Can anyone tell me if your loved one leans back or to the side inconsistently and if so how you are dealing with this?
Leaning: Can anyone tell me if your loved... - PSP Association
Leaning
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Boyce3600
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My husband leans back...at the wrong times quite frequently. I’m not sure if it’s what you are experiencing but if he tries to rise from a chair he straightens out his body with his head going back and legs forward. Just the opposite of the right way. I find I can help him (easiest for me) by just pushing his head down and forward and making sure his feet are soundly on the floor. When he obliged me it’s so easy. Otherwise I am pulling and tugging and doing my back in.
I think this has been going on for a year or more but “progressively” getting worse.
Just recently in addition to occasional sideways leans he seemed to get stuck in a forward lean. This is new. He was brushing his teeth and leaning way too far over the sink and couldn’t seem to correct himself.
Not sure this is helpful. Maybe others have similar stories.
and the diagnosis is PSP, if you don't mind my asking?
Oh yes. Got it April 2017 but I’d figured it out a year beforw.
Hiya. My husband has CBD and a definite right handed lean. Before he was diagnosed he started with a really peculiar gait where he bent his knees and leant backwards, resulting in lots of falls. He stopped leaning backwards for several years but has started again with 4 falls in December as when he leans backwards his zimmer frame lifts with him. The OTs have given me a brilliant belt to go round his middle with handles so when he is on the move I can walk behind him supporting him. Maybe you could ask them if you could have one issued too. Good luck. Love AliBee
Keeping Larry upright when helping him move is always an adventure. Leans backwards, mostly to the left if he doesn’t switch it to the right without any warning. It’s a good thing my reflexes are still good enough to deal with it. At some point they won’t be. Getting him out of the lift chair I have to tell him to spread his feet for balance every time he gets up.
Boyce3600 in reply to
interesting. I used to do the feet spread prompt but then I got to where I have him put them together or close to together. Let me rethink that approach. I am just so tired and have broken tendons in my hands from him pulling on me leaning backwards when I am trying to walk him to another room. Now I have done something to my right leg and will see dr tomorrow. I am scared because I want to help him. I have one caregiver who bathes morning and night gets him up and puts him to bed. tomorrow we are having our main living room painted and I am so stressed cause he will have to spend next 2 days in bedroom most of the time. thanks for your reply
in reply to Boyce3600
I’ve got wear and tear on my body as well. Am on a heating pad for my lower back daily. This disease takes its toll physically and emotionally on care givers as well.
AliBee1 in reply to
Dear Jeff. Please see my reply to bsilverman. The belt has been really beneficial. All the best AliBee
Dad leaned to the left even when seated. I'd tell him and he'd shift but when asked he thought he wasn't leaning. Really wasn't much to do about it other then watch he didn't fall over when standing.
Ron
My husband used to just lean (and fall) backwards, but lately has added a distinct list to the right. Yesterday it was particularly bad and he ended in a soft slide to the floor even though he had been holding on to my shoulders with both hands. When he went to the right, I lost my balance and was able to soften and slow his fall.
Each day is different, less or more balanced, but overall with a downward trend.
Boyce3600 in reply to
I can certainly relate. yes, each day is different but yet the same if you know what I mean. my hubby is taking thiamine injections and I keep hoping it will help the rigidity
My father always falls backwards and to the right. I walk behind him always
My husband when tired leans to the right even when seated. He doesn't notice he's doing it. He has CBD.
We found with Mum getting her to use a 4 wheeled walker in the house has helped with the backward lean, it has a bag on the front with heavy books and milk cartons full of water, so it is quite heavy and takes a bit of effort to push, this helps her keep her weight forward, so less backward tipping. Which is fine going forward but can be a bit tricky when reversing back to toilet or chair. Have also found recently she slumps to the left in her chair a lot which I think is fatigue, it's just too tiring to sit upright. Though on a few occasions she has carried this bend/stoop with her when she walks, which really throws balance off. Talked to Physio about it and he suggested trying to gently get her to stand / sit straighter or getting her to lie down to see if that helps the muscles relax and let her straighten out - haven't tried this yet.
Thank you . Is she able to use the walker without stand by assistance from you? I have to be with hubby for all he does and it is hands on he will not ---or hasn't so far-- wanted or cooperated to use a walker. this sounds like a good suggestion
No she can't mobilise on her own. I have to help her out of her chair and then support her round the waist as she walks, as well as assisting with steering (I could do with being an octopus as times). When she reverses I often put my hand on her back to try and keep her weight forward and particularly when she is going backwards I tell her which leg to move, her left leg is getting very naughty and not wanting to do what it's told.
my husband has cbd and prior to being diagnosed one of the first symptoms i noticed was that he had a slight shoulder drop on the right side which became more pronounced when tired - this leaning gradually became much lower and the result is that he is now permanently stooped forward and so far down that he puts his hands on his knees for support when walking
how does one receive a CBD diagnosis? tests, observation, symptoms, a combination?? thank you
My husband leans over to the left side when sitting in his wheelchair. If I tell him to sit straight up, he is surprised about my comment, but he can correct himself immediately . I assume that he no longer has a good feeling for his body posture. This will be a result of brain damage by the PSP. It is the same with walking; he places his feet too far apart and
often in the 'Charly Chaplin' mode as we call it. I have to tell him so, he doesn't feel he is walking like that. He is still able to correct himself if I tell him, I fear the day that he will not be able to do this anymoreI
When he was still able to walk, my husband (PSP) eventually got to the point that he wasn't able to tell what vertical was. He would argue that he was standing straight when I was holding him to keep him from falling to one side or the other. The only way he would believe me was if I would temporarily let go of him so he would start to fall to the side before I would catch him again. He would then try to stand straighter. This got worse over time and we eventually got a stand assist device in which he was safe and my back got a break!
What is the stand assist device ? My back is acting up too from pulling or pushing to keep mike straight.
Go to YouTube and look up the Sara Steady stand assist device.....(there are others, but that's the one I've heard of and seen in our local hospitals).... 
Anne G.
My mum leans to the left a lot. She is unable to walk at all but when she sits in her chair she can often lean over so far she almost falls out of the chair. We have just order a specialist chair specifically has back support to help keep her upright.
Mum also has leg problems again mainly on the left hand side in that it just sticks out and she cant put it back in place, so we have to lift it for her.
Hope you manage to find some solutions to assist.
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