falling

[lawdawg5295]

Hi:  I have had MS for a number of years but over the past year I have begun falling.  I seem to have two types:  I am standing up and suddenly I'm on my butt.  No warning, but a sore butt.  The other is where I can have vision distortion (like seeing through black lace) jerking in my legs for several days followed by a spastic fall.  I am afraid to go anywhere for fear of falling and when I go out I usually use my chair, just in case.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

[lawdawg5295]

Thank you so much for all your responses to my falling issue.  I am making an appointment with a new neuro as my current has not addressed my falling and seems to not think its not important (it's not to him, only to me!!)  Again, thank you,

[HVAC]

I took a class from my local chapter of the MS Society called "Free From Falls". The taught us how to avoid falling and when you just can't how to fall more safely and how to get up. It was 8 weeks. We did a lot of core building physical therapy. We found out why each of us fall. Looks like you know that . Since the class I fell for the first time in a year. I did not have my service dog with me I was at a party and I could not see and fell into the fire place. I caught myself well and was not hurt. I just looked drunk.

The National MS Society may do it as telecourse.

Alex

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community :D

I've been falling for a few years now, never gets easier and although i've had some doozies (knock on wood) i've never done any serious damage to my self as others have and with luck on my side, i'll continue to go down like a crash dummy and er.....bonelessly bounce.

I know this will sound odd but because i never know when i'll go down, i don't let it hold me back from doing what i'm doing. I tend to think that 'fear' of something happening, can often make an issue worse, make you more hesitant and possibly less stable and i don't need any additional help there :D

Mobility aids, like rollators/walkers, walking sticks, arm crutches etc can really help not only with balance but also with regaining confidence too. I have wheels and it was a big step but i really really only use it in certain circumstances, otherwise i'm better off moving under my own steam. ok my walking stick was more a weapon of mass destruction lol and it didn't prevent me from falling but that's me and its inexpensive and may be of some help to you so it is worth giving it a go.

Cheers............JJ

[Guitar_grrrl]

I like Karry's "Random Gravity Checks"!  :-D  I have had several of these over the past year.  That's why I use a stick, now.  I'm glad you use your chair when you're feeling insecure about falling.  Like the others have said, tell your neuro!

BTW, Welcome!!

[candy158]

I am so sorry that you are falling.  I have fallen a few times, and too, have vision disturbances, and once grabbed a display in a store to NOT FALL, and it went and made an awful noise, and of course everyone saw.  But, I did get help, and was not really hurt, just embarrassed ......

I now walk with a cane, and have learned to trust it, and now when I go out if I forget it, I went and bought another one to keep in my truck ...so I never without it.
It took some getting used to though, but, it was worth it.  

I hope this helps ...... Good luck , and stay strong on this, but, do let your Neuro know, and as for spastisicty I am on some drugs for that too, and they do help quite a bit.

Cheers,
Candy

[karryon55]

Hi there,

I'm sorry your having falls. I usually refer to my falls as "Random Gravity Checks" lol. Unfortunately it is a dangerous symptom & one that you should let your Neuro know about.....if you haven't already.

There are sometimes PT that specialise in fall prevention & they may be able to assess you to see how you can make things safer or avoid falls. As you are a high risk for falls it's important to have your bone density checked for Osteoporosis because a fracture is not something you need to be dealing with as well.

I think you are wise to use your chair when you are out to avoid falls because you have to be safe. I hope someone else chimes in with some helpful answers on this subject because I could also use some pointers of fall prevention.

Take care.
Karry.

[SarahL2491]

have you told your neuro about this new symptom?  He/she does need to know.  

I fall without warning, its one of my symptoms.  I have a dog I am training to be a service dog for just that.  Her specialty will be mobility.

If it is spastic, there re meds they can give you to help.  But hopefully your neuro can help you, but please tell him/her right away.