Not holding on to their arm. When walking next to someone. Does it through off your balance. It seems when someone is walking next to me it through s off my whole balance. (more the usual) .Does this happen to anyone else?
Lori
Not holding on to their arm. When walking next to someone. Does it through off your balance. It seems when someone is walking next to me it through s off my whole balance. (more the usual) .Does this happen to anyone else?
Lori
Yes Lori - it's the same in narrow corridors too. I dont like too much space OR too little. Bumping into people next to me or coming towards me has always been problematic.. long before diagnosis.
Patsy x
Hi Lori - I've often wondered about this and dogs; it seems to me that dogs that are supposed to help you walk would knock you over.
Regarding walking next to someone, I move pretty much like a turtle when on legs and currently depend on a walking assistive device for balance whether using legs or seated, and I've found that comparing - my speed, my abilities, or whatever - can make me lose sight of what I am still able to do.
About a year or more ago, I attempted to do an underarm turn doing the rumba (dance) with my ex-boyfriend, and it became very apparent to me at that moment, besides being very humbling, that I was no longer able to do certain things without desparately grabbing on to things to make it happen...I'm just now realizing the whole paradox thing of letting go and mysteriously gaining other, very unexpected things.
I bet you weren't expecting that deep on an answer =)
For me it really depends on where they position themselves. I have one friend who stays really consistently just a smidge behind my left shoulder. She stays out of the main part of my visual field so I can still use my eyes to balance and also keeps her shoulder close enough that I can touch my elbow to hers when I start to slow down and sometimes that is enough touch sense to balance me so that I can keep up unassisted. Everyone else I typically need to hold onto their shirt sleeve to keep up. I call it "hitchhiking" ;) Holding unto an arm makes it worse because someone's arm moves too much when they walk for me to gain any balance at all and in fact holding onto an arm makes it worse for me. I'm the absolute fastest with my service dog because he doesn't block my vision (or what's left of it) at all and he never runs me into anything(husband does). My service dog moves WITH me and not against me so when we are "on" he is more like a really good dance partner that never steps on your toes and always is where you think they are going to be. I find human helpers are less reliable. ;)
This happens to me also, I think it may have something to do with peripheral vision? I don't like walking in crowns, a few years ago I was in New York City in April and it was 95° and it were millions of people walking all over the place it was crazy. Also I ride subways occasionally and if a subway car passes me by while I am walking I usually look away or stop until it passes, again I think it has something to do with vision, just an observation. I do an exercise where I look at to fixed objects and move my head side size with my feet slightly apart.
I think it has something to do with peripheral vision too Jack. Because I notice that when I am going fast in a car and my peripheral vision shuts off, I feel better and less dizzy and and less heavy and smarter. Same with running once I can get up there in speed and peripheral shuts off I can balance better. Just such a trick to do it!!!!
Julie
There is a person in our support group that has a service dog, I'm not sure what its capabilities are.
Jack
Julie A. said:
Hi Lori - I've often wondered about this and dogs; it seems to me that dogs that are supposed to help you walk would knock you over.
Regarding walking next to someone, I move pretty much like a turtle when on legs and currently depend on a walking assistive device for balance whether using legs or seated, and I've found that comparing - my speed, my abilities, or whatever - can make me lose sight of what I am still able to do.
About a year or more ago, I attempted to do an underarm turn doing the rumba (dance) with my ex-boyfriend, and it became very apparent to me at that moment, besides being very humbling, that I was no longer able to do certain things without desparately grabbing on to things to make it happen...I'm just now realizing the whole paradox thing of letting go and mysteriously gaining other, very unexpected things.
I bet you weren't expecting that deep on an answer =)
Sometimes it is a problem when someone walks next to an Ataxian. Since mine is severe, I don’t recommend it. I also think the walking has to do with peripheral vision. Other people around can cause walking problems.
I did a lot of vision therapy in and out of the hospital. I had some good luck with a neuro optometrist who made prism glasses for me. They also taught me a lot of eye exercises to speed up my tracking and improve my ability to fixate. Big help!!! :D I have abnormal VEP, and VOR, slow pursuits, and oscillopsia not to mention nystagmus and double vision. Btw Posit Science online also has a good downloadable vision program that you can do on your computer. I think it is called Vision Sharp. I figure the faster my eyes work the faster I will be able to walk and or run. I still find I have to look away from many things and when I get tired I still can't hold fixation but anything even a little improvement is great!
Jack said:
This happens to me also, I think it may have something to do with peripheral vision? I don't like walking in crowns, a few years ago I was in New York City in April and it was 95° and it were millions of people walking all over the place it was crazy. Also I ride subways occasionally and if a subway car passes me by while I am walking I usually look away or stop until it passes, again I think it has something to do with vision, just an observation. I do an exercise where I look at to fixed objects and move my head side size with my feet slightly apart.
@Julie, the letting go and gaining is a paradox. You have written this wonderfully. For me its also a mystery, how sometimes things seem to be timed so that everything fits and comes to a good end. Not with my own contribution.
Dear Dori,
for me its a problem when someone walks beside me when this draws my attention. Then i loose balance very quickly. The best is to look straight forward in front of me and concentrate on the area before me and on my steps. As soon as i turn my mind to another object or even inner objects disturbances are the result.
Hi Lori, Yes, this happens to me also. I totally agree with what Patsy said, "I don't like too much space or too little". I also agree with others as I believe it has something to do with peripheral vision. It's difficult for me to turn my head in either direction while trying to walk, even with my cane! My husband holds my left hand and I use my cane in my right hand. Then I feel quite secure. The only problem is he's not with me 24/7...,ha! When I'm on my own, those times can be problematic. I'm concentrating so heavily on walking and not falling! I fell recently (in my home) and have a hairline fracture of my pelvis (compliments of ataxia and lack of balance...,ha!). I think a bad fall messes with your head BIG TIME! Falling is not my idea of a good time...,ha! I'm just saying... ;o)
Wow everybody. Thanks for ALL your in put. I guess ALL of us do have A LOT in common. I can relate to all the things you go threw. Julie I understand the whole dance thing. I use to love to dance. I also do the shirt thing to like Bluberry does. I now believe a lot has to do with peripheral vision like, Jack, Blueberry, and Eric said. Patsy I hear you about the spaces. It seams its never right. lol. And Akita I'm going to try and focus on whats in front of me and not next to me.No Rose falling is not fun! It hurts! That is wonderful that you have your husbands hand to hold. I might have that some day. Ha, Ha. Hope your healing.
Thanks again everybody
Take care, