I definitely think the cold makes the symptoms of ataxia worse I’ve just been out for a short time and my walking is much worse and what I can’t understand I seem a lot more dizzy and unstable I suppose you need to take age into consideration because I must be at least 40 but only for the walking ???
Hope you’re year is better than last year 😊
Yes, I find it more difficult to walk in the cold, especially as it dips below freezing! 🥶 Need to be extra extra careful if there is ice too, slow and steady wins the race!
🤣 At least 40….wait till you’re my age
When I’m cold outside..I seem to tense up and stiffen ..it has a knock-on effect with my balance and walking.
Cold temperature seems to effect my eyes too..vision is worse .
Hi, yes cold has an effect. I use compresion leggings and tops. They provide feedback, support and as a base layer help with keeping you warm. I'm 50. Avoid ICE at all costs.
I’m really glad you mentioned the fact lt effects your eyes as well as it effects mine as well but I didn’t think for one minute it was the cold 👍🏻.
yes, definitely walking and balance is worse when it’s cold.
I moved to Arizona for that reason!! 😜
Was that on the NHS 😂😂
I agree, the cold makes me walk worse, like those dolls that could walk!😂😂😂
Yes, I agree, really struggling this year especially.
I wonder if that’s why my walk is really bad at the moment even indoors!!!
Me also. Thank you for mentioning this.
yes me too I still sea swim with help and yesterday couldn’t get coordination to work at so after so will stop until it gets a bit warmer in Northern Ireland as scared my friends as well as me . Glad you mentioned it 💕
Yes the cold effects me too and as already been said, even indoors. Stiffness in legs, walking more wobbly than usual, balance really poor. Trying to keep warm helps and always wear hats and gloves when out. Base layers top and bottom also helps. We have a gas stove and when the cold really gets to me I hunker down in front of it under a blanket and warm up.So in the winter get colder and in the summer can't cool down. Just another symptom of ataxia! Hey ho!
I researched Barometric Pressure effects including weather, cold, moisture and altitude because I was feeling so bad during the last storm here. And YES there are negative effects from both high and low pressure changes! For me it’s the moisture and humidity that causes discomfort. I prefer dry air. The data is interesting.
The cold temp increases my symptoms, so I often use a blanket on my legs. I also find that I can no longer swim as the water pressure reduces my ability to move, which means I start sinking. I found out that getting cold in a pool causes my nerves to cease up so that I can't move at all. It was frightening when it happened but now means I can no longer go into a swimming pool.
Delfry do you mean your legs go "as stiff as a board" ? How long does this last? This is how i can feel with an autoimmune ataxia type. In fact the stiffness in my legs and pain from it was the main symptom that something was going wrong for me. Am asking because, have you heard of Stiff Person Syndrome. Has many things in common with ataxia. Have you antiamphiphysin antibodies, these are not GAD antibodies but I think they are on neuron cell membranes stopping nerve cells 'talking' to each other not in the synaptic gap. Sorry I am not medical so it is hard to explain for me. I have tested abnormal twice for these and once normal. I think that in SPS these antibodies can be very high but mine have only been low. I don’t want to worry you but neurologists are not very good at answering direct questions. Do some research, don't believe everything you read as can be quite scary. I have learnt over the years with ataxia to find out as much as I can and this area takes a lot of delving. Look up Ballant. A Prof not in the UK who has done research.It's hard, I used to swim a lot too, but now so frightened of slipping around the pool.
Best wishes.
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Penelope, in answer to your question, there are a few members of my family with the symptoms. Some further along the degenerative pathway. My neurologist strongly suspects SCA type 2 or type 3. I have a medical background myself, but will wait for the results of genetic tests before researching my specific type.
Yes very wise.Good luck
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walking and balance
Cerebella ataxia 
Cerebellum atrophy 
cerebellar ataxia
