A stroke survivor who traveled from Glasgow, Scotland, shares her baseline challenges following a stroke suffered in August 2022 and documents her real-time observations following Perispinal Etanercept (PSE) treatment at the Institute of Neurological Recovery in Boca Raton, Florida.
The video captures updates recorded by the patient and her family as they evaluate changes in burning spinal pain, postural alignment, sitting position, neck mobility, and unassisted standing.
Patient-Reported Changes Featured in This Video
- Resolution of Severe Spine & Hip Pain: Prior to treatment, the patient reported constant, burning spinal and hip pain rated 10 out of 10. Following the procedure, she noted a complete absence of the burning back and hip discomfort.
- Postural Alignment & Breathing: Before treatment, the patient described a constant heavy downward pull causing her body to hang forward. Post-treatment, she demonstrated sitting upright without physical strain, noting she felt lighter and could breathe more easily.
- Unassisted Standing from Low Seating: The patient successfully stood up independently from a chair—an action her family noted she previously could not perform without severe pain and assistance.
- Arm, Wrist, and Finger Mobility: The patient demonstrated lifting her left arm, twisting her wrist, and opening her fingers without the muscle stiffness, resistance, or pain that previously triggered full-body tension.
- Swallowing & Facial Movement: The patient reported swallowing smoothly without choking or coughing, alongside improved facial symmetry while smiling and reduced light sensitivity in her eyes.
Read Video Transcript
*Transcript generated by YouTube
Where have you traveled from? From Glasgow, Scotland. When did you have your stroke? August 2022. What are the difficulties that you have as a result of the stroke? I’m paralyzed down my left side. I can’t move my arm and I have difficulty walking. Moving your fingers? None. Spasticity in your fingers? Complete. In terms of leg movement,
that is that little bit of movement. Yeah, just a little. My speech is slightly affected. My throat is paralyzed here. And I can’t turn my head completely to the left when I turn my head. I feel pain. It’s like it’s very tight. And my head my body hangs forward. I can’t hold my body up when I’m walking. I feel everything’s really heavy. I’m pulled down. My body’s pulled downwards and I have a lot of pain in my hip and my spine my my spine is burning and my spine is really really sore. Do you have that every day? Yes. Do you have it all the time? Yes. On a scale of of 0 to 10, how severe is that? At the moment, it’s a 10. Do you have any numbness or tight in my left foot? Yes. Okay. I have leftsided peripheral vision blindness. I have difficulty with everything.
I can’t feel any pain. You can’t feel any pain? No, I can’t feel any pain. No. Is that different? It’s different. Yes. Okay. Ever since the stroke, you’ve had that severe burning pain in your back. Yeah. And what about now? I don’t feel it. You don’t feel the pain? No, I don’t feel it. Has it ever been like that since the stroke? No. Well, normally you have pain in your hip also. Is that correct? Yes. Are you having that now? Not at the moment. No. I I don’t feel pulled down. I feel as though I can sit up. Mhm. Yeah. It would take an awful lot of effort for me to do
that. I couldn’t I can’t I couldn’t do that.
And how does that feel on your head? No. No. Not so. Yeah. I’m swallowing fine. And you weren’t before? No. No. I was choking before. What a difference in a smile. Mhm. I had asked when smile as well. Is that better now? Yeah, definitely. I could never lift it that high. Never.
That would have been easier. I can twist my wrist. Uh-huh. Couldn’t do that before. No. That was sensitive before if it were cut. Yeah. And now you don’t have that. No, I’m fine. from from a chair like that. I can stand up. Yes. But not from there. I’ll try, but I don’t know if I can. If I can do this, this is a miracle. Okay.
That’s amazing. Wow. She normally cries every time really with the amount of pain. Especially if they don’t stay together. Even just moving your arm. It’s It’s floppy. So free. Mhm. Normally if I move that her whole body is moving. That’s so free. I can sit up. Mhm. I’m like hanging like that. I can sit up. Wow. I kind of believe it. Thank you. But it’s bright. It’s bright. It’s bright. Is it sore in your eyes? No, it’s not sore anymore cuz you normally feel dead sensitive to your eyes. Yeah, it’s usually sore, but it’s not sore. I don’t feel pushed down. I can I feel as though I can breathe easier. I can move easier. Move it out and back in if you can. She couldn’t do that at all.
And no pain when you done that? No. You feel your sensation is better? Yes. And your finger stayed open?
That’s so free. Mhm. I’m just amazed I got out of that chair. I’m so amazed at that.
Is that so? No. I couldn’t I couldn’t touch I couldn’t move her fingers without pain. That was that was amazing. But at least I can sit in a a proper chair. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. Thank you. It was worth the journey coming here. So worth it. It was so worth it just to get rid of that pain. So along with the pain. Thank you so much. Thank you. Do that.
