Tripping issues

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Have had tripping issues for a while now, but I seem to be doing more damage, and have managed to bash my eye into a real shiner this weekend. No fractures, fortunately. Waiting for a neuroligical referral, but since August last year. It seems like I tend to trip in somewhere unfamiliar, and its as if my feet don't detect fairly small deviations in walking surfaces iuswim.This weekend it was the allotment, which does have a few slightly uneven surfaces. So I can always see what I probably tripped over, but wonder why feet-to-brain didn't accomodate it. No heart issues, or dizzines. Someone mentioned my balance, which isn't great tbh. I don't understand why I am having a 'damaging' fall about every couple of weeks or a month, rather than all the time. Anyone come across this before? Thanks in advance. I'm 61 if it makes a difference.

That must be worrying OP

Have you had your ears checked? That can affect balance
Any new medication?
Head injury in last few months?

Have they said what neurologist scan will check for? MS maybe
Good luck

How is your back? I have some lower back issues, and when they flare up I can trip over a flat floor. Sometimes the trips are a warning that my back is about to flare up, and I start tripping and stumbling even though I'm not in any pain yet.

I suspect that when this happens I'm not flexing my ankle properly when I swing my leg forward mid-stride. It's almost always the same foot.

I do this occasionally. It’s related to arthritis in my hip.

I'm at risk of falls, due to a weird bone deformity in my feet.

If you've got no obvious musculoskeletal issues, peripheral neuropathy?

Have you been investigated for T2 diabetes?

I have this problem. It seems to be a mix of things for me - vertigo, possibly whatever I've done to my joints and due to the issues with my vision.

Could it be some form of ataxia? Or MSA-C. Slightly scary diagnoses if that's what it is, but can be managed and ameliorated. Ataxia UK has info and I think a helpline.

While you are waiting to see the neurologist, have you seen a physio?

My DM has balance and low BP issues which make her prone to falls. However physio based on improving her balance, while it is never going to solve the problem, worked wonders.

Thanks all. No new medication, no head injury. They looked in my ears at the hospital, is that enough to check them? <clueless> I have had vertigo in the past, occasionally have had low (and high) blood pressure. I have ongoing back issues, sometimes worse than others. They've not said what any scan will check for, with neurology. I'm having an eye test shortly. I probably need to work on my balance, but the private physio I saw didn't instill me with confidence. I used to do yoga, and though my balance was never great, I was possibly a bit better then. Last time I was checked for T2 diabetes I was ok. I have wondered if I was over or underpronating with my feet. Peripheral neuropathy I will look into further. The reading I've done (thanks to this thread) on ataxia and MSA C seems to be more serious than I'm experiencing, I think. Might be worth giving the helpline a ring. I appreciate all thoughts, and sorry for the string of information, but I thought no one had replied, as the thread had dropped right down my list!

I have a problem with tripping - I’ve had a number of falls downstairs and the last one caused a fracture and ligament damage to my right ankle. I have a neurological condition called Dystonia, which causes spasms and tremor in my leg. My foot twists and drags, which is what causes the falls.

I have Botox injections every 12 weeks, which eases the symptoms and makes it easier to walk. I also use a wheeled trolley case for work, which gives me a bit more stability.

I have the same problem. Did the round of cardiology, ENT and neurology and drew a blank. Eventually realized I'm probably autistic (on waiting list for formal assessment) and the general tripping and clumsiness is probably due to that.

do you wear socks?
asking because ot came up in a running group.
one of the reasons rinning socks are so tight is that they increase the awareness of the position of the foot.

but absolutely have it investigated.

also ask gp about investigation for ms.

This is all interesting food for thought. Thanks very much all. Yes, I wear socks. Have actually wondered if I'm on the autistic spectrum, but if I'm clumsy due to this, don't suppose there will be a lot that can be done?

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants as another clumsy autistic person, I can't say I've stopped being clumsy.

However I do wear more sensible shoes that I don't turn over my ankles in, which helped a lot.

And physio, which showed like many autistic people I am slightly hypermobile, helped improve my balance, support my ankles and build up my non-existent core strength - which is probably why you were better when you did yoga and worse now you don't.

Funnily enough @AnnaMagnani Anna, I was just thinking I do better in winter whilst wearing ankle boots. I do turn over on my ankles sometimes, but can't always relate it to a fall. Do you just wear boots/converse then? I gave up wearing anything that wasn't sensible years ago, but might have to up things into having my ankles. supported

I went to a podiatrist who did gait analysis who told me my arches collapse - my loose ligaments. He fitted me with insoles but I'll be honest, I don't wear them. He also gave me a sheet of which shoes to wear which were all beyond hideous😂

What I actually wear are trainers with arch support, so never Converse. And shoes which aren't entirely flat but have a small, up to 1 inch heel. Proper stable heels - no ballet flats, no Uggs and no high heels either.

Physio exercises involved spending a long time practising standing on a wobble board or on one leg.

As you can see, I used to fall over A LOT and had a lot of sprained ankles. The absolute worst, I was literally just standing up, went over on my ankle and tore a ligament. No fall involved at all, just me wobbling on my ankles.

Thanks. So small heel is better than flat then?

You would need your own advice - but the pre-printed sheet of hideous footwear I was given had no completely flat shoes and he was v much opposed to ballet flats as not giving enough support. So I think that was pretty standard advice.

It's been true for me as I am much happier in a very small stable heel than a flat shoe.

I just had to work on getting the right shoes that weren't a fashion disaster.

Thanks. And thanks to everyone else. Much appreciated