I fell over…again

[Cocopogo]

I’ve been with DP nearly 4 years and yesterday I fell over in the street. DP and a kind lady who was passing helped me up and I’ve grazed all my knee, foot (no idea how), elbow and hand.
Feel very embarrassed. More so because this is now the third time I have fallen completely over in front of DP and I know he’s thinking wtf. One time was on ice so that can be excused surely but the other two there’s no excuse.
I don’t remember falling over previously to this. Do I have some underlying health condition or am I just getting clumsy/less nimble in my old age? (I’m only 42 but post menopause).

There are some medical conditions that cause falling. I would see your GP for tests. Hopefully it's nothing serious, but worth getting it checked out.

Have you always fallen over? I'm hyper mobile and I fall over all the time!

I agree with both PP’s. If this is new to you and you were not under the influence of anything, you need to see a Dr. You may benefit from seeing a podiatrist as well. They would do a walking/gait evaluation and see if you are wearing the wrong kind of shoes. Orthotics and correct shoes have made a huge impact on my stability as I have hypermobile joints and am rather uncoordinated due to having Ehler’s Danlos syndrome. I was only diagnosed two years ago and I am 50. Just thought I was a klutz.

How did you feel before you fell? Any sight issues? Does it feel like anything ‘gives way’ before you fall?

Oh come on - not counting the ice, it means OP has fallen over twice in 4 years. That’s not a big deal, it’s fine OP - don’t worry, I fall over all the time!

Felt same as usual, just stumbled and completely decked it. It’s not like it happens often just three times in past couple of years but I don’t remember falling prior to this at all.

What’s with the biscuit Margot, it’s a fair question.

I suppose just mentally note it and if you start to fall more go to gp. Everyone trips etc

Sorry don’t mean to sound dismissive by the way! It is rubbish when you hit the floor!

What's the biscuit for? You'll feel a bit silly if it turns out OP has a medical problem.

I once heard of a woman who went to the GP because her slippers had started falling off and it was annoying her. Brain tumour.

Sometimes you only get little clues. Most of the time the clues don't mean anything other than you should pay better attention to where you're going, or replace your knackered slippers. Occasionally they turn out to be something.

I really don't think you need to see a GP about tripping over! I've fallen down the stairs clumsily twice in the last year, it happens.

Although yes, at this point it could just be random luck. It's worth keeping an eye on though, in case it gets to be a more regular thing. It's easy not to notice stuff creeping up on you.

Did you actually trip over yourself or lose pavement/cobbles ect... or just fall over? That's important here. Start making mental notes Op; hopefully nothing but you can never be sure.

Dunno of its just me but I've definitely fallen over more since early surgical menopause at 32. I think my core strength, muscle tone and balance has been hammered. And when I do fall, I can't ninja it out like I used to. I just hit the deck like a sack of spuds.

I get a form of vertigo (BPPV) and apparently that can be worsened/triggered by menopause - I fall over a bit too....

there is a difference between stumbling on uneven pavement (e.g. possible balance issues / shoes etc) and falling with no other issues (more like momentarily fainting and you find yourself on the ground). do you know which it is? If the latter, definitely see a doctor. If stumbling, it is less urgent but do get it checked out if it keeps happening.

either way, keep notes. write the date / circumstances of each fall in a notebook (or email it to yourself) so that if you do need to see a doctor in a few months, you can give a detailed account of what happened.

I have to make sure my shoes have relatively thin soles. Thicker ones rotate me onto the ground once I go off balance from eg uneven paving.

It’s definitely more a stumbling thing. I didn’t faint. Hopefully it won’t happen again.

I think a lot of people don't lift their feet as much as they age, I've noticed this. Easier to trip on things that way. Not fell over for a few years though,last time was because of a dropped sausage roll on a shiny town floor 🤣

What made you fall, was it uneven ground, or was it the drop from pavement to road?

If you’re chatting and walking then a trip is more likely.

I fall over too and it's because I'm clumsy. I'm currently in a cast with a broken wrist. Whilst I know I am clumsy, the pathments nowadays are horrendous too so you only have to stop concentrating for a small amount of time to be at risk of a trip or fall.

I hope you are ok.

I kept falling over on dog walks, very embarrassing as people rushed to help me up thinking I was ill. I didn't stumble or trip just went straight down.
It was such a relief when I eventually worked out what was happening.

I was wearing new walking boots with laces and the bow on the lace on one boot sometimes briefly caught on a rivet on the other boot. This meant my body carried on moving forward but I couldn't move my feet.

See a doctor probably nothing it happens but go anyway

Oh come on - not counting the ice, it means OP has fallen over twice in 4 years. That’s not a big deal, it’s fine OP - don’t worry, I fall over all the time!

I don't think I've ever fallen over as an adult (I'm also 42), so I'd be worried if I suddenly started even if relatively infrequently. Especially if it's a heavy enough fall to cause multiple grazes.

I may be missing something but is this 3 falls in 4 years? I wouldn't call that out of the ordinary, especially as once was on ice.