Im 27 years old and I am a fall risk. 😝
ocarinakitty
Posts: 6 Member
Ok so I love to hike and enjoy my time most outdoors. However over the last 6 months I have been a frequent faller. I have fell enough times to send myself to the E.R had to see neurologist. On another occasion I injured my coccyx and had physical therepy. Recently had to see an osteopath for another fall. I can go on and on. My friends just call me clumsy now and we all laugh because I fall so much.. Now I cant even walk a side walk without falling. I know its winter now but any advice please? I was told by a doctor that I need to wear a helmet while hiking to prevent any more head damage. I know this is a silly topic just hope that I am not alone in this!! 😝 I am currently pain free and just want to be outside but cant afford another injury/be out of work. What to do!? Any footwear advice? or ways to posture myself so I can stop falling!!?
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Replies
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walking poles12
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Have you had your eyes checked? I used to fall alot and I needed glasses.7
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I would think the neurologist or physical therapist would have information as to the cause of your imbalance. You might want to consider seeing an Otologist, which is an ear specialist. Maybe you have inner ear problems that are causing vestibular/balance issues.11
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Not recently, I use glasses for driving but you have a good idea. Ill try them hiking and see if it helps. 😝
Walking poles is another great idea. I already have ski poles so I could use those!5 -
If I were you I would seek further tests, I would worry personally there was something underlying causing that to happen - could be an imbalance, inner ear issues, and that's just to mention a few possibilities.
I've just googled falls in young people - it actually seems its more the norm in 18-35 year olds! that's something I didn't know. But I also can say it never happened to me or any one I know so its not the norm?
Take care!2 -
Do you have a diagnosis why you fall so frequently? Medical problems, some medication, improper footwear, poor balance, bad eyesight, foot problems, ankle instability, ...?
Hard to give advice without knowing what is causing you to fall.
Of course everyone falls now and then. I have a nice new scar on my knee since last September, where I tripped over a root during a trail run in the mountains, something like that is kind of normal in my mind. But if you "I cant even walk a side walk without falling", it sounds like something wrong, and you should find out what, in addition to wearing a helmet.
It would be a shame if you can't go hiking anymore, so I wish you all the best!3 -
Since you've been checked out by so many doctors, I'll go with exercises for better balance. Look into yoga and balance exercises online. It's worth a shot.8
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Only diagnosis I have is poor depth perception but I have glasses. I have been to many doctors after my falls but doctors can only do so much. I think yoga is a great idea I need balence. I definetly cannot give up hiking I enjoy it and my 2 dogs need it.
Thank you All so many great ideas!!5 -
Do you get dizzy or just clumsy? Some medications can cause dizziness. You have to figure out why you fall to fix it!1
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ocarinakitty wrote: »Only diagnosis I have is poor depth perception but I have glasses. I have been to many doctors after my falls but doctors can only do so much. I think yoga is a great idea I need balence. I definetly cannot give up hiking I enjoy it and my 2 dogs need it.
Thank you All so many great ideas!!
I am the one who fell a lot before glasses in my thirties...if you have depth perception problems, that definitely will cause falls. I used to fall on perfectly flat surfaces too. I haven't fallen since glasses.
Which is good, because I'm old now and bones break easier. 3 -
I have motor coordination issues that are bad enough to be annoying and frustrating (in school, gym was my personal hell), but mild enough that calling them a disability would be a real stretch. What I've found is that my balance improves the more I do core-strengthening exercises. I can't tell you how much improvement is due to the specific core exercises like dead-bugs and planks, and how much to the stability ball I incorporate into other exercises that target other muscles, but the improvements are real.6
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Stop looking at your phone while walking. It might help with the falling thingy.10
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Tai chi is good for balance, which has been shown by research among the elderly. Even kind of bad Tai chi (i.e., not very knowledgeable instructors) is good for balance. (I know some of the people who taught in research studies. Enough said?
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ocarinakitty wrote: »Only diagnosis I have is poor depth perception but I have glasses. I have been to many doctors after my falls but doctors can only do so much. I think yoga is a great idea I need balence. I definetly cannot give up hiking I enjoy it and my 2 dogs need it.
Thank you All so many great ideas!!
Have your doctors, naimly a neurologist and/or ENT actually tried to diagnose you with anything or have they just been brushing it aside and blaming your depth perception. Presumably you wear glasses and your depth perception has been corrected via those (I also have poor depth perception without glasses). If you are effectively limited to the bounds of your house because of your balance issues this is really worth pushing on.2 -
I have balance issues because of my messed up ears. I get dizzy just standing up sometimes. So it might be worth having a check up from an ENT. A friend of mine had balance issues that came out of nowhere, and it ended up being due to cysts in her womb (I don't even know how that worked but I'm no doctor!). It really is worth persisting with tests.0
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I find my depth perception is worse with glasses and better with contact lenses - the peripheral focus seems to make me a bit wonky (particularly when I change glasses) so if you’re eligible for contacts it might be worth a try?
