Im 27 years old and I am a fall risk. 😝

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  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,400 Member
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    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.
  • makkimakki2018
    makkimakki2018 Posts: 414 Member
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    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.
  • gallicinvasion
    gallicinvasion Posts: 1,015 Member
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    BigGuy47 wrote: »
    Stop looking at your phone while walking. It might help with the falling thingy.

    You sure are making some assumptions, huh. This is rude and dismissive.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
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    BigGuy47 wrote: »
    gallicinvasion wrote: »
    BigGuy47 wrote: »
    Stop looking at your phone while walking. It might help with the falling thingy.

    You sure are making some assumptions, huh. This is rude and dismissive.
    Try not to be so uptight. Stress is unhealthy. Maybe go for a walk or meditate.

    Pointing out that something is rude does not equate to the person calling someone out being stressed or uptight. Good try though.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,210 Member
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    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). :+1:
  • kbmnurse1
    kbmnurse1 Posts: 316 Member
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    Hmmmm.
  • HermanLily
    HermanLily Posts: 217 Member
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    kbmnurse1 wrote: »
    Hmmmm.

    I know....concerning
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
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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!!

    Pilates is also excellent for core strength and balance. Walking poles will help you keep upright when walking and can also be used to extend the distance you walk or increase the speed. I am 63 and, having broken my wrist a couple of years ago, I feel very nervous of falling when walking in muddy conditions - most of the time November through to May in this part of the UK - poles are amazing for preventing slips - and can give me a reasonable upper body work out too ;)
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    OP MIA x 3 days
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 33,944 Member
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    Do we call SAR?
  • smolmaus
    smolmaus Posts: 442 Member
    edited December 2018
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    BigGuy47 wrote: »
    Try not to be so uptight. Stress is unhealthy. Maybe go for a walk or meditate.

    I genuinely almost said GFY outloud in work reading this lol.
    aokoye wrote: »
    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.

    I feel the same way tbh. Ballet? Pilates? Yoga? This not clumsiness, not from the way it's presented by the OP. I have ear issues and my balance is awful at the best of times but thinking of not being able to walk down the street without being a fall risk is terrifying. In an incident actually completely unrelated to my ear issues, I slipped on a wet floor, fractured my skull and spent a week in intensive care. I don't wish that recovery on anyone and some people don't recover. Not a risk to take lightly at all.

    IMO the only decent advice is "DOCTOR NOW PLEASE" and if that doesn't get a decent diagnosis "BETTER DOCTOR NOW PLEASE".

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