Hi everyone, hope you’re all ok, just wondered if any body else gets this, and if you know why it happens, I’ve ask the question, but to be honest I might as well be talking to the wall, so I’ll ask the experts, I have balance problems, forever going over to the right, now if I look at the floor I can manage to walk ok with my stick, if however I look up, well boy do I have problems, I really learch over to the right, my walking looks really strange, my physio says it’s like my ankle is giving way, and to be honest I’m not save, so now I have crutches or a roller to use, which I just can’t get on with, if I have problems with my eyes, it’s always my right, the only person really to answer my question has been my physio, she thinks it because the nerve at the back of that eye must be damaged, but when I go to the optician he doesn’t really say anything, only there is a lsight swelling behind both eyes, you’re thoughts would be welcomed, Jean x x
Hi Jean, I think it’s to do with the messages from your brain to your legs. Normally our legs can kind of ‘do their own thing’… in other words we don’t need to be consciously guiding them, they sort of guide themselves from ‘behind the scenes’.
I think when those messages aren’t being sent properly (as in MS) that we need to be looking down so we are guiding the movement of the legs ourselves.
I think that’s also why many of us find it easier walking around at home then we do out of doors. At home our legs know the terrain very well and there are no surprises. Minute we are outside all sorts of things happen, uneven pavements, loose paving slabs etc etc etc… and suddenly our legs don’t know what to do.
Does this make any sense??
Hope so…
Pat x
Hi Pat, yes it does, I think this is what my physio was trying to say, her words, “you need you’re eyes for the walking sequence”, so thank you, take care, Jean x
Jean,
l cannot look up or turn to look behind me without holding on to something sturdy with both hands - or l just fall over. l have been like this since being diagnosed with ms [ 30yrs]. l also get very dizzy if l look up - say at something on the ceiling or in the sky - l do have low blood pressure - which does not help. l am OK if sat down - or even on my horse.
l have wondered about looking for an Alexander Technique therapist to help with balance/posture.
F.
thanks for you’re reply, yes I also get this, but more so when I look down, or turn to my right, my blood pressure is a ok, so can only think it’s to do with the MS, it was going off balance that first made me think something wasn’t right. Jean x
Hi Jean, it could be just because we are so guarded and concious of every step we take, that if we dont look at the place we want to put our feet, our minds are telling us we could fall over.
Dunno if that makes any sense to you.
luv Pollx
thanks for that Polly, I feel that this is definately coming from the fact that something has been damaged at the back of my eye, I’ve had problems with my eye since my late 20’s, lost vision for a time back then, and over the years suffered with a lot of eye pain, sometimes so bad I had to take to my bed, I still feel now that the eye feels to big for the socket, crazy I know, I don’t maybe it isn’t, take care, Jean x
we get wierd things with the ms, make no wonder no one understands it,cos we who have it dont,i started with a relapse,and could not lift my head from the pillow,if i did i shook so violently had no balance at all,and it went off after a few hours,its left me with all sorts of prolems too,i cant lie on my left side,i cant look to the left either,if i do i start shaking and cant see properly,all this on top of not being able to stand for more than a minute or 2,the dr just looks at me,as if i am making it up !!!
like pat says its to do with the massages not getting through properly,i think thats why no one understands us,because on physical exams,everything looks normal,i have losts of vision problems,but when i have them tested the optician cant see a thing wrong,apart from normal for my age deteriation.
jaki xx
Yeh, I guess it is caused by damage to your eye courtesy of nasty mr MS.
luv Pollx
thanks for you’re replies, yes Jaki I’m like you, I go to optician, and they never say anything about my eyes, just the norm, however this time I had a new one, and he has a friend with MS, so he understood a little bit more, and it was him who told me about the slight inflammation at the back of both eyes, and warned me that if I started to see flashing lights not to go to him, but to go straight to A&E. Jean x
Hi Jean,
I used to keep asking gp why I couldnt look up and each time was told that my balance was off. I still cannot look towards the sky or look at a plane without knowing where my feet are or i too fall sideways, always to the right. That is my weak side though and I cannot feel my feet.
I just dont look up now because I know what will happen. Im sure its balance due to visual problems plus core strength issues too as physio will probably tell you. Im in need of physio again as I let mine slip due to veribrae fractures last year.
Onwards and upwards, or should I say onwards and dont look upwards! At least you are not alone luv.
bren
x
Don’t know, but I am the same about having to look down at the pavement when I am walking. Take my eyes off the path ahead for an instant and down I go. With me it is tripping rather than veering off in one direction.
Alison
x
Hi I constantly watch my feet, its like if I close my eyes whilst standing still I fall over, my ms nurse said I watch my feet to ensure I don’t trip on anything and I find I feel safer and more balanced if I know where they are I hate it in bed when I think my leg is next to the other one but when I go to feel it its not where I thought it was, MS puts us in a very unique place with the strange symptoms we manage to suffer Jane x
Hi I constantly watch my feet, its like if I close my eyes whilst standing still I fall over, my ms nurse said I watch my feet to ensure I don’t trip on anything and I find I feel safer and more balanced if I know where they are I hate it in bed when I think my leg is next to the other one but when I go to feel it its not where I thought it was, MS puts us in a very unique place with the strange symptoms we manage to suffer Jane x
hiya
i have the usual balance issues and don’t think that i dare look up when walking. (many a splat when i have done)
but since i took up painting i can’t stop looking at the sky - it’s so fantastic and changes all the time. so now i stagger around gazing up and i don’t care what people think!
and i dont fall when i’m looking up in appreciation.
fall a lot normally!
carole xxxxxxxxxxx
thanks to everyone for you’re replies, I too can’t close my eyes when standing, or walk heel to toe, without going over, it’s crazy this condition, but now I realise it’s not just me, take care, Jean x