Balance issues with ALS

[hope]

Would anyone be able to tell me if balance can become a problems with ALS. Sometimes a bit of swaying, just a little bit once in a while.

Sandy.

[John1]

Would anyone be able to tell me if balance can become a problems with ALS. Sometimes a bit of swaying, just a little bit once in a while.

Sandy.
Balance is very much a problem now for me. I still have quite a bit of leg strength in my main leg muscles but very poor balance and can only walk with the aid of a walker (or a cane for very short distances). I can climb stairs but need to hold onto a rail for balance. My physio explained to me that my adductor muscles were very weak giving me little lateral support.

[Al]

I haven't thought about it much but when the Neuro checks me over he usually has me walk on tip toes and heels and then the heel to toe one the cops give you when they think you've been drinking. I've only seen that one on TV but I'd be screwed if they gave it to me I'd fall over just like at the Neuro's. Never asked why they give you that test. Could be muscles or could be for balance. I don't do well in any of those tests but the other ones for strength I do ok.

[terri]

Although LB was diagnosed a year ago and was having balancing problems for a while before this I'm just now realizing the difference in strength and balance. LB recently has been loosing his strength in his legs in just a matter of steps. He has lost the strength just buy getting up and taking four steps from his chair and then before he could get back his knees would buckle and down he goes. When he gets out of the shower to dry off, I stand behind him to add a little support while he dries off as much as he can. This past week was a lot harder. His balance was so far off that I fell into the wall just trying to stablize him. I had to ask him to stop and let me help while he just held to the walker. I believe that to be more problems with balance than strength. Although he was so tried I had to put the chair behind him to set in instead of him taking a couple of steps to it. There are a lot of small everyday things that seem to affect balance for him like reaching for some items. I think I tend not to pay too much attention to those because he just makes adjustments to make it work for him. He is so good about that, sometimes I think too good for his own good.

[terri]

Oops! Did mean to submit twice!

[Al]

There fixed it for you.

[terri]

You are good AL. Thanks!

[Bugsy]

My balance has gotten a lot worse in the past few months.I have a fear of falling so now I shuffle as I walk.I think if I got bumped into I would surely fall.I still have a glass or two of red wine though, Al!Too bad booze doesnt correct balance.Hope everyone had a great Easter

[wewillbeatthis]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to comment on this as well. Now that dad is with us I have noticed that he is scared of falling. When he is up and feeling good he walks still very slow. but much more confiedent. When dad is tired he must walk along side the wall for support. He will take much longer to get from room to room. Bugsy he also does the shuffle.

The stange thing is that when the PT works with him on balence he is fine and can even build up the courage to go longer ways into rooms, and play golf with his friends.

Confidence is a major factor I think....

[hope]

My husband is the same terri, he will make adjustments also and he will always say to me, I can do this. I also stay close by him because of balance sometimes, he is stubborn though, wants to do it all himself. He has always been a very strong man and I can see that strength continuing in this.

sandy.

[biffles]

Hi Guys, Fairly new here. I have a question. I have noticed that most of the balance problems occur when standing or trying to walk. I seem to be "top heavy", (not that kind) ha..ha. If my upper body is even slightly out of line with the rest of my body I fall over like a tree. (timber) Does anyone else have this problem? I am confined to my wheelchair, thank God for seatbelts!
Brenda

[Jeannie]

Hi all, I have poor balance as I tend to walk tip toe, when I do fall I always fall backwards, never forwards.

Anyone else experience falling backwards ?

Jeannie xxx

[ruby ben]

Hi all! John1 - where are your adductor muscles?

My balance is gradually getting worse. I find just standing still I will loose it and have to take a couple of steps backward to gain my balance again. The other day in my daughters yard, I was standing on a hill facing down and lost it. Because of the hill, I could not just suffle a few steps backwards and I went down. I know your muscles have a lot to do with your balance. My right leg is atrophied so I know I have lost it there, but I am now wondering if my stomach muscles are going................ruby from vancouver

[John1]

Hi all! John1 - where are your adductor muscles?
The Adductors originate on the pelvic bone and attach at intervals along the length of the femur. This interval attachment provides the most power and stability for the hip joint and the femur.

[candd]

Reading your post felt like I had written it! From the tiptoe thing to falling backwards....you managed to describe my walkin to a 'T'.

[candd]

Hi all, I have poor balance as I tend to walk tip toe, when I do fall I always fall backwards, never forwards.

Anyone else experience falling backwards ?

Jeannie xxx

Jeannie,
I could have been the one to write what u wrote! 2 a 'T' !!

[Frizzel]

I don't feel unsteady on my feet as much as I and am off balance after a few steps and 'slow shuffle like a penguin in a snow storm' . I am reminded of the momma penquin who is walking back to the sea. I can get around my house with a walker and I have to use a wheel chair when I go out. I can walk a couple of minutes before my legs stiffen up and stop. I AM able to do the heal to toe walk. Isn't it crazy how we each experience the lights in our bodies dimming in different ways?

[bdyle]

Jeannie, I also have a big problem falling backwards to. Have to be real careful when turning around, feet and legs just don't won't to go with me.

