Got out of bed this morning with both feet solidly on the floor but took a hard fall backwards between the bed and dresser. It was quite unexpected; I didn't experience my usual "whoosh" sensation.
The dresser broke my fall to a certain extent so I was able to fall back but slightly to my left so I didn't hit my head, thankfully.
My daughter, Katy, heard my fall from downstairs and was there in a blink to help. Pretty sore now tho; a few impact points that took a hard hit.
Just wondering...I've noticed the term "spaghetti legs" on this site a few times but haven't read-up on it. My fall this morning is how I'd describe it using a phrase like I felt like I had spaghetti legs; they just seemed to buckle from under me.
Any input/advice on 'spaghetti legs'?
Judy J
Written by
JudyJ
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
8 Replies
•
Falling backwards is typical for PSP even when the neck is forward (antecollis - as in Parkinsons) and especially when neck is backwards (retrocollis - as with PSP - although not all PSP sufferers have this, in fact my wife has PSP with the neck forwards).
Having said that, falls with PSP are due to several things. Some describe their falls as "dizziness" or "weakness in legs - spaghettic legs", but many just don't know anything when they fall, and often cannot remember why. This is mainly due to the brain circuits from our brain cortex being disrupted by the damage in our midbrain/basal ganglia area (a PSP problem). We just fall! Then many have "freezing gait" where one foot moves and the other "sticks" (or both stick), and on attempting to move forward, we "trip". Then of course, falling can be due to the fact that PSP sufferers usually cannot look up or down and have other eyes problems that cause conditons where they can fall (e.g. tripping over low objects).
I don't know what walking aids you use, but please be careful when arising from bed or chairs etc because this may continue to happen. Apart from breaking arm bones, my wife broke her back last year (T12 vertebra fracture) after falling backwards onto her bottom. She was in a brace for 3 months. Now I am constantly with her when she transfers from bed/chair/toilet etc to a wheelchair (her walking has really stopped, and she can only shuffle a few steps and finds it hard to turn).
Take care, and make provisions for future falls so that you won't hurt yourself.
i too fall but fwds not backwards and onlyh know a split second b4 i go - nto due to dizziness nor spagheetti legs--
i just lsoe my balance and hten i fall - nearly always ot hte right and 4 times daily
i need ot think abotu it all 24 /7 and when i do nto htink of walkign takign large steps ,i also freeze or turnign i jus t fall
i wea rknee pads (usuallyuused for break dancing - i wish!)aroudn the clock and only take them off whilst in the shower ( if i rememeber to do that) otherwise i jus tfall mainly inside but cnan be outside
i disliek anhywhere wiht a lot of people especially supermarkets and nbusy streets as i just freeze
i do nhot carry things any more as that tends ot upset my balance as well
more is on my about me
lol JIll
We got a long handrail put in on the wall alongside mum's bed for her to hold onto when getting out of bed. We called it her ballet bar and she thought that quite amusing. The bar worked for a while but being older her hands were not as strong as they used to be and her grip weakened. I found with PSP the sooner you get things in place the sooner you get into the habit of using them and it keeps you independent for longer. But you may consider making sure someone is around when you are getting up just in case. It is sometimes a momentory drop in your blood pressure (common in PSP) which can also be helped by sitting for a few minutes first before rising from bed. Also by having your bed at a good height you are not having to pull on your knees too much when rising.
Falling is just one of the awful symptoms isn't it. My husband falls when he gets out of bed if I don't get round to him in time. During the day his head is down on his chest most of the time but when he gets out of bed and stands, his whole body is stiff and straight with his head upright ( like a soldier on guard at Buckingham Palace) and this is when he goes backwards. He has broken his bedside cabinet and I have to remember to slide our glass wardrobe doors to one side so he doesn't crash into them. Now I have pillows on the floor where he has landed before. He also has a handrail which he doesn't always remember to use. I've moved everything out that doesn't need to be in the room.
You may be at a point where you need someone close by when you are getting out of bed or out of a chair. Why risk a bad fall. Glad you are ok. I help my Sharyn up out of bed and onto her walker. After that she can walk to her chair or wherever. Just a thought.
Thank you, everyone, for your replies with suggestions, support, & concern. I'm still sore from that fall; a little like being in a car accident.
I'm afraid I'm at a new plateau in regression, and need more help than I've got. It deeply concerns me, as we just moved into this home 6 months ago, thinking one level living would solve much in terms of falling because our previous home had so many stairways. What has evolved over the past 6 months, is finding my falls are more frequent, my balance is worsening, and stairs don't matter.
I can't emphasize enough how much help I don't have. And, please understand, I'm not stating this in a 'poor me' attitude. It is just the result of a fractured immediate family from which I have no help; yes, I've asked, many times without results. It's been like this my whole life. Too many alcohol, drug, and mental health issues. It is what it is and won't change. In fact, I made a decision over the past few weeks to stop asking. It is unhealthy for me mentally and emotionally to keep seeking help from them when they don't want to give. It's a relief, actually.
