1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Vertigo and Dizziness

I Always Fall to the Left and Backwards simutaniously

Posted , 9 users are following.

bsloan1960
bsloan1960

Hi,

I'm brand new here. I'm looking either for answers or guidence.

I'm a 58 year old male. Approx 10 years ago, once per day. I started to go sideways and backwards- always to the left. I wouldn't fall, I was not dizzy, there is no warning. I'll be standing- and suddenly I go to the left and backwards. I have no change in conscience, etc- it just happens. So I step to my left so I don't fall.

As the years have gone by the frequency has increased- now its 3 or 4 x per day. At about year 2 I began to actually fall down once every 6 months- again... no dizziness or warning- just went left and back and down. This also happens when I stand from sitting. I now fall about once per month. Because I'm not dizzy and have no change in consience I'm able to break my fall with my hand, or twist my body mid-fall to avoid injury.

I went to a nuerologist and miserably failed the balance portion of the exam.... heal to toe walking standing on 1 foot, etc. I got an MRI to rule out M.S.... MRI came back fine.

This doesn't affect my driving, doesn't happen while sitting or leaning against something, only while standing or standing up.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • eleftherio33095
    eleftherio33095 bsloan1960

    Posted

    Do you have a diagnosis form the neurologist?  MS has been ruled out, and the MRI is normal.  But is there a differential diagnosis on a disorder that can present with a normal MRI?  Not all falling is MS.

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

    • bsloan1960
      bsloan1960 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      Hello Doctor,

      He did not offer a Dx but told me to return in 6 months- which I'm ashamed tro say I did not. Someone in a subsequent reply suggested a particulay syndrome, then went on to describe a feeling of walking on sponges, etc. I have zero abnormal sensations. If you were to watch someone walking- trip- then quickly correct.... that is basically what happens to me except my feet are stationary. I start to go- then correct myself- except in the occasional instances in which I actually do fall.

    • eleftherio33095
      eleftherio33095 bsloan1960

      Posted

      My suggestion is to return to your neurologist.  The symptom of falling backwards, without vertigo, is suggestive of a possible neurological problem.  The 6 months may have been necessary.  At least in neurology, time is a diagnostic test, and your neurologist will want to see if your symptoms have progressed or not.  If you do not receive any concrete news at the next visit, please let me know and I can make further suggestions.

      Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

      Clinical Neurophysiologist

      Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

  • marlene21102
    marlene21102 bsloan1960

    Posted

    Look at MdDS ,Mal de Dembarquement syndrome sounds like what I have hat your describing ,Im fine at driving ,not noticable . Go check it out . 
    • marlene21102
      marlene21102 simone_bev65236

      Posted

      Hi Simone MdDS it's like your on a boat rocking feeling  but your actually stood still  or your walking on thick piece of sponge ,or your on a trampoline . That's the 3 i describe the feeling to being . I've had it now 5 yrs this July . Have you had any whiplash ,or neck aches ? Many of us suffer from neck ache badly . 
  • Terry6872737
    Terry6872737 bsloan1960

    Posted

    Are you by chance taking a statin drug for chlosterol lowering?  A friend of mine had similar symptoms for 7 years.  Went to 3 Neurologists, ENT, GP and all were puzzled offering different diagnosis.  He was finally told that he had cerebellar ataxia by one of the Neurologist.  Went to a Neurotologist and he told him to stop the statin to see if that didn't alleviate the symptoms.  It had been the statin drug all along.

    Just a thought.

    • david_20324
      david_20324 Terry6872737

      Posted

      I have been on a statin for a number of years.  recently I worked out on a rowing machine and getting off it, fell backwords and soon after I was having my problem.  Also I have developed a stiff neck.  I am 81 ands have been physically fit and active all my life.
  • angiegirl
    angiegirl bsloan1960

    Posted

    I M 59 and you have mor or less discribed me. I don't have an answer for you I wish I did as I would be able to help both of us. I also am new to this site and I have been very interested in what people have to say and what they have tried. Stick with it and you might find something to try that you have not thought of but yes the condition rules yor life doesn't it. It's hard to make plans to do something.       It drives me crazy but my husband is very supportive. I have other conditions and I have wondered if they are connected. Do you have back or neurological problems ?

    sorry I'm not much help. Take care.

    • bsloan1960
      bsloan1960 angiegirl

      Posted

      Hi Angie,

      (hope this didn't post twice- I got an error message on my first try)

      Thank you for taking the time to reply. I do not have to be concerned about making plans. The episodes of starting to fall are easily corrected by changing the position of my left foot. Anyone watching me might think I had just been startled.... or had an off balance moment- but again I feel no sense of dizziness or any other feeling before, during, or after the episodes. So far the falls have happened only at home and at work. As I fall I am able to instantly assess my best chances for minimizing injury. For example- I start to fall one way then notice there is a laundry basket of clothes on the oposite side- I'm able to twist and fall, sitting into the basket. At work I twist myself and fall sitting on a watsebasket, etc.. I live in a small apartment so there tends to be items nearby I can fall on to avoid injury. The same is true of work. For some reason the falls never happen when I am out in the community- shopping, casino, etc. But I still do get the sideways tilt, which I said earlier is easily corrected by moving my left foot in the direction of the tilt. Why I don't fall down in public is a mystery- maybe the whole damn thing is in my imagination! I do have a couple of medical issues including a "bad back". I injured my back 10 years ago lifting a gallon of milk from my car- that's all it took. I took a week before the extreme pain went away and the first day one of my legs would not fully support me. MRI shows some disks are not exactly where they should be. Once a year I have a week long flare up that is so bad my wife must help dress me.

  • KellyH74
    KellyH74 bsloan1960

    Posted

    Have you been checked for Lupus?

    It's worth ruling that out

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.