[Omar]

Hey guys,

It seems that losing balance is related to ALS, don't know if it is exactly because of muscles weakness because it was one of my first symptoms months before being diagnosed and at that time I was still strong and normal. So I used to lose my balance and fall backward when i am in a Z position on the floor fixing or picking something.
Now it is getting worse but I still manage to hold on to people, walls or stuff next to me avoiding falling on the floor. It is worse when I walk down the stairs and when the road inclines. My physiotherapist keeps on telling me to keep my confidence that my feet are supporting my body.

Omar

[Frizzel]

That turnin around with the feet and legs not following is right on Bdyle! I was working at my desk one afternoon, pushed myself away from my desk, went to get up and fell flat on my face. My legs forgot to move.

The doctor at the ALS clinic has been talking with me and we're setting up another consultation. The last time she saw me she mentioned I have both upper and lower involvment now.

My left wrist is so weak I can hardly hold a pan with that hand anymore. Almost dropped a pan of the best rice cripsy squares over the weekend. Made with real butter. Anyone like squares....That would have been a bummer.

The fingers on my left hand are starting to curl toward my thumb and the fingers are so stiff now.


Gotta run!
Frizzel

[CindyM]

Remnds me of the thread where MT (captain Al) fell on the kitchen floor and his wife walked in and asked him what was he doing and he said, "mopping the floor" so she said, "great!" and stepped over him on her way out the room. :lol: Cindy

[Omar]

Haha funny Cindy,

It also reminds me when one time we were in the kitchen and once my cousin turned off the light I felt completely on the floor behind him, so for seconds he thought that I vanished away
till he turned on the light again and find me down there, grrrrrrrr I felt directly on my chin ;)

Omar

[candd]

Omar,
What u said about the lights being shut & then u falling caught my attention>> I get extr. unbalanced in the dark/dim lighting...typical? anyone else experience this?

[janf]

Yes, i HAVE BALANCE PROBLEMS , WHICH WAS ONE OF MY FIRST SYMPTONS. I SEEM TO FALL BACKWARDS MORE. WHEN PEOPLE HELP ME THEY TRY TO PUSH ME TO MOVE . I TELL THEM TO GIVE ME THE FREEDOM TO MOVE MY FEET AS I NEED TOO. DO ANY OF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH EXTREME SWELLING? WHAT ABOUT THIGH AND HIP PAIN? :confused: JAN F

[Frizzel]

Yes, I feel much more unbalanced in the dark. Especially if I wake up in the middle of the night.

[CindyM]

Everybody says pain is not associated with ALS. So my deep thigh pain makes me question if I could have something else. Also I get "shin splints" just walking the length of my driveway, and my feet get sore if I stand for half an hour. (Longer than that and my legs give out.) And any activity, baking, weeding, holding a book for a couple of hours, makes my hands sore and crampy.

Oh, plus my calves cramp and my neck spasms. And if I watch a funny movie or spend time with people I enjoy my face hurts from smiling. And chewing makes my jaw tired. But really, that's about it in the pain department. :)

Balance issues happen when I am tired. Then I walk like a person on a ship during rough seas.

Other than that, I have few complaints. :) LOL. Cindy

[liz]

Jan -

My hips and thighs get sore. I think it is because they are overworked from compensating for my weakened right foot/ankle where some atrophy has set in. The more I've walked during the course of a day, the worse they feel and rest solves the problem.

As for balance, I can't even close my eyes when standing without starting to wobble. This is really only an issue in the shower when I've got a head full of shampoo to rinse so I just have to be super careful.

Liz

[ltr]

Cindy - we sound identical with symptoms. Unfortunately, two days ago I lost my balance while shopping with my mom. I looked really foolish, with my arms out as I went sideways like there was too much weight on my left side. But I caught myself! Last night I fell off my tall kitchen chair onto my left side. I hurt my knee, hip and left wrist, let out a wail so the kids came running and then I cried. The balance stuff just came on me this week and I think it's when I'm tired also. But, Cindy, everything you mentioned above is how I feel. The right side of my neck spasms so hard it feels like concrete! And Liz, I'm with you on the sore hips. When I lay down for sleep at night I can't lay on my side until they have rested and soreness goes away. Strange stuff. Leslie

[Al]

Hey Cindy. Other than the neck spasms that sounds about where I was between 1 and 2 years ago. Hope I'm not scaring you.
AL.

[Bev]

I also have serious balance issues. I can no longer walk without my walker.
My neurologist says I also have ataxia. Has anybody had that??? I am waiting for DNA results.
Bev

[Al]

It almost sounds like one of those things that could be mistaken for ALS. Hmmmm.
AL.

[landscape]

My neurologist says I also have ataxia. Bev
Bev, ataxia is just a fancy word for loss of coordination. Movement becomes jerky rather than smooth.

[CindyM]

You're not scaring me, AL. My body might fail from old age, from Alzheimer's (a real possibility in my family) or from any number of things. I have learned from hanging out with you guys that when it does, I will still be, basically, me. Cindy

[Al]

Don't ever change. The illness can change the wrapper but the candy inside is still the same.
AL.

[CindyM]

Thanks Al. that brought a smile to my face! enjoy your evening! Cindy

[Frizzel]

What a sweet thought Al~! CIndy is sweet and a little spicey~ Gotta love her!

[janf]

hi everyone me again. i also have the smile tiredness sad though concidering i have always believed in smiling through the good and bad. MY swelling has gotten out of control grrrrrr. i also have neck spasms thats another grrrrr.

[Al]

Do you mean feet swelling Jan? Mine have started to get bad the last few weeks.
AL.