So a started to have “falls” a few months ago. Not really falls, it’s the nerve pain in my legs, it shoots up from my feet to my knees and I crumple. I have been given a stick and use it out of the house, and in the house on bad days. I’ve been taking gabapentin for a few months now and have found that increasing the dose has helped a lot. But just when I think it’s gone, or at least under control, I seem to have a few days where it comes back with a vengeance. My partner is sick today, so I have done more than I usually would, but I was feeling ok. Then on the way down the stairs with a bottle of cough mixture, I got to the third step from the bottom, and blam, the lighting pain and I crumpled and fell. I’m not hurt, and luckily didn’t need any help getting up, I just waited a while and it passed and I was fine. I’m having trouble accepting I need the cane. How many near misses til I swallow my pride? Is this sporadic recurrence of pain “normal”? AmieLouise x
oh AmieLousie how frightening.
Don’t know about this sort of pain but just wanted to send you a hug. ((())).
Take care,
Jen x
Hi Ami, oh dear…these falls will damage you eventually.
I suffered with so many too, before I lost my mobility. Have you thought about having a stair lift?
This wont stop the pain causing falls, but it will make it safer to use the stairs.
I think you need to have a pain relief review…do you have an MS nurse who could help with that?
I find amitriptyline and pregabalin good nerve pain meds.
polllx
Thanks guys. I don’t have a DX of MS am waiting to see the neuro. My current DX is chronic fatigue, chronic pain and Myalgic Encephalomyalitis. These DX’s are from GP and Rheumy. I’ve had these DX for 14 years. Only recently referred to neuro due to a new GP doing a thorough history and exam. I’m on Amatriptalyne 30mg and am on gabapentin 500mg in the process of increasing to 900mg. I’m determined not to let these falls take my confidence away, but it is hard, and I admit, I am scared of the stairs. I’m currently living with my partner in his parents house. We live upstairs. They are looking for us to move out in March so they can sell the property and retire. Not sure what this will lead to. Perhaps a council house, but only if we can’t manage to rent privately. As a control freak, the future seems very scary. But I will not be beaten. Thank you again xxx AmieLouise
I can totally sympathise I’ve missed quite a few steps and fallen the last couple of stairs my worst fall was about 10mths ago when I went from the very top step to the bottom ripped the ligaments off my ankle and cut my arm and back :-(. I too am undx at present with anything (gp sending me for second opinion) and now go down stairs one at a time like a toddler and gripping tightly to the hand rails. Axx
Thinking of you and sending hugs. Please take care and keep safe. xx
Ouch! That sounds nasty! Are you recovered now? Hope you get a DX for something soon, and that they can start you on some kind of treatment. This whole limbo thing sux 
I’m the same, I go down the stairs sideways like a crab normally! but today I was rushing and (upto the point of falling) was feeling ok. We live and learn! Take care of you AmieLouise
Ouch! That sounds nasty! Are you recovered now? Hope you get a DX for something soon, and that they can start you on some kind of treatment. This whole limbo thing sux I’m the same, I go down the stairs sideways like a crab normally! but today I was rushing and (upto the point of falling) was feeling ok. We live and learn! Take care of you AmieLouise
Yeah I recovered from that “episode” and my ankle healed, just coming out of another episode I think where leg went odd to the other side with some numb patches on my foot. I have to remember not to rush and that frustrates me cos I was always busy and did a lot of running and exercise classes, We do live and learn though you’re quite right. Hope you get some answers. Off to bulk buy bubble wrap as protection lol Axx
Stairs are so dangerous. Before i got diagnosed over at least 15 maybe more years I had at least 5 bad falls. Mostly because I forgot to step down or my brain forgot to tell me to and i would go flying. The worse one was near the bottom and I landed on the edge of the stair onto my bottom and fractured my coxic.
The thing is with stairs try to never walk down them carrying anything you are vulnerable. IF you had to carry cough mixture put it in a bag which you can attach to yourself which leaves two hands free if that makes sense to hold onto bannisters. I have bannisters both sides now and NEVER carry anything down or up. Its a golden rule with me now. Its a phaff but i do it for my own safety.
The episodes you describe I get. Its a nerve pain.
I found this discussion on hear which explains it quite well.
http://www.mssociety.org.uk/forum/everyday-living/electric-shock-type-pain
Thank you, that does explain it well.