Balance issues

[HOTRODS]

My husband has Cerebellum Ataxia. His balance is very poor but he pushes himself and you can see how he teeter tothers to maintain his balance. He falls if he leans to forward or slightly backward. I mentioned maybe wearing slippers in the house or putting carpet runners beside the bed because he falls during the night at times. What do you think. Any suggestions. Much appreciated.

[Veteran250]

Dear HOTRODS.

I have balance problems too, if your husband wears slippers around the house, I would recommend he uses slippers with a velcro fastening, so they can be as tight as possible, and not cause him to trip..... they are what I wear!

If you are having carpet runners on the bedroom floor, make sure they are secured to the floor, otherwise they will become a trip hazard!

Good luck. 😀

[HOTRODS in reply to Veteran250]

Thank you for your reply. I don't want to put runners down because I know they are a trip hazard . I wish there was a cure for this disease.

[Veteran250 in reply to HOTRODS]

So say we all my lovely, but sadly we have to live with what we have! 🤨

[Libra7]

Dear HOTRODS

Does your husband have any kind of walking aid? I have two three wheeled rollators - a light weight one to keep in the car and another one inside. I feel much safer with them than with a stick. I also keep a Zimmer frame by the bed in case I need to get up in the night as I can be very wobbly in the middle of the night. Any kind of rug or runner can be a trip hazard. Good luck!

[HOTRODS in reply to Libra7]

At this time he refuses to use aides. The day will come when he will have to.

[woody1404]

I too have problems of maintaining my balance & have to 'furniture walk' at home. My chiropodist (an ex-nurse) recommended bare feet rather than slippers as they can often be an additional trip-hazard. We are all different though!

[HOTRODS in reply to woody1404]

Thank you. I agree.

[Ginger12]

I agree with Libra7. I used 1 walking stick, then 2, then walkers (a rollator - 4 wheeled walker with seat & brakes for outside) & tri walker for indoors. I now have to use a wheelchair as I broke my leg badly & have lost confidence walking - I had an op & now have metal plates, rods & pins in leg, so I would always recommend safety as a priority. It's been awful & I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

As Veterean has said. ALWAYS make sure footwear of any description can be fastened so as to avoid tripping/falling.

I have heard weighted vests are good for posture stability but I haven't tried one.

Best of luck & keep smiling 😄

[Libra7 in reply to Ginger12]

I also heard that weighted vests were good and at great expense I purchased one from the States. I was impressed by the benefit some people on the web site seemed to enjoy. I’m sorry to say it was of no benefit to me what so ever!

[klazien in reply to Ginger12]

The same as you. From 1 walking stick to 2, than a rollator and now a wheelchair. A badly broken leg, an operation and a large pin put into the leg. The break was extremely painfull and now I am at home still recovering. Which is better than being in the hospital because nobody there had heard about ataxia and even though I don’t look blind, I almost am.

Hotrods husband should be careful with the risk of falling. It can happen so easily and with such terrible consequences.

Weights helped me some years ago but not anymore.

[Ginger12 in reply to klazien]

I broke my leg last August & was really glad to be home. The orthopaedic nurses & doctors do a brill job on bones but like you say, they don't understand Ataxia. I was even asked to hop using a zimmerframe by a physiotherapist! Yeah right lol!😳. OMG nearly blind - it must be horrendous.

I agree falling not only hurs your pride!

[FFNick]

I too use a zimmer upstairs as balance is a challenge. Downstairs I have a walker which folds and goes in a car. So use it indoors and out.

Do not use shoes indoors, have grippy sox.

[february]

I have three, 3-wheeled rollators, two inside my house (one on the main floor and one upstairs). I also have one in SUV (car), as well as a two-wheeled heavy duty one. I use the upstairs rollator if I need to get up at night, as I put it right next to my bed. I don't have any runners, as they can be a trip hazard, and my bedroom is already fully carpeted. As other's have said, make sure, if you have a runner, you get that tape so it's securely attached to the floor. I wear those socks with the grips on the bottom around the house, as I also have wood floors in some rooms. I've fallen many times over the years and broken bones, etc. Falling IS NOT my idea of good time...,ha! I had a total knee replacement last year and can no longer use a cane (stick), hence the rollator's! My best to you and your husband..., ;o)

[HOTRODS in reply to february]

That got February. My husband has fallen several times and broke bones and black and blue. I find when darkness comes and through the night he is most at risk. Hopefully he will realize that he will need a Walker one of these days. It's hard watching an independent man lose his independence and refuse to give in to aids.

[suzie44na]

Like ours have said a frame to hold on to would be good and I always leave a light on at night to show some light because my balance is worse in the dark too, best wishes.

Suzie

[HOTRODS in reply to suzie44na]

Yes Susie we leave night lights on at night.

[Hidden]

Any footwear needs to both have traction and be secured to the foot. Any rug should be taped well to the floor to keep it from getting kicked up and becoming a tripping hazard.

[february]

I have a 4-wheeled heavy-duty rollator NOT a 2-wheeled one! It would be awfully hard to use a rollator with only 2 wheels...,ha! I hope your husband will give-in to trying some aides, although I know the decision is difficult. Several years ago, I refused to start using a cane (stick) until I fell, severely injuring my back. I immediately started using one and have never looked back! Guess I figured better safe then sorry! ;o)

[HOTRODS in reply to february]

Thank you February

[ConfusedAtaxian]

Dear HOTRODS, I sleep with a pillow at my side to stop me from falling off the bed. It works for me. Best wishes.

[Amynah]

Hi

I have SCA1 - hav an indoor zimmer frame and use a 4 wheeled rollator outside - I also am not very fond of aids - I do Tai-chi walking and qigong and it helps me a lot (I can walk 5 metres without holding anything if I CONCENTRATE- find Don Fiori tai-chi and qigong - on utube - I do the utube videos 2ce a week and go to a tai-chi class once week. Good luck Amynah

[Litty]

We are all very individual so you need to find out what works for you.

For instance keeping slippers on would be a nightmare for me, and any laces (I have discovered these people do great slip-ons - Pavers). Weights help me.

Exercise as much as you can.

Some great tips - walkers are good though - I have 3 - 4 big wheels, good brakes essential. Try to explain to husband better than fall and break stuff (you end up in hospital!!)

Going in a wheelchair (for outings was hard for me) but you see much more and try to talk more x

[ww-wibblywobbly]

Hi hotrods,

as other people have suggested if wearing slippers make sure they are securely on feet.

I don't walk very well at all with barefeet, I have othopedic semelles in my shoes. They are made specifically to my requirements. I walk much better with them.

But in the house I nearly always have a stick, if not then I furniture walk. Outside I walk with one or two sticks and if the distance is more than 500 metres then I have a power assisted wheelchair.