Hello everyone. Walking normally along a flat pavement, around midday last week, I suddenly lost my sense of direction. I couldn't right myself, lost control of my legs & fell backwards, crashing my head on the pavement. Blood everywhere. Ambulance called & I spent 30 hours in hospital. Head was stitched and I had every kind of test, including brain scan, but nothing specific found. As I had recently had a PMR flare, and a consequent doubling of Pred, I did wonder if that might have caused the loss of balance? Now, a week later, still feel faint and rapid pulse. All/any thoughts welcome.
Greenheath
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greenheath
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Oh dear. That sounds really scary and nasty. Pavements can just jump up sometimes. Hope you feel better soon. Falls can really knock the stuffing out of you. 🌻
Oh, Greenheath, what a shock to your system that must have been. I had several falls in the early days of high dose treatment and certainly put a couple of them down to loss of balance, although one was caused by a raised pavement edge. Prior to PMR/GCA/steroids, I'm sure I would simply have tripped and stayed upright, but my PMR legs/knees refused to react! I was blessed that at A&E the only problem was a fractured finger. Falling backwards on your head sounds so much worse. If it were me, I would definitely not ignore that feeling of faintness and rapid pulse that you are experiencing a week later. Do get that checked out, if only to reassure yourself that all is well and your body is still getting over the shock. Lots of good luck wishes and I hope you feel better on all counts very soon.
Thanks for your reply to my earlier mail. I've been on a reducing dose of Pred since 2013, when I was first diagnosed, without problems. I had reached a Pred dose of 4mg one day, 3mg the next. It seemed to be working well. Then... about six weeks ago, a flare! All my pains returned and my specialist put me on 10 mg per day. That worked (sort of), but still quite a lot of pain each morning on waking, until my daily dose of Pred (after breakfast) kicked in - which happened usually around lunchtime. My specialist then increased the dose to 15 mg per day. That seemed to work well, leaving me more or less pain free. Everything seemed fine.
And then, about a few days later, The Incident on the Pavement. It was a weird sensation. I had walked to the shops, bought a few things and was taking a gentle walk to see a friend who lives nearby. Suddenly, I could no longer walk in a straight line. Although I tried to steady myself, my legs wouldn't allow me to walk straight. Then the legs gave way and I fell on my back and cracked my head -- with a BANG. It hurt like hell, and I had to have three lots of stitches. The main point of impact is still pretty swollen.
I spent about 30 hours in hospital, and they gave me test after test, including the brain scan and cardiogram. I was kept in overnight and saw a number of consultants from different disciplines. They confirmed No TIA.
I left hospital with a form giving all the details, together with the word 'Unexplained'.
I've also visited my own GP, who has sent me for further blood tests.
As you may imagine, I'm taking it easy, but my confidence has been affected - especially as no-one seemed to be able to put a cause to the event. I'm as puzzled as they are -- and worried too.
I see my specialist next week and will see what he has to say.
There is a lady on the patient.info forum who has had a few similarly unexplained drop attacks - when they happen in public she is mortified because of course the emergency services are called.
i had a fall on coastal path in Menorca 6 months before PMR diagnosis..not a trip just poleaxed! Straight onto face and still have dent in my brow....ambulance, scans etc. I wondered if fall caused PMR or now possibly PMR caused the fall...very frightening
So sorry to hear this... sending healing thoughts!!!!!!
That must have been an awful shock greenheath! It will take a while to get over it. Do have the dizzy faint symptoms investigated, even if you have to really persist with your doctors. I feel more sure of my balance now that I am on 6-7 mgs. I remember not daring to stand on a chair etc. What is your current dose?
Horrible thing to happen to you. I too was unbalanced for a time, could trip over the patterns on a carpet, it does get better. Do get yourself checked out. All good wishes. 💐
Before I was diagnosed I had many falls, some fairly serious. Pred seemed to reduce that. But my balance still is very poor. I use a walker now. Still very stiff and often feel like I’m going to fall backwards. My dr says my PMR is in remission and has taken me off Pred. Seeing a neurologist this week because my primary and rheumy both think this is neuropathy. Meanwhile I just go downhill.
Morning G, You are not on your own. I have something similar though I `ve not actually fallen yet, but certainly suffer a sense of meandering balance when I`m out walking. Your situation sounds like an experience many of us suffer from, though, more extreme. I`m wondering if your`s isn`t a vascular issue to the brain ? After all, Poymyalgia is I`m told an issue with the blood around the body. Though I`m no expert on the matter.
Thank you Oldman-1. You hit the nail on the head when you called it 'meandering balance'. That's exactly what it was. I was weaving around and couldn't control my direction. Then my legs just gave way. A first for me - but possibly not the last. I'm back with the GP again today, so will discuss the vascular issue to the brain. Thanks again.
So sorry greenheath,this will have really shaken you up.l am feeling very unsteady on my feet today as l am just trying to recover from flu,it has really messed with my PMR. Ido hope that your visit to your specialist will help you and that you feel much better soon xx.
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