I’ve had issues with my gait for a while, but I haven’t had such terrible problems at night walking around the house as I have lately ! It seems festination and feet sticking to the floor are combining to create a. Ridiculous, impossible, walking style, where I have to hold onto the furniture or sometimes crawl on the floor to get around! I have to really concentrate on walking differently to make it from point A to point B.
I discovered the trick of following lines on the floor (if there are any) which do seem to help, but I wondered if you guys had any suggestions.
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Oceanflow
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Try changing where you walk with the help of a trusted carer. I have similar issues when walking at home, but when my wife takes me to the nearby school which has a walking park, I have no issues. It's all in my head, I say, when I return home and immediately start struggling to walk😩
I am still conflicted as to whether I want to buy a walker for home, knowing that it's just a matter of the mind. Hope this helps.
My PWP went thru a period of lining up the joins in the tiles in footpaths and shopping centres - he used to follow the lines and he was okay - if someone broke his concentration he would be looking for me to help. He was okay at home but out in public he had issues. Thankfully it passed after about a year. I understand why you are finding it easier for you doing the same thing only at home at night - perhaps as was suggested by Gymsack having some lights on may solve it for you. The other suggestion that you may have too much Levodopa in your system at night - we have lengthened the time between doses from 3 hourly to 4.5 hourly and the last dose at 9.30pm - his first dose is at 8am and on thru the day - he has been much better and his gait and stature has been better. No two people are the same and we all mess with the meds until we find where we are happiest - so for you it may be it is your turn to "mess". Lots of luck and take care.
I wonder if you are having problems at home and not in the walking park because at home you are more confined and at the park you are not because of all that open space? My PWP has issues with doorways - he baulks and freezes when we are away from home in public places but not at home. Perhaps home is his comfort zone and he has only me to fight for space ( lol)
It may be that you can maintain a steady and rhythmic pace when you walk outside but not inside. Rhythmic cued walking (with music or a metronome) is often used in rehab settings to improve gait. It is probably probably why I have an easier time running on a treadmill, cued by the metronome-like sound of my regular footfall but can have more problems walking inside or outside with an irregular gait pattern.
I find that if there is lots of bright light I can keep my balance better. In the evening, not so good . I now leave on a few lights while I am sleeping.
Hi Oceanflow, the person you described so well is me wandering around the house in the dark at night looking for the bathroom hoping to hit the mark. It's festination my dear that attacks you especially in tight spaces when you're Off after 6/7 years of PD.
For what it is worth, the mantra I say to myself is: "walking correctly is more important than walking quickly". Sometimes I even exaggerate slowness. I concentrate on standing up straight and focus on moving each leg correctly one at a time. Also I believe daytime walking exercise is helpful.
it might be that your levodopa is building up over the day so by the end of the day you have too much in your system . You could try reducing your later doses after say 3pm.
I saw a video on YouTube of someone with Parkinson's who could barely walk, but was doing just fine when he imagined himself holding the loop on the tram. He then walked with one hand raised. Very special.
My brain likes non linear movement.so Ministry of silly walks is a go- to. Movements that allow me to move ahead are things like lifting my knee/knees very high to hit a target or kicking backwards to touch b something behind me before my foot goes forward….
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