And others in my world have busy lives as it usually is. My youngest will be coming home from college 5-17, but she does have a life and don't want to put her in the position of being my care-taker; she turns 21 May 18th. My oldest daughter lives with me but has special needs of her own; she has been shadowing me much more and really extending herself lately. She's 21, too. She turns 22 on May 30th. Irish Twins. But, I know she worries about me excessively and that's not fair, either.
This last fall, hard as it was, pun intended, did bring more clarity to my/our situation, although not in a positive way. I'm really scared. And for girls as well and what my PSP is doing to them. I've noticed when my daughter in college comes home for an infrequent visit, she appears a bit stunned for a while at my physical regression. Mentally, tho, I think I'm doing a bit better since my Doc added a second memory med, dozepile (sp?) with the Namenda I'd been taking.
I worry for them both if my condition is at a point, or close to a point, I need assisted living, which would displace both of them. Especially my oldest, Katy, who's father has never accepted her for her differences from the beginning and created a negative relationship with her; that's on him. Has refused counselling, so on and so forth. We just had a serious talk about my situation. As always, he put my concerns about uprooting the girls should I need to go into assisted living. He asked me, "Well, where will the girls live if that happens?" He and his wife just bought a new house and are moved in. Seems to me knowing what he's known, he would've considered making room for one and/or both if need be. It was one of those moments in which I felt extraordinarily frustrated and angry. Does anybody get this but just a few in my life? I think it's optional denial. How convenient for them. But it adds to my burdens.
I believe what I need to do next is get myself into the county's social service program ASAP. Have no excuse for not doing so yet but I haven't felt well and it takes energy I don't have; I know from experience with my daughter, it's a tedious, sometimes hairy mess. But I need to find out what services I'm eligible for in home. But with that is the great possibility I would have to get on Medicaid and give up my assets to get the services I need. I know, it's only money, and not that much, and with this illness and possible long-term duration, I'll end up on Medicaid anyway. It's just so much to think about.
My best friend, Connie, who I've referred to in prior posts is coming in town today thru Friday, thank God. She has my POA and is my health care manager on my health care directive. We've been friends for 30 years. She's my rock and my touchstone. I love her to pieces.
I've been good; I haven't been driving; too afraid to, anymore, and all the feedback I've gotten on this site about not driving has kept me in check. That was a hard one; a life changer. But my vision has gotten much worse and I needed the reality checks from friends on this site to reign me in and surrender. I thank you for that.
It will be good having her here. I missed my last neurology appointment because of an April snow storm, so she's taking me there tomorrow, as well as my 1st occupational therapy and physical therapy appointments this week; gives my cousin Bob a break from taking me here & there.
There are still things that need to be moved from the old house to this place, as renovations are almost done & will be on the market very soon. She's helping with that; physically, I'm just not capable.
She's also going to help me connect with the county's intake process; it'll just be nice having someone else to help cut thru that quagmire.
Also, we're going to do one very hard thing. While I'm cognitive and for the sake of being prudent, we're visiting a funeral home to gather info on a pre-paid funeral. This is just something I'm driven to do now, so it doesn't fall on my daughters, especially knowing they won't get much help from family. Plan on visiting 3. But it will be nice to have her there for the 1st one. Much creepier knowing I'm sick. These things should be done when well and younger as I talked about in a previous post. Lesson learned.
Oh, another very constructive thing I've done is arrange to meet a friend of mine this week. His name is Tom Vanleer.
I reached out to him because I really need a spiritual boost and can't think of a better person to receive that from. I'm a recovering Catholic; my experience growing up with it was very negative and harmful. I hope that doesn't offend anyone. But I absolutely believe in God and am a spiritual person. I have faith; beliving in what I cannot see.
Tom is a retired Baptist Minister. He's in his 80's and going strong. He worked for decades as a chaplain for the Minneapolis jail systems. He's an author of 2 books. And, for basketball fans, he's a chaplain for our national league team, the Timborwolves.
I met him when my youngest, Melissa, was just starting her senior year of high school. She and I knocked heads all of her 11th grade and needed serious intervention or I thought I'd lose her for sure.
So we got involved with a 6 month, weekly support group, of teenagers/parents and/or their custodians. Tom was their with one of his grandaughters. I found him to be humurous, touching, to-the-point, a perspective that defies anyone I've known, and wise, wise, wise. And not preachy, heaven/hell, fire & brimstone.
I think turning to my spirituality, refreshing it, renewing it, is key to moving forward under negative circumstances, and getting unstuck from letting PSP define me, which I think I've allowed to happen.
Under this aging-too-fast, breaking-down body & mind, there is still ME, a real person who still has hopes and wishes, a personality with qualities, ABOVE this disease. It will have it's way with my body and brain, but I refuse to let it steal my spirit.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Just want to say "take care"!! 
Falls
Falls 
Head protection for falls? 
Frequently falling face down
