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!

Smart Homes - WEMO Belkin automation

I started on a smart home project today, with the purchase of a WEMO power outlet
If you are setting up one of these devices follow the instructions very carefully, don't just plug it in and hope it will connect. The manual is not very detailed. The set up principle for setting up is as follows;

• Power device in a good wifi area of your home and wait for the lights to settle, go make a coffe or bake a cake
• Use smart phone to connect to WEMO device like you did for your WIFI router
• Run the WEMO application it should go through various setup procedures again wait then wait again

 If the setup fails you can try resetting the devicein my experience the WEMO device seemed to remember the WIFI router even after resetting and I needed to rename the router as a last resort.

I am using the WEMO power outlet to add a entry into a calendar when the electric jug is boiled 

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