need all your body to move and flex for a movement to be achievable. Although I thought I was standing up straight I saw a photo of me and I was still slightly hunched. I think this shows the power of the brain, I don't like looking at photos of myself because I am scared of what I might see and if I don't see it. It is not real so I am standing up straight. I know this is stupid but I think it applies to a lot of situations in life and I don't think it just applies to me. Generally I am feeling better and improving in mobility. I continue to do exercises at home but I am walking less as a test to see if it helps the ulcer heal. The ulcer has split in to the north and south island the south looks like it will heal up quickly lets hope!

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Back to 10mg

After a steady decline in movement and a increase in pain it was time to visit the Doctor again today. Ulcer had also flared up and looked angry, there was also an increase in the itchiness which had caused the ulcer to increase in size. Walking has become painful again, the pain is not a muscle growing pain it is a joint inflammation pain. Hands are stiff. Headaches continue to cause periods of the zombie state. 

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 3

Today's session was a continuation of previous exercises for pelvis and foot movement, but I am suffering some neck pain and want to work on that. I have noticed due to medication and more movement that the swelling in joints is reducing. My knees and left shoulder feel loose and sometimes click or grind, I think it will take time for muscles to adjust and tighten.

Ulcer update: Toe ulcer has healed and leg ulcer has reduce but is incredibly itchy

Christine worked on the feet especially the right foot not sure how this is helping my neck, finally she works on the head neck and top of spine muscles

When I regain any movement in a joint there is a muscle soreness and a grinding noises or feeling

The front of the ankle tendon/ligament is stiff and sore not sure how much movement will be regained there

Rhuematiod Arthritis - The Specialist 2

Today was the second specialist visit at the hospital discussed headaches, specialist was surprised I was suffering side effects from the prednisone. It was suggested a reduction in prednisone to 7.5mg to see if it reduced the headaches. Although I had increased movement from doing Feldenkrais, specialist continued to advise I would see little improvement in movement and treatment was more about pain management. We discussed bloods which had got close to normal.

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 2

Today's session had a little bit more movement exercises. Feldenkrais seems to use a benchmark movement then some treatment then back to the benchmark movement to see the difference. Today we used a furniture slider and a foot roller to do some ankle exercises. There is also always a healthy discussion on how you are feeling and what you would like to improve. Like the gradual decline in movement and well being you need benchmarks to compare your improvements as time goes on hence my notes here in this blog. I had up until I got ill used what I called the sock treatment, If I could put my sock on and cover it up then the problem was solved (I do not recommend this method of treatment). My feet had been put in shoes and the shoe had contact with the ground any flexing in my feet was caused by the weight of my body not a natural foot movement, I guess you get lazy with age. I must explain that what I mean by natural movement is if you have to think to make the movement or your brain says hey wait a minute that might hurt, then it is not natural. A non-natural movement is going to effect your life as it will deter you from doing things involving movement which in turn will make the problem worse. Performing the circles foot movement on the sliders caused calf and knee soreness. I have a slight lower back pain/soreness from moving pelvis I guess. Overall feeling is better, standing and walking there is a slight improvement.

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 1

This is my interpretation of my Feldenkrais experience and are notes for my journey I am not a Feldenkrais practitioner 

Today was my first session of Feldenkrais with Christine Cutbush as I have decided to become as healthy as possible and I remain open minded to any techniques. After filling in a short questionnaire and then having a short discussion it was time for the session to start. Feldenkrais is about connecting or in my case reconnecting the brain to the body. My body is very broken ankles have little to no movement, wiggling toes not possible. The session starts lying down on a table my legs can't straighten, knees bent feet can't be flat on bed I can't stand vertically properly. Apparently my pelvis is fused which is the shock absorber of the body so we do some pelvis stretches and foot massage to relax the muscles (I guess). As Feldenkrais is about the brain connecting to your body foot contact with floor or bed is a must at all times. I must note that most body movements at this point are not natural and my brain thinks of the pain and difficultly before performing any movement. The session ends with a sequence of sitting on the bed then standing up and walking a few steps. As I have mentioned this is about connecting your brain to your body, so sitting up and standing up are critical indicators I think for two reasons 1) you can't tell if your sitting or standing up straight 2) speed of movement is an indicator if the movement is natural or forced. I leave the session feeling lighter in my body weight on my feet. I have an overall more positive feeling

Rhuematiod Arthritis - The Specialist 1

Went to the specialist today met with the doctor who was pleased with the reduction in the ulcers. No medication change until leg ulcer has healed which is on target for end of the year. No indication of when or how much movement I will regain, almost suggested this could be the best it will get and it was more about pain management. Dr showed interest in my eagerness for some physical treatment for movement

• Walking with slight pain
• standing from sitting still difficult
• Standing feels unnatural
• can't stand up straight
• sleep uncomfortable 

Rhuematiod Arthritis - The Beggining

Warning this is only being published as my record of my road to recovery.

Today I am in hospital after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I jokingly called it my "rigor mortise disease". It happened rather quickly over three weeks I went from being mobile to almost totally immobilized. Not only were my joints shoulders,elbows, hands, hips, knees and feet sore all muscles had also locked up to stop the pain. I had fluid on my right knee and the following activities were almost impossible:

• walking
• stand up straight
• turn head without pain with very limited movement couldn't look left and right while driving without turning body. Couldn't look up above me 15 degrees above vertical
• sleeping and rolling over took thought
• lifting a coffee cup
• moving toes
• bending ankles
• bending fingers more than 20 degrees - couldn't make a fist.
•  sitting in a chair with knees bent 90 degrees with feet flat on floor
•  Lying on my back with knees straight was not possible
• Lying on my back on a hard surface with knees bent couldn't place feet flat on surface

Physical descriptions:

• Feet swollen no gaps between toes, no veins or ligament visible
• Nodes on elbows and forearms 

 I had been regularly taking voltren before this episode to control pain but in a health drive to improve my health I had reduced voltaren and alcohol to almost nil.
Although I had been to a emergency clinic and prescribed 75mg Voltaren - Tramadol the pain was still intense after 5 days of medication. All drugs were stopped when in hospital with only panadol to ease the pain (it didn't work). I had two ulcers one on my right foot on the second biggest toe the other on my left lower leg which was 5cmx4cm and 0.5cm proud flesh, but no infection. After being discharged from hospital I was taking 40mg Prednisone for two weeks then 20mg for two weeks then down to 10mg and Ibuprofen 200mg for pain.