MRI Update

[Liz62]

Got a letter from hospital regarding the MRI scan taken in December. It states the scan found a small change in my brain in the part that controls balance, went on to say that it is no worrying. But the ENT are asking neurology to have a look at the results of the scan. ENT then go on to say they will contact me in the near future, and I can contact them if I have any questions. I am sure that I do, but at the moment I am trying to process and understand, wondering.

On another note I am thinking surely this should show the DWP of how my balance or lack off, my stumbling, my staggering affect ALL my life on a daily basis from dressing, to cooking, to walking, when they next assess my new claim for PIP

Keep smiling. Hugs.

Liz xo

[Hidden]

Hi liz at last now u no what has been going on also make sure u get that letter down to the dwp I think that will help u case now,

Best wishes hope u now can get the best treatment now. Xx

[makemepainfree]

yes liz I agree with yogibe they do not make easy infact in fact they make you feel like a begger.I had total interagation for 1 and a half hours and the stress makes me feel worse if I could work I would had been for last 30years yet some people can get benefit all there life never work and they could system does not feel right

[Hidden]

Hi Liz. Possibly the the part of the brain you state as the balance part may be called the 'Cerebellum'. This is the part of the brain that controls balance and co-ordination. I have a rare form of a condition called 'Cerebellum Atrophy/Ataxia'. This is due to parts of my Cerebellum shrinking. I would suggest that you have a look at the 'Ataxia UK' site on the HealthUnlocked forum. You could also have a look at 'Ataxia UK's own web site. Click on this link ataxia.org.uk/what-causes-a...

[Liz62 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Ian I will take a look at the site you recommend. I was diagnosed in 2009 with bppv over the years I have found my balance to have gotten worse. Basically falling and staggering when standing still which is scary. Family are good as they always accompany me everywhere

[bootsie5]

I have vertigo ocasionaly will fall. The inner ear has crystals that become dislodged and move around. When they roll around it will cause a imbalance. I saw a ENT and he helped me.

[Liz62 in reply to bootsie5]

I have the Epley Manoeuvre done, to dislodge the crystals unfortunately it did not help in my case.

Did the give you a sheet to perform a manoeuvre at home.

Hugs Liz

[johnsmith]

PIP is not about how something affects you. It is about do you meet certain legally defined criteria. Do not write any letter to the DWP until you have seen an appropriate advisor who specialises in this area.

You need to see an optician to get your eyes checked. The eyes are used in balance and feed into the spinal reflexes for balance. You have maybe lost one balance mechanism, so you need to be able to make use of the other balance mechanisms. The eye balance mechanism is known to specialists and little considered by the medical doctors. You will need to investigate how it works for yourself.

Another point to consider is the use of the hands against walls, tables and chairs. It needs to be a tight touch. This is another balance mechanism. You will need to investigate how it works for yourself. I do not have the language to describe the ins and outs of this. Hence the need for experimentation.

You need to study your walking habits. There is a tendency to panic and freeze when balance is being lost. The freezing of movement cuts off the feedback of where you are in space which prevents the spinal reflexes from doing their job. When you start to lose balance endeavour not to stop moving. You have to experiment to find out what this means in practice and how it will improve the balance if you can keep moving.

Hope this has been helpful.

[Liz62 in reply to johnsmith]

I understand it is the signals from my brain to my feet as I walk. Crowded areas are bad for the balance. As in the home I furniture and wall walk, it has become instinctive when moving around the home. Stairs are a bit tricky I need the handrail and the opposite wall for ascending and defending. Shall be looking to install another set of handrails. Even the simplest task of bathing has its own difficulties. Shall be asking my own Gp whether a walking cane would help when going out, as at the moment I have to be accompanied so I have someone to hold onto. Today I found just turning around I was staggering.

I want to wait to hear what neurology say about my MRI scan

[johnsmith in reply to Liz62]

It is not as simple as this. You have various areas which produce differing signals.

There are signal delays because there is a speed of signal through the nerves which means that that it takes several milliseconds from decision taking to decision result. Not only this, the conscious becomes aware of deciding something several milliseconds after another part of the brain has decided it.

Crowed areas are bad for the balance. Can you be more specific. Is it the people moving preventing you from seeing the vertical lines on local buildings? Worth observing what happens when concentrating on the vertical lines of a building. Does it make a difference.

Walking cane has its own set of problems. You must experiment on getting the right size and right orientation. The GP cannot give you an answer here as the GP does not know. A walking cane can make your situation much worse. The head needs to be balanced vertically on top of the spine for good balance. If the head is off vertical your balance will be thrown out. A walking stick if you are not careful can develop the habit of hunching which will make your balance more problematic.

It can be very easy for the head to come off vertical. If the head is off vertical the ear balance mechanism is not working in the conditions it is designed for. Similarly the eye line to the horizontal is effected. With the eye line to the horizontal changed the balance input from the eyes is modified.

It may be worth having your posture checked by an Alexander Teacher. The slight improvements they can help make to the posture could make a lot of difference to your balance. All you can do is to do the experiment and seeing what happens.

Just things to start looking for. Neurology will give you a diagnosis they will not give you the information needed to manage the condition. To gain the skills to manage the condition you need to observe what you do under differing conditions.