However I also agree it’s very strange to be falling so much (are you talking that you trip over things or misstep on curbs or you’re just walking normall and fall rather than trip) because if it’s the former depth perception makes sense as they’re extrinsic, if it’s the latter it’s more likely to be an intrinsic cause (inner ear, medication issue, blood pressure issue, etc) and really needs to be investigated0 -
Try ballet. It works your core, balance, and endurance. It also increases your range of motion which helps reduce injuries. Another benefit is learning to shift your weight and control muscles when you need to do a counter step.4
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yoga, pilates, etc is good for balance
if you are fall prone, i might get it looked into. i'm a clutz and absentminded but it could be something like an inner ear issue.2 -
ocarinakitty wrote: »Not recently, I use glasses for driving but you have a good idea. Ill try them hiking and see if it helps. 😝
Walking poles is another great idea. I already have ski poles so I could use those!
Get yourself a second pair (eyeglasses) for hiking. Something designed to be tough. Worst thing that can happen is you fall and break them.
Have they checked you for any inner ear disorder? Vitamin B12 deficiency? Low hemoglobin?0 -
so my depth perception sucks and i often walk into things. i've bee known to trip over sidewalks and fall upstairs. i was told recently i have a disc that rubs my sciatic and that can cause my right leg to give out sometimes. maybe it's something like that but i'd suggest as others have wearing your glasses.
i think some people are just more prone to clumsiness. i can be al grace and elegance on skates but i need body armour around my house.0 -
Are you now wearing a helmet? If not, why not? Doc wants to prevent a traumatic brain injury.
I’m a bit confused that you fall so often and so badly that doc wants you to wear a helmet but no other tests or diagnoses have been done.5 -
Are you now wearing a helmet? If not, why not? Doc wants to prevent a traumatic brain injury.
I’m a bit confused that you fall so often and so badly that doc wants you to wear a helmet but no other tests or diagnoses have been done.
Thank you for this. I'm really dismayed at the various flippant comments on this thread and the general tone in general. That anyone, let alone a 27 year old, is at such a risk of falling that a. they've fallen multiple times for an unknown reason (which is not normal for anyone at just about any age) and b. their doctor wants them to where a helmet so as to prevent essentially a TBI, is a major issue. No one here is qualified to diagnose the OP or really give any advice that isn't "get yourself to a specialist as soon as humanly possible and push for a diagnosis".
Let's remember, the OP can't walk a block without being at major risk of falling. If this were my friend and they were local to me, I would probably personally drive them to doctor.9 -
ocarinakitty wrote: »Ok so I love to hike and enjoy my time most outdoors. However over the last 6 months I have been a frequent faller. I have fell enough times to send myself to the E.R had to see neurologist. On another occasion I injured my coccyx and had physical therepy. Recently had to see an osteopath for another fall. I can go on and on. My friends just call me clumsy now and we all laugh because I fall so much.. Now I cant even walk a side walk without falling. I know its winter now but any advice please? I was told by a doctor that I need to wear a helmet while hiking to prevent any more head damage. I know this is a silly topic just hope that I am not alone in this!! 😝 I am currently pain free and just want to be outside but cant afford another injury/be out of work. What to do!? Any footwear advice? or ways to posture myself so I can stop falling!!?
OP wrote that she's seen a neurologist + other doctors. One doctor recommended a helmet "for hiking" not for sidewalks. Not saying that the OP shouldn't see other doctors, but that is her choice. There were many good replies and the OP can decide what's best.1 -
Reading the op post reminded me of punch drunk disorders and how some athletes will just fall to a jab. Its probably not that, but i would go and seek professional help if its happening often.0
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Try not to be so uptight. Stress is unhealthy. Maybe go for a walk or meditate.gallicinvasion wrote: »8 -
Try not to be so uptight. Stress is unhealthy. Maybe go for a walk or meditate.gallicinvasion wrote: »
Pointing out that something is rude does not equate to the person calling someone out being stressed or uptight. Good try though.4 -
Guys, quit bickering.ocarinakitty wrote: »Any footwear advice?
Yes, avoid shoes with a raised heel - which over 90% of shoes have - since they have less lateral stability than "zero heel" shoes. Converse are good, if you find them comfortable, because they have a thin, non-spongy sole (spongy running shoes have less lateral control). If you need tread for hiking, try a zero-drop trail running shoe with a low stack height. Whatever you get, a non-stretchy material is best, and tie the laces very tight. Turn off any music/podcasts and focus.
Walking lunges are great for balance, especially holding a dumbbell in 1 hand (nothing in the other hand).
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Hmmmm.0
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