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Why do I keep falling over?

50 replies

notaflyingmonkey · 28/05/2021 22:03

Three times in the past three months I have fallen over. I'm 57 and can't remember a time in my adult life when I have fallen over before this - but this is becoming a habit. It's possible I don't pick my feet up fully - but if so, I've been managing fine up to now. So why now?

Any ideas?

OP posts:
Dizzywizz · 28/05/2021 22:16

Are you feeling dizzy? Or faint? Unsteady on feet?

notaflyingmonkey · 28/05/2021 22:20

No. Just going along fine, and then find myself crashing towards the floor (each time it has happened I have been outside, and totally sober).

OP posts:
Caselgarcia · 28/05/2021 22:26

New shoes?

Totallydefeated · 28/05/2021 22:28

Can you feel your feet fully?

invinovvv · 28/05/2021 22:39

If it continues do check with you GP it isn't something neurological?

notaflyingmonkey · 28/05/2021 23:30

New-ish trainers, so not heals. My worry is that it could be something neurological.

OP posts:
ohnoisaid2much · 28/05/2021 23:34

Any numbness in either or both legs? Brain fog? Do you also drop things more than you usually would?

MyHusbandTheIdiot · 28/05/2021 23:36

I would absolutely be discussing this with your GP. Could be nothing, could be something - only some investigation will provide the answer! Good luck 🤗

notaflyingmonkey · 28/05/2021 23:36

Yes to dropping things. I keep breaking crockery. Brain fog also, but post menopause/stress?

OP posts:
LovelyGirlCompetition · 28/05/2021 23:37

This happened to me a couple of years ago. Took a while to work out why and I was starting to worry. It was because of a pair of boots. They had really low heels. Just think they weren't supporting my feet right on the instep. I wonder if they were faulty. Check your trainers for any wobble when they are flat on the floor.

BBOA · 28/05/2021 23:43

Yes check footwear and posture. Could be throwing your head forward and chin out?

YouSeeMee · 28/05/2021 23:44

Could it be related to menopause.

Totally anecdotal, but the two people I know who had similar symptoms were later diagnosed with MS.

Def go to your doctor and get it investigated

Stealhsquirrelnutkin · 29/05/2021 00:42

The same thing started happening to me in my mid to late 50s. Somehow one of my legs would just give out without warning and I'd go down like a felled tree.

I was lucky that I didn't break my nose falling onto my face, and it was so embarrassing to have to get up afterwards, especially if people had gathered round. It got to a point where I was reluctant to walk anywhere, and when I did I had to concentrate on what my legs were doing, ready to get my hands out to catch myself if one of them gave out.

I had a pair of Nordic walking poles, and remembered chatting several decades ago with another woman I'd often see strolling through the forest, both of us using walking poles. She confided that she needed them because she had survived a traumatic brain injury that had effected her ability to walk (you couldn't tell she walked a lot quicker than me), and she felt much sportier using walking poles compared to any of the aids the health system could offer.

So I started using my poles, both of them if I'm walking any distance, but for shorter distances, and when using public transport just one is enough. People did give me some funny looks when I walked through the city centre with a couple of walking poles, and every now and again some joker will ask if I've forgotten my skis, but I don't care anymore, at least I'm not constantly worrying about falling over (and face planting in a heap of dog turds.)

Every now and again a knee or ankle will give out, but so far the pole has caught me and kept me upright allowing me to regain my balance. They are very strong, but light weight, and have a wrist strap so, unlike a cane, you don't need to dedicate a hand to holding them and can leave them dangling from your wrist while you rummage in your bag or mess with your phone. They are telescopic, so if space is an issue you can shorten them into little batons.

ALDI and Lidl tend to sell them every now and again, or you can buy them online.

crispinglovershighkick · 29/05/2021 01:10

I read that your risk of falling increases steeply around the menopause (googled it after I fell over in the road like a sack of potatoes lol). It's poorly understood (it's a very complex thing to study) but may be hormone related as apparently women on hrt have fewer falls.

Hope you get to the bottom of it OP, and hope it's nothing.

FleetwoodRaincoat · 29/05/2021 01:22

I listened to a Michael Moseley podcast today discussing how your sense of balance diminishes as you age, so it's important to practise. Well worth a listen. It's called Just One Thing on BBC sounds.

DustyMaiden · 29/05/2021 01:22

I had that problem, if the ground was even slightly uneven. It was a b12 deficiency.

thenewduchessofhastings · 29/05/2021 01:28

@notaflyingmonkey

I'm so sorry to suggest this but the brain fog and falling over for no reason especially when outdoors reminds me of my MIL's symptoms when she developed MS.

She was 53 when she was diagnosed.

Forestiere · 29/05/2021 01:36

I had this, I couldn't feel the ground underneath my feet - like walking on clouds - and fell over a few times. Also lost feeling in my hands where I couldn't pick things up. Along with other unpleasant symptoms - speech occasionally went awry, electric shock symptoms like zaps all over my body.
Went to GP convinced I had MS. Turned out to be severe B12 and folate deficiency. I was about 35 at the time.

Do visit your GP to get checked over.

ohnoisaid2much · 29/05/2021 01:42

@notaflyingmonkey

Yes to dropping things. I keep breaking crockery. Brain fog also, but post menopause/stress?

I thought possibly ms as well sorry OP.

See here for more symptoms:
www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms

Could still be something else though

Merry2510 · 29/05/2021 04:23

Hi, I am 49, and just had the exact experience, it was foot drop, maybe caused by b12 deficiency, but have been referred to neurologist to rule out anything else. I've seen a physio, and now have "foot up" brace to hold my foot in the correct position to stop my falls.

notaflyingmonkey · 29/05/2021 07:15

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond, it's given me a lot to think about, and I will get my GP referral sorted today.

Interesting that it might be yet another thing caused by the menopause that we are largely unaware about.

OP posts:
lljkk · 29/05/2021 07:26

I'm astonished by people who never fall over. It's my life long normal (I run, cycle, scramble etc. a lot). I'm not as relaxed about the falls off bike as I used to be, tbf.

There was a thread where someone (late 40s?) said that they never have random aches or pains, too. You lot don't know you're born!

vivainsomnia · 29/05/2021 10:15

It could be the menopause, it could be vit b12 deficiency, it could be a more serious neurological disorder.

I've never fallen over, but certainly had really bad balance issue before being diagnosed with low b12. It was as if I could sense my environment. I used to run on a treadmill and it suddenly became impossible as I was convinced I was about to fall. I also had issue with grabbing things and my fingers would shake.

Then of course, the anxiety that came from being in the perimenopause made it all worse. It all resolved itself after 3 months on vit b12 injections.

unim · 29/05/2021 10:55

I definitely think it is worth going to the GP about this (and going again if they don't do anything and it still doesn't resolve).

I did go through a phase like this in my late 20s which I think was hormonal and related to a change in contraception. I am somewhat hypermobile and the hormone changes really affect me. I fell over badly about three times in a three month time period.

With that said, I also have a dear friend who started falling a lot and in her case it was the beginning of a degenerative neurological condition.

One of my parents, although they did not fall, began to feel unusually "wobbly" on their legs - it turns out to be early stage Parkinsons.

However scary it is, it is very much worth while getting checked out and potentially diagnosed if there is anything going on. There are lots of conditions where early treatment can really help to improve overall prognosis.

In my case it was nothing to worry about and fingers crossed it may be the same for you too!

unim · 29/05/2021 10:56

Really interesting to hear about the link with B12 deficiency too! I wonder if I also had this as I am vegetarian.