Unbalance when starting moving forward aga... - PSP Association

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Unbalance when starting moving forward again after stopping : One more symptom of PSP?

BluesHealer profile image
10 Replies

by middle of November 2020 I was diagnosed with a Parkinsonism suggestive of PSP . My only claim was “freezing of gait” only when rotating (no problem when walking forward).

Recently I noticed someting new: I feel myself unbalanced when restarting walking whenever after making a stop (no problem when getting out of a chair).

(I’m taking Sinemet and Amantadine. I also get cervical problems after a cervical surgery in 2015).

Kind regards. Keep safe.

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BluesHealer
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10 Replies

Hi JAPR, unbalance can be a sign of PSP & a variety of other health issues. Might l ask if you are using a cane or walker? If not please consider one or the other. Mom had PSP and her many falls were horrible. Be Safe! I myself use a cane or walker after suffering many falls. I named the walker my Chariot. Unfortunately they have not stopped all falls but there are fewer. Sending hugs... Granni B

BluesHealer profile image
BluesHealer in reply to

Hi Mottsie, thanks a lot for your kind reply. I’ve checked my blood pressure during a couple of hours, when standing up and during a 2 km walk (using a portable measuring device). I’ve concluded that as soon as I stand up there’s a big drop in my diastolic pressure, from 80 to 45 mmHG. It maintains like this during a long period and tends to increase and go back to normal as I keep walking.

Googling the internet I could find that this may be a situation called “Orthostatic Hypotension”, OH.

As far as I learned up to now, OH is a condition that may occur when we get older. BUT OH can be associated with some other conditions. Now I’m trying to find out if there’s a possible direct association with PSP.

I’m not using a cane or a walker, and I’m trying to avoid it for us long as I can, in order to not getting used, but I suspect that one of these days I will have to reconsider. During my last consultation, my Neurologist didn’t provide any explanation about this situation.

Kind regards. Keep safe.

Yes my loved one has this issue when she was able to walk. Her feet would get heavy and want to suction to the floor. Making turns where the worse for her. The neurologist recommended to stand and slow dance in place to rebalance the body go from left to right for about 15 minutes at a time. Good luck to you but be careful of falls.

BluesHealer profile image
BluesHealer in reply toStephanielayell82

Hi Stephanielayell82,Many thanks for you kind support and advice.

Keep safe

Drjazz profile image
Drjazz

I have trouble making right turns. My right leg is fine, but my left doesn't do what I want it to. It would rather go straight. It's better when I walk with a cane on the left side.

BluesHealer profile image
BluesHealer in reply toDrjazz

Hi, Drjazz.Many thanks for your advice. It seems exactly what happens with my left leg. I will follow your valuable recommendation.

Best wishes

easterncedar profile image
easterncedar

The blood pressure issues will do it, and so will PSP, exactly as you describe. We had really good results with a Parkinson's exercise program , LSVT Big, and some general PT. Any fall can really set you back, so using a cane or walker might be a good way to keep your mobility longer, rather than making you dependent, much as I sympathize with the thought.

BluesHealer profile image
BluesHealer in reply toeasterncedar

Many thanks for your kind support, easterncedar. I’m very interested in LSVT Big. I found the website of LSVT and I’m going to read all the information about the program. Best wishes.

easterncedar profile image
easterncedar in reply toBluesHealer

Good! I don’t know what is available where you are, but I was surprised to find therapists who were doing LSVT in the major medical centers here in Maine. There was real measurable improvement for a good while in his balance and walking , and we had fun with the exercises at home. ( I liked them, anyway. )

BluesHealer profile image
BluesHealer in reply toeasterncedar

Many thanks!

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