Falls

[COBOB]

Guess I have been wondering about this for a while.  I have an issue with "tripping over my feet."  It is much worse in the dark when I can't see what my feet are doing.  My big problem is the front steps coming into my house.  It is three steps high with no hand rail, and on several occasions, I have taken a header spinning to to the right and backwards.  I seem to do OK out in the barn, and that has about 13 steps.  The big difference is the handrail in the barn.  

I guess I'm about to rebuild the steps into the house and a handrail is going to be part of the plan.  It seems that I need more "input" to do simple things.  I needs to have my eyesight to walk around.  I need to have a handhold to climb three steps.  I'm not sure if it is just me, or whether there is something with this demyelinating disease that is causing subtle changes and effects in daily living.  It makes me worry a bit since there are some things I need to be able to do on my own.  Still have to take care of 6 acres. feed cattle and take care of the chickens.

Has anyone else noticed things like this?  

[Eyesnlegs]

Steps and stairs have been a huge hurdle for quite some time for me, I even struggling on rough terrain of hills. It seems to be a combination of weakness and lack of attention which is a cognitive issue in my case. This is coupled with some depth perception problems from ON.

I can only repeat what others have said use handrails (or a friendly arm) and take your time otherwise the falls could do some major damage!

Pat

[huff1711]

Yep, I've found myself falling more and more lately. Especially getting in and out of my shower. Other than that I stumble cause my feet want to walk in front of the other.

Chad

[shoshin]

I can go up about three stairs without a railing, but it's not pretty. I have more trouble going down and don't dare try more than one step. My balance issues are worse in the dark. When I went to PT, they did a test (computerized posturography), which showed that my somatosensory system was not doing too well--the sensation in my feet was reduced--and my vestibular system was essentially AWOL. They gave me some exercises which did help, but I have learned to be more careful and not take keeping my balance for granted. I always hold on to something in the dark.

Anyway, if you have more trouble in the dark, it probably means that you're having trouble with some other part of your balance system and are over-relying on vision to compensate.

sho

[Sumanadevii]

Oh and as a side note, I fell too many times.  So many that my assistants would no longer allow me on a ladder.  It wasn't long after that before I retired.  It is too hard for an artist to direct another inside her brain.  Was sad for me.

[Sumanadevii]

My guess is that it is foot drop, Bob.  The reason I say this is because one of my first symptoms was not knowing exactly where my foot was on a ladder.  I was on one about twelve feet up busy working on a display (I did displays for stores) when I realized I did not know where my foot was on that ladder.  I had to physically look down to judge how far to move to the right or left.  I do know that I had foot drop in my right foot way way years before a diagnosis.

[twopack]

Yup Bob.  Add a little rain or unfamiliar terrain to that equation and it has equaled diaster from time to time.  A broken foot for me one time and some gingerbread men drowned in coffee another.

Mary

[drsdonthelp]

I too have this problem. It is very difficult for me to know if this is part of  my eye disease though. I am always unsteady, I trip over curbs, an uneven ground, and I absolutly hate it when there is a separation in a floor that dips down slightly, WHOA,, I am almost down, LOL its kinda funny watching me. I look like a baby taking first steps.

I have three little dogs, and a cat,,, I have to say they have been kicked more than once and it's definately not on purpose. LOL

[COBOB]

We have two Basenjis that are always under foot.  We both step on them all the time.  I don't recover as graciously as my partner.

[Audrey_M]

Bob:

The handrails and lighting are so important! I seem to recall you saying somewhere that you tend to fall upstairs, not down. This may be a sign of foot drop, where you are not lifting your leg high enough and catch the bottom of the step. This has happened to me many times, but I have not had a full out episode of foot drop where I had to drag my leg.

I always make sure that I keep clear paths for walking in the house, with the lights on and use handrails. I also try to walk close to walls in case I lose my balance. This has happened to me on many occasions where I will start to fall in any direction but forward. Even standing still, I can start to lose my balance.

The one thing that I cannot control is my cat. Don't know why, but felines are notorious for just sitting in the way and then let out the loudest, most indignant YOWL when they get stepped on! I do try to look where I'm walking, but that gosh darn cat is my biggest potential trip hazard. Don't know whether to apologize or curse her...I usually do both.

Audrey

[lovemy6monkeys]

Yep! I took a header off the last 3-4 stairs about 4 months ago. I wasn't hurt too bad, but enough where I had to just sit on the floor for a bit before I tried to get up (and I had bruises on my one foot and knee that took the brunt of the fall for about 3 weeks). I also have a tendency to tip if I turn too quick. I'm just off balance enough for it to be annoying but not dangerous. But, I'm very careful to always hold railings, and I'm extra super careful when I carry the baby.

~Jess

[RedFlame]

Yep, sounds all to familiar.  I need lots of lighting and railing to navigate through anywhere.  
Red

[sllowe]

You gonna needs to get you a super cool john deer! To save you some of those precious engergy steps where you can. Your 1st step being the handrails.

Yup, definitely that dirty ol' demylenation getting you slowly but surely.
What I notice is that I do better if I gradually work myself into physical work. Don't go all out at one time. Slow and steady..

-shell