BARRIE'S STORY - An acoustic Neuroma patient

17. MORE WALKING

My walking had reached about 2 miles per day by June 2002 and I continued at this level for some months. I then started to increase the length of each walk until I reached 4 miles per day. I had a number of regular walks including one, which crossed some rough ground along a footpath. I was still using a walking stick and I slowly removed its use by taking it on my walks but only using it when I really needed to. By October I was walking without the stick at all and I continued at this level until I started swimming in March 2003. Before my operation my wife and I were members of a walking group that occasionally walk for up to 12 miles on a Saturday. In late March 2003 a short walk covering 7 miles was organised so I decided to tackle with the group and not only did I complete the walk but I also kept up with the main group. I found that I was OK except where I had to walk round the edge of a pool of muddy water. My continuing problems with my right leg made accurately placing my feet difficult. I decided to reduce my walking to return to a state where I walk when I need to rather than keeping up the 4 miles per day exercise. Another walking group outing enabled me to walk 6 miles. The real test came at the end of August 2003 when the walking group undertake the same walk of 14 miles every year. This I tackled with my wife and I spent most of the walk holding my wife's hand to secure my balance. We completed the whole walk keeping up with the main group but both of us had very sore joints and feet at the end! This for me was an important check of my progress and proved that I could get back to my old way of life.

As my exercises have continued my neurological physiotherapist has suggested the use of a fixed exercise bicycle, with the aim to try and get my two legs to synchronise together. I have now acquired an exercise bicycle and every day I spend 15 minutes cycling at a reasonably fast rate, which usually brings me out in a sweat by the time I have finished. Unfortunately, I cannot run yet. My right leg is still not working properly and it jars too much when I have attempted to run. However, with time hopefully I will be able to run again.