I just want to stop falling over :(

[NonworkingAnkle]

I posted before about falling over.

It happened again today. Left ankle gave out with no warning on the stairs at my dentist. Went over forward with my right foot, fell to the floor.

Managed to get upright after signing safety forms for dentist and drive slowly home.

Foot up, iced with crutches (which I didn't have chance to return from when I fell down our own stairs, sigh) I am in so much pain.

I am sick of being in pain, of falling over and dropping things with no notice.

Doctors said to just have to get used to it :(

Luckily neurologist ruled out anything bad last month.

I have thyroid issues, bowel problems, sleep apnoea and always exhausted.

But this falling over is really upsetting me. I take care on the stairs, I hold on to the bannister and go slowly and I still fall.

I never use to be like this :( Clumsy yes but never falling over and twisting my ankle regularly.

Sprained my left ankle three weeks ago, which just stopped hurting. Now this.

What can I do !

MitziK
Good idea. As soon as I can drive again, I will get my eyes checked at the opticians.

Falls are frequently multi factorial in nature. And therefore need a multifactorial approach to treatment.
From your op you have several falls risk factors, you need to be appropriately assessed by appropriate clinicians and your risk factors for falls minimised.

Have a google for the ‘get up and go, a guide to staying steady’ it’s produced by the chartered society of physiotherapy and contains all the basics in falls prevention. From getting your eyesight checked through to continence and 6 exercises. There’s a YouTube video of the exercises too. It is designed for people aged 65 and over but there’s lots of good information in there if you are younger.

Get yourself a referral to a physio the nhs provide this sort of service. Go back to your gp, see a different one if you can. Many physio services also run a self referral service so you could skip the GP all together.

Someoneonlyyouknow
I don't think the gp's will refer me to physio. When I asked, I got given the printout to follow...but I will try one last time with them.

The GP'S just told me to 'be more careful' and 'get use to it'. Sigh. Like I want to fall over.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=n8s-8KtfgFM

AprilSpring Thank you, will Google for that guide now. Will also look for self referral options locally.

I can't suggest anything to help, sorry. I am on thyroxin and have no side effects you have described, but everyone is different. I would check with your gp you are OK to drive, and declare it to your insurance company incase.
I hope you can work it out.

Talkingfrog I am fine whilst driving. Never fallen whilst in a car. It is walking that I find tricky.

That’s just a general guide. Sounds like you need to be properly assessed, face to face with an appropriate clinician, and an individualised to you treatment plan created. Anything from medication reduction to optimising vision review of your bone health etc and specific strength and balance exercises..
Best thing you can do is keep active and keep strong.
Good luck OP

I have hearing issues and general poor balance.

If your hearing issues include tinnitus, I would definitely ask for an ENT referral as that's another symptom of Menieres, which a PP mentioned. It's really easily treated, I have tablets that I take when it's bad.

I used to fall over a lot, but as I also used to drink a lot, I put it down to being a bit pissed. I was referred to ENT for something completely different, and they tested me for balance issues. I was gobsmacked when they said I had Menieres and have only fallen over a couple of times since then.

Funnily enough, I have underactive thyroid too.

AprilSpring The more this happens, the less exercise I get :(

Years ago I use to run 6 miles several times a week outside. When the bowel complaint hit, I couldn't do that anymore. Did treadmill inside and gentle walks on good days.

Now because of my falls I avoid walking anywhere and don't use my treadmill. Often because I am limping with painful leg injuries and when I am not hurting I am too frightened of falling again to risk it.

Have you ever been assessed for Ehlers danlos syndrome? I went through decades of my ankles giving way or turning 90 degrees on stairs, when I stepped off curbs, when I took an awkward step - even falling down a rockface once.

I was finally diagnosed in my 50s - unfortunately not before a life changing accident when my ankle and knee gave way on ice.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndromes/

LakieLady Yes I have tinnitus. It gets really bad st times but I have had that as long as I remember, the falls SMS drops is a much more recent thing. Will mention it to gp.

I have done far too much googling and need to step away from the computer (emotionally not in reality as I am not leaving the sofa until I need too.

PS - I also have an underactive thyroid

Lunde This is a recent thing. Last 6 months or so. So unlikely to be that.