“Every therapy session I walk into on my own instead of being pushed in a wheelchair!”
Before his strokes, Nigel was a very independent, vibrant, and quick-witted individual who loved to embrace time with his family and friends, and prided himself in being a people-person. He led a dynamic career in computer technology, starting in IT Support and working his way up to IT Centre Manager and IT Research and Development.
Alongside his very successful working life, Nigel had a devotion for anything creative or DIY. He was often found working on DIY projects at home or for his friends, and always had a camera at hand. A self-taught photographer, Nigel covered all sorts of imagery; from portraits of his family, to landscapes of his favourite places, and even product imagery. And if that wasn’t enough, Nigel absolutely loved music, having taught himself how to play the bass guitar, and entertained many at live venues for more than 20 years.
The year prior to his stroke, Nigel had been diagnosed with high blood pressure; he was on regular medication, including using compression socks, and actively led a healthier lifestyle. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he experienced his first major set of strokes in February 2020. He was admitted to Winchester Hospital and spent almost five weeks there as an inpatient. At Winchester, Nigel faced the challenge of relearning nearly everything he once did with ease – walking, talking, balancing, eating, and swallowing. With the strokes primarily affecting his right side, he also had to switch to writing with his left hand and could only hear out of his left ear.
Nigel felt like his life had turned upside down. He was unable to complete daily functions that had been fine before, like going to work, driving, and cooking for his family. In his words, “I felt like I couldn’t do anything. I lost my dignity.” Feeling drained and low in energy, Nigel found it difficult to socialise with his loved ones, even though he wanted to and knew it would help. Endless hospital appointments left him feeling overwhelmed by the constant diagnoses and frustrated by his new dependence on others. His wife, choosing to become his full-time carer, left her job to support him.
Nearly four years after his strokes, Nigel started treatment at Hobbs Rehabilitation Winchester in 2024, with our multidisciplinary team there. Attending fortnightly treatment sessions, his primary focus was coordination and building core strength to enable him to progress his walking ability. One of our Specialist Neurological Physiotherapists tailored exercises to strengthen his upper and lower limbs, whilst stabilising his balance.
She additionally supported his rehabilitation by encouraging him to practise walking with a stick, helping him regain the confidence to navigate his home and community more comfortably. Above all, Nigel was incredibly grateful that she took the time to listen and understand how his condition impacted him. She created a treatment plan customised to his personal preferences, helping him achieve the goals he set for himself while allowing him to progress at his own pace.
When he first started his treatment at Hobbs Rehabilitation, Nigel felt like he was mentally and physically in a better place to improve his lifestyle. He enjoyed the engaging treatments, which made his rehabilitation both effective and exciting. Her constant encouragement and support motivated him to stay positive, helping him overcome feelings of being limited by his disabilities. With guidance, and his own dedication and determination, Nigel gained the confidence to tackle new tasks at home that he had once thought impossible, such as putting a picture frame up, or making his bed.
Overall, Nigel saw and felt significant improvements after each session. Over the months, his confidence, motivation, and determination grew, driving him to push his boundaries in walking and daily tasks. He realised that his progress wasn’t just for his own benefit, but for those around him too. Hearing from others about the visible improvements in his abilities only encouraged him further, making him even more motivated to keep moving forward.
“Nige has been so hard working and I have been in awe of his sheer determination to get better! He has gone from arriving in a wheelchair to walking in with his stick across the car park on his own, climbing up a ladder and starting to access new places to visit. I’m so proud to be a part of his journey and had so much fun rehabbing him. Keep up all the hard work and continue to inspire us Nige!” – Laura, Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist
Since his rehabilitation, the hard work he put in to build up his core strength and balance has enabled Nigel to walk around his home, and to his local shop, with just his stick. Before starting his rehabilitation at Hobbs, Nigel viewed climbing stairs as a daunting challenge, lacking the confidence to attempt it. However, thanks to his progress, he can now visit friends and family at their homes, effortlessly tackling stairs with newfound ease and independence.
Most importantly, Nigel is now happily back to his favourite DIY projects around the house, much to his wife’s delight. Being able to safely use a ladder again has truly been a game-changer, allowing him to embrace his creative, independent spirit once more. Nigel’s improved agility in his arms and legs has enabled him to freely and comfortably get up to all sorts of fun DIY activities, including capturing some stunning photographs.
Without the support from the Hobbs Rehabilitation team at Winchester, Nigel would have struggled to regain his autonomy back. He is particularly grateful for the immense help that Laura has given him, saying:
“With Laura’s experience and professionalism, she has always found the solutions to my requirements through exercises, routines, encouragement and reflecting on what my previous abilities were.”