Escalator Problems

[gmteach]

Hi Everyone -

I have been dx'd since '97 and for the last year I have been having difficulty on escalators.   Going down I understand because it's hard to get the coordination to take the first step on, but going up I seem to lose my balance when I am half-way up.   Has anyone else experienced something like this?

[imp61]

I have had MS for almost 4 years now. I am almost 51. In the past year or so, I can no longer ride an escalator that is more than half of a story high, or is at a steep slope. I asked my neuro about this because in the summer of 2011 I traveled from Chicago to Australia with a stop in Dallas. I got on the escalator in the Dallas airport, which I kid you not, is about 3 stories high and very steep. When I got about 1/3 of the way up.....the feeling started. I was so scared. I thought I would fall backward, into all the people behind me. and down the escalator. I did manage to make it to the top, but when I got there, I had MAJOR heart palpitations, I was shaking, and was literally speechless. It took about 30 minutes to fully recover. My neuro confirmed that this was my MS even though I was not in a relapsing stage when this happened. Escalators scare the hell out of me now, and even if it is inconvenient to look for or take an elevator at times, that far outweighs the risks. People who have MS who experience these symptoms during an escalator ride, should avoid escalators at all costs. They are dangerous.

[Sailorsong]

I avoid escalators all of the time. My problem is not getting on, but off of them. I'm never sure of when to step forward off of them and I end up almost alway stepping at the wrong time and stumbling.

But I also have problems with elevators. With them when it starts to move or stops I completely lose my balance. When ever I get into an elevator I make sure that there will be a place by the railing to hold on to or I won't get in.

Dennis

[tripnstumble]

Lisa, I had to laugh at your post because I do the EXACT same thing. At least I don't feel so crazy now with my escalator issues :)

I don't know if it's so much an eye thing or a foot thing that I have a problem with. It's been to long since I've been on one and don't want to go find out either lol I don't always have problems with steps, that seems to come and go but escalators move!!!! I sooner take the steps then an escalator :)

[msgrigioilcavallo]

I no longer am able to use an escalator.  My husband thinks I'm crazy but he just doesn't understand.  It messes with my balance very badly!  Sorry you're having problems too!

[Lulu54]

this is quite a response - I should feel better knowing I am in such good company but it just makes me feel bad/anxious for the rest of you!

[shoshin]

My problems with escalators seem to be rooted in proprioception. The physical therapists I have seen all say I over-rely on my vision to compensated.

The first time I had trouble on an escalator it was completely unexpected as I'd never had reason to think of escalators as challenging to use up until that time. I was in an airport with my carry-on luggage and I still remember the momentary panic as it seemed like my luggage was going to get caught and I was going to go tumbling down the escalator to my death.

Now I am very careful getting on and off going both up and down. I watch the steps and try very hard to get my foot squarely on a single step. As I near the end, I start preparing to time my step off.

sho

[gmteach]

Thank you for all the comments.   It makes me feel much better, because it is not something you read about in the list of symptoms.   Even though it has been a long time since my diagnosis there are still new things that keep popping up.  

And yes, stairs are just as difficult.  

Thanks again.

[essdipity]

Mary, I was just thinking of the airport people-movers when I read your comment.

Those things are so tricky for me. It's not a question of up or down, natch, but of knowing exactly when to step on and where to put my foot. I think looking down at it makes things worse. But I use them anyway because terminals seem miles long. Whatcha gonna do?

ess

[SarahL2491]

THANK YOU for this post !!!!!!
I've stood at the top of escalators in NY at the bus station and cried because I just couldn't do it..........finally someone showed me the elevator (well hidden of course)

I can't do steep stairs either!  Both are a pain when at the metro and the elevator is full

[twopack]

My attempts sound a lot like Lisa's.  It takes me forever + several false starts to actually lift the foot up and forward and GO.  It is often the sense of an inpatient person waiting behind me that gives me the impetus to GO.  

Then again, sometimes I take that opportunity to step aside and let that person go first…. and then I quickly follow them on.  LOL  Like Lulu, I do better with a shield.  I found out by accident that holding a shopping bag in front of me sometimes does the trick.  Escalators do present a lot of visually confusing signals to this person with double vision, bifocals, MS and spasticity triggered by quick movements.

It’s interesting to see all the answers here.  I never questioned it too much since my mother was the same way.  I guess I just figured it was part of my inheritance of her overly cautious nature.  I remember the two of us standing at the top of an escalator, ever so politely saying, "You first."  "Oh no, you go ahead and I'll bring up the rear."  After Mom had a stroke and recovered enough to go out we were both relieved to take elevators.

I did wonder at times if this ‘down only’ escalator thing was about the height.  I've always hated heights - not afraid but always got dizzy or felt off balance when I looked straight down.  It causes something like ess described with stairs.  I get confused about where I need to place my foot and my own hesitation can lead to a misstep.  I love it when there is a contrasting color edge to help me along.  Likewise, I actively avoid crowds that want to rush down stairs or force me into the center where there is no rail for support.

