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Walking on sidewalks.............

Posted , 3 users are following.

kathie37110
kathie37110

Short version - three years ago - vertigo - lots of falls - many doctors -  like most of you, no specific diagnosis - fast forward to now - seeing a chiropractor has helped more in three months than all of the other doctors for the past three years - I do pretty good with my walking when I am inside but when I go outside I have to either grab somebody's arm or use a walker - getting better, stronger, except when I am on a sidewalk - if in a parking lot I am not as bad, but as soon as I step on a sidewalk, I can't take more than a few steps.  Is it all the white?  Makes no sense.  Eye doctor says my vison is great.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • pacsac
    pacsac kathie37110

    Posted

    I hope you find relief soon. That's how I was I couldn't even take the dog for a walk once I actually sat down right on the side walk. Keep on trucking :-)
  • dee50000
    dee50000 kathie37110

    Posted

    My ENT doctor told me that alance is maintained by 3 systems - inner ears, feedback from sensors in your legs and feet to your brain, and vision. I know if I am in bright sunlight or anything that makes me squint, input from vision is reduced and I can't keep my balance; it's almost like my eyes are closed. Maybe you have an inner ear problem (vestibular nerve) and the reduced vision decreases your balance even more.

    I know when I was walking on a white sidewalk and had just had my eyes dialated for an eye exam, I couldn't walk hardly at all. (I've had a balance problem for over a year, and do worse at night or if I have to squint.)

    I am interested in what the chiropractor is doing and/or what he said was causing your dizziness. Please let me know! 'Might be worth a try. I am doing vestibular training on my own right now. Good luck!

    • kathie37110
      kathie37110 dee50000

      Posted

      Have been to so many doctors, many "ologists"  - the ENT comes up with nothing sad - the chiro said that she feels like my vertigo was due to me smacking my head about 11 years ago.  About three years ago I felt like I had a mini-stroke - but all tests indicated I had not.  I chalked it up to a bad virus, but after that I immediately got so weak I could hardly stand.  It has been a long three years for sure.  I have recently lost 35 pounds and started doing a walking program in my living room (my cable company, Comcast, has a Fitness channel and you can watch different programs On Demand) - so I do this 1 mile walking video in my living room, trying to build up strength.  The chiro said my hips and back were so out alignment for so long the muscles moved out of alignment to support them (many falls over the past three years) - now she has moved those bones back and my muscles seem to finally be following them back into place.  Never would have thought of a chiro except I was so desperate.
    • dee50000
      dee50000 kathie37110

      Posted

      Great you lost the weight! Funny, my sister has back and hip problems (no dizziness though) and just yesterday she said a chiropractor told her the exact same thing. He did a maneuver to "straighten out the pelvic forward tilt" and her hips feel better. My PT said I have misaligned hips and back (but spine is aligned(?)) but it comes with age and degeneration.

      Has anyone suggested that you have BPPV (loose crystals in your inner ear?). One cause of it is hitting your head! It may be as simple as someone (ENT or PT) doing the Epley maneuver a couple of times. I was a strange case, had loose crystals in all cana;s, both ears, so it took a while, but they finally got them back where I belong and I no longer have vertigo, but the dizzy/off-balance is not gone. Working on that though!

    • kathie37110
      kathie37110 dee50000

      Posted

      I did see the balance doctor - went through the ear crystals physical therapy two different times (I think 7-8 visits each time).  I think that I was already weak from the RA, and the "virus" that came along that I thought was a TIA, it has just taken me all of this time to get back to this point.  I also was on Methotrexate and Lyrica and weaned off of those.  I was weak as a dang kitten when I was taking that combo.  Now I just try to push through the pain, eat better and stay in motion.  Fortunately my office is awesome and I have had a lot of people lending me an arm and helping me carry things when needed so I have been able to stay in the midst of things instead of in seculsion at home.  My world has gotten so much smaller, socially, because of these problems.  I'm sure everyone here can relate.  Hope your sister continues to do good with her chiro.
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