Frustrated

Hi all as the sun was out I thought I would Potter about in garden just weeding few pots sat at the table and was going well then got up and fell down 3 steps for no reason just down I went, just as well my son was there cause couldn't get back up. I know I'm really new to pmr but am getting really frustrated the simplest of things is hard work or I wont be doing on my own again

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Unfortunately Pred and PMR (or any chronic illness for that matter) can make it much more difficult to concentrate..even on the minor things.

I know it not quite the same, but when I lost sight in one eye with GCA, I found I really had to think about what I was doing, and be very deliberate in my actions.

Maybe if you think you are doing something new or in a new situation it might help. Doing the normal things in our normal situation (for example at home) sometimes make us switch on automatic pilot....and not be fully aware of what we are doing.

[Kendrew in reply to DorsetLady]

That's so true! It's reassuring to hear you say that.....I find for instance that if I'm navigating my way around my patio pots and not focused, I can easily lose my balance or miss my footing in a situation that previously wouldn't have posed any problem for me at all. It's like I'm far less aware of my surroundings and my natural instincts are lacking! I find I have to be far more mindful of the actions I take! Very frustrating though!

[LovetheRoses in reply to Kendrew]

Thanks for putting it into words - - I've been thinking that I was just getting a bit doddery 😄

[Kendrew in reply to LovetheRoses]

Maybe there's a bit of that too!! Haha!😄😄....hopefully not!

[123-go in reply to Kendrew]

I'm definitely becoming doddery 😏

[Joanbill13 in reply to LovetheRoses]

I was just going to write that! Glad there are others in the same boat

[Noosat in reply to Kendrew]

Have reduced to 1.5mg over 2plus years and my balance is still very poor. I have promised my children not to do certain chores in the house, but stll have to be careful becase it seems shoe/sandal can trip on even an imagined small obstacle

[Kendrew in reply to Noosat]

Ive started to do yoga for osteoporosis and balance work is an important part of it. It's definitely helping.

[Hidden]

I think I'm going to have remember and get used to the fact that even when I feel ok I need to still be very aware and cautious on everything I do. Thanks both

[herdysheep in reply to Hidden]

It's a bit like driving in heavy traffic - it is hard work. Concentration needed, but very wearing so build in the rest even for mental exertion.

[alvertta]

Very frustrating. The new normal

[dancersize2]

Back a few years and I had several stumbles and had to be very careful. Didn't connect it with PMR and pred but probably was. Has righted itself as I have reduced the dose. Problem now is I developed a corn under my heel and a sore mouth. Wouldn't it be good to have no aches and pains again. One day I hope.

[PuttyPenguin]

yeah, I've been the same. I am getting better now that I've reduced to 12.5 but I can still be very clumsy. I'm continuing with letting my husband drive me around...just in case.

[Pixix]

I’m never without bruises, mainly on my legs, and just used to it now! I fall into doorways, objects etc. I learned how to fall early on, without putting arms out to save but as soon as going down fold arms across chest! Last time I didn’t I broke a finger so badly I tore the tendon off the bone! I find I need cleared ‘paths’ more than anything. Nothing left on the stairs to navigate round and no carrier bags of stuff on floor on routes through house for example. I’m now finding a tendency to fall backwards I was trying so hard to go forwards up the stairs yesterday and balance was sending me backwards...so I asked David to fetch what I wanted! BUT a huge BUT I’ve done 14 hours of gardening in three days! I think pacing has an impact too and having a rest day of hobbies in the shade today! Glad to hear I’m not the only unbalanced (physically!) one around! As a kid Mum used to say I was accident prone and I do have a weak left side from a car crash and fibromyalgia, too, and osteo arthritis and inflammatory arthritis, carpal tunnel and a few other bits! With regards to stairs and steps I find slower than normal and focus hard helps, but we landscaped our garden without any. Hope you’re not hurting or injured, take care, S x

[Grannyasbo]

So sorry to hear you fell over yesterday. It’s a horrible feeling even without the scraps and bruises after. Once again I have nothing to add to the sound advice and words of wisdom about PMR shared by others as I am a rookie here. Just wanted to share that balance is like a muscle and that I have been doing balance exercises for a while now. For example: Always stand on one leg for a minute each while doing my teeth. And then I heard Micheal Mosley talk about it radio 4 in his just one thing series too. It may help. Wishing you a better sunny BH Monday.

[Rugger]

I'm sorry to read about your fall, but glad that you're not injured. I fell last year, after a morning's gardening. I went all my length in a split second and most of my weight went onto my right elbow and the shock broke my humerus up by my shoulder joint. It has taken almost a year to feel something like normal, for which I'm thankful, but I still wish it hadn't happened! It has made me extra careful this year, doing anything in the garden.

I'm strangely reassured to read the replies you've had, to know that it's not just me!

[Swdai]

I am also reassured about the fact I am not the only one falling over - the only problem is the last fall landed me six days in hospital after falling on my right hip and severely tearing the hamstrings ( almost off the hip bone ). It was extremely painful and put me in a wheelchair for four weeks . Fortunately two weeks before this I had a steroid injection in the other hip which has been causing me problems for the past nine months with bursitis and had been effective in relieving that hip - so at least I have one hip without pain —- for the moment . Whole experience has really left me quite anxious and more careful

Hope you soon feel better

[123-go]

Ooh! That split second between knowing you're falling and reaching the ground is awful! I hope you're not too bruised. What a good thing your son was there to help you. x

[singingloud]

My blurry eye sight causes me to catch my toes a lot. I walk like an old woman now but I don’t want to have a spill either. I’m glad you did not break anything. It is frustrating but stay safe. You will find new ways to accomplish what you love to do. Don’t give up.

[autumnlass]

I have said out loud OMG on reading all these replies to you about falls ... so horrible and so shocking. I’ve had so many broken bones as a result of falling in the last 25 years, I feel for you all. Recently I’ve noticed when I bend quite far over to empty stuff in compost bin or whatever, I’ve nearly nearly fallen on my head! 🙄 What’s that all about? Haven’t toppled so far, and hope I don’t succeed either! Happy Holidays Everyone. 😍

[MiloCollie]

I’m so sorry for your fall. Hope you mend quickly and get your confidence back. Best wishes xx

[Hidden]

Thanks for all yr replies even thou got scrapes and bruises,sore wrists and knee, my ankle and side of foot is the worse been swollen since I fell so went a and e today had x ray to much swelling to actually see properly so got to wait few days for swelling goes down then go and have another one, even thou I can move it ok due to being on pred and chance of bones breaking easily

[Karenjaninaz]

Karen,

When I was on a higher dose of prednisone my muscles became very weak. As a result I was rather dottery or clumsy. Another factor in my case is that I’m fused to the sacrum so my gait is not as flexible as the average person. As a result of that assorted gashes on my legs from: scraping against the corner of an open dishwasher door, brushing against a cardboard corner of a shoebox, in the store, resulted in a gash requiring sutures, gashing my leg in church from the foot of a raised kneeler and walking past a metal chair guessing my thigh. I am convinced that the weakness of our muscles resulting in awkwardness and slowness causes these things. Now that I’m on a lower dose I am making a concentrated effort to strengthen my muscles every day. I also had issues with breathing because even my breathing muscles became weak. I struggle against laziness in my case because it is so easy just sit back and then we just turn into jelly. The thin Pred skin tops it off.