The balance is another issue I think.  It could be a motion or proprioception thing.  It could be triggered by a different aspect of vision.  Where are your eyes looking when you get dizzy?  I've had motion sickness my entire life (yeah, I’m a hot mess).  I find it expresses itself in a broader range of circumstances as I age.  Holding onto the handrail can make it worse.  They don’t always move at the same rate as the steps and can wobble.

Anybody want to talk about those people movers in the airport?  Ugggg  

Mary

[supermum_ms]

Funny this question has come up today, yesterday was the first time i've been on escalators since i lost my up, I dont really have an adequate explanation for how thats come about but i supose its because I haven't been able to get out to big places that have them. Anyway yesterday I'm looking at the moving floor i'm about to step on and it all went topsie turvy, just like what happens when i try to walk on uneven ground though i hadn't as yet stepped on to the escalator.

I had 4 in a row to navigate going up and then the 4 again going down, the only way I could do it was by not looking any where but a fixed central point, which happened to be the arm of my husband. By focusing on something that was unmoving it seemed to limit the visual enough to affect the way my brain was reacting. I couldn't hold the rail either, just my husband lol he said I had a death grip on his arm and he was ready for the drop or topple I do. He was lifting and pulling me on and off and practically holding me vertical the entire time and my youngest was holding me up from behind as well lol

It was a bit hairy and i wont be doing that again if I can help it, no way would i step on one on my own!

Cheers..........JJ  

[LisaJF]

I too have a problem with escalators.  I stand watching the steps as the go up or down and wait. I count in my head the rhythm and where I should place my foot when I attempt it.  So far so good. I do use the moving handrail as my guide.

I think LuLu hit the nail on the head, its all about the visual stimulus and throws us off no matter what you have.  

Lisa

[meg321]

I don't do esculators unless I have no choice....once I wasnt thinking and I almost went down.
Just catchiing the first step and the last one...they both scare the crap out of me.

meg

[grannyhotwheels]

I always (since the MS) have had a horrible time with escalators... My issues where more balance and coordination than anything else... Getting on and off was the biggest problem...

I guess I drag my feet really bad or something... I've had friends ask why I have no throw rugs in my house... They are like your floors are so bare looking... If they have fallen as many times as I have over a stupid throw rug then they would know why... lol

I just hate going places that have them... Wow I really got of the subject there didn't I...lol... Oh well, that's how I am... I will always choose an elevator over an escalator even if it means going to the other side of the building... hehehe... That really aggravates my daughter too!!!!

I'll be praying,
Carol

[Lulu54]

one of the worst places for me with escalators is Las Vegas.  They have all these open air escalators out on the streets and they have glass sides.  Talk about visual clue overload.  Same with all the fancy casinos with all the glass.   I always feel like I am going to fall over at any moment.  Yikes!!!

Alex, the DC escalators to the Metro really got me, too.

[essdipity]

It sounds as if your trouble with escalators is more balance and coordination-oriented, and Alex has these problems too.

Lu and I seem to be overwhelmed by visual cues. Either way, it's a mess.

ess

[essdipity]

Wow, have never had trouble with escalators but I sure understand the concept.

A large post-modern building I used to go to had open very steep stairs in the middle of its lobby as part of the architectural detail. These led down to another lobby level. I found these stairs impossible to navigate. The angles and lines drove my eyes crazy, and the steepness was scary too.

Once down, I had to go into a large auditorium. That too was scary. It went steeply further down, and had sets of shallow steps converging at several angles. One time I got sort of overwhelmed at the sight and lost my footing. I missed a step and slammed into the end of a theater row of seats. I badly hurt my thigh, but didn't fall. That was lucky, I guess, because the floors were all some kind of stone.

I haven't had cause to go to that building in several years, but the mere thought of it still gives me the willies. Don't know what that means in terms of MS, if anything, but I do have some eye tracking issues and an abnormal vep. No actual ON.

ess

[HVAC]

I have had trouble with Escalators my whole time with MS. Since I had MS as a child and no one knew it my mother had a fit. She just she said I was being a baby. and pulled me on. My sister in law was annoyed with me in D.C. when I visited because I needed a metro with an elevator. Have you ever see some of D.C.'s escalators? They are really high plus I had my luggage. People run down past you and bump you. I did learn a trick. Having my cane up in the air at an angle. people get whacked if they bump me.


Stairs have always been hard too. I have always needed to hang on to a hand rail because of the balance and double vision. One of my most traumatic experiences as a small child where the big stone steps going up to a school especially at the end of recess when everyone was running up at once.

I was glad to find that many things people considered crazy phobias were real. I use escalators when I need to but they are hard. Most of the time I have my Service Dog Polly so I don't for her sake. She is trained to do them but I am afraid for her catching on something.

Now I have balance issues, vertigo, double vision, and drop foot so everything is harder.

Alex

[Lulu54]

what a great question - I have the same type problem.  Mine is the down escalator.  DH has to get on first to give me a shield from all the visual stimuli going on. I force myself to do the escalators at most places but can't do the down ones at the Atlanta airport.  The angle and height is just too much and I take the elevator instead.  

Those grid lines on the escalator treads creates a visual illusin for me that really messes with my brain.  I'm not sure if that's MS related or not.