Sharon Wheeler’s ScarWork

I was diagnosed with bone cancer in my left femur in late 2005 when I was 49. I was admitted to hospital very soon afterwards to be operated on to remove the tumour, which in effect meant removing my thighbone and replacing it with metal, screws & medical cement. I had well over 30 staples in the incision, which stretches from my knee to my upper thigh. My recovery period was long, three months before I could walk unaided and almost nine months with a noticeable limp. The limp just would not go away, despite physiotherapy I was unable to walk at any speed and I was feeling depressed about how long this horrendous experience was lasting and the effect it was having on my life. I was still holding my body away from the cancerous leg and it was having a knock-on effect on my back, hips and shoulders. Emotionally I felt I had been butchered, I had felt no pain from the tumour prior to the operation and had come away from hospital with a horrible scar. I had been having very regular massage to aid healing and although this was therapeutic to a point nothing seemed to change. I contacted Jan, I had visited her before when I had horrendous back pain. She took a full medical history from me and I explained how I was feeling both physically and emotionally. Jan spent almost two hours working on my body; it was no surprise to her that what happened to was so deep rooted throughout my being. During our first session I felt very relaxed, there was no pain and Jan worked with a light touch, manipulating my body. There were moments of doubt, how could something so comfortable help me? The proof was when I got off the bench and walked back to my car. It may sound strange but I was walking completely differently, it felt odd, but good. I was able to pick up my leg and bend it normally; it didn’t feel as heavy as before. I remember saying to a friend that I felt I was trotting down the road like a horse, it felt so fast! During our following sessions, my physical state improved noticeably each time. Emotionally it was a real roller coaster. As Jan released my body I relived every aspect of what had happened to me. From sitting in the surgeon’s room being told I had cancer to being wheeled down to theatre and recovering in the hospital, the food, the people I’d met. The fear, the anger and the joy of still being alive. The experience really cleared everything I’d been holding on to that was causing me pain. It was lovely to feel safe enough to do that with someone so professional and caring, she seemed to understand and was able to go through this with me, was never judgmental and always positive and encouraging. The other strange thing was that I had recently started the menopause and was having terrible times with flushes and night sweats, unable to sleep; these have all disappeared too! After I had seen Jan I felt well enough to book a long holiday to celebrate my new found health and set off round Asia. I walked a lot on my adventure and the pain and discomfort did not return, I actually was able to run a little as well, something I thought I would never do again. Alex Lamb

“Now when I’m walking, I don’t feel the tension under the arch of the foot.  There is much more flexion and ease of  movement.  My toes have relaxed and straightened from a tense, ‘clawed’ position.  I can now balance on my right foot which I could not before.  The sensitivity is completely reduced and I’m not feeling any pain on movement.  The way I walk has changed as the range of movement has increased.  I’m using my ankle and the ball of my foot.  It feels less flat-footed and my toes are working much more normally. The whole foot feels more balanced, and loose and comfortable”.

Liz Davies

“I had sensations of emotional release when the middle section of the scar was worked on. Feelings of short ‘zaps’ throughout the treatment. Lower lip released, although there were no visible signs of restriction on the lip, the release felt like the lip smiling widely.  Results were: freer movement of the area below the lower lip, less ‘attached’; neck rotation much easier with less crunching; scar feels smoother and wire-like line almost negligible. Distance between neck and shoulders feels extended and relaxed.”

Tina

“I certainly felt something during the procedure, pressure that felt as if it was going quite deep (even though I was told the pressure being applied was extremely light), there was no pain, but I was quite astonished by a sensation on two of the scars which felt like a pinging as if something was releasing. I was further surprised at the end of the treatment that my range of arm movement had improved. Thank you again.”

AC

“The treatment that I have received has been life-changing.  The scars have improved visually and physically.  I had become used to my body’s new normal, but now feel freer, less constrained and constricted and far more old normal!  Thank you so much.”

Sue Keighley

I could not recommend this practice more and especially Jan herself. If you have any internal or external scars that cause you pain, misalignment or emotional upset this work is truly amazing. Having had 5/6 epidurals and two Caesareans, after just one session I woke up without back pain for the first time in two years. My body feels so much stronger.. I can actually stand up straight again. I feel Lucky to have experienced it.. It Iis amazing!!

Kirsty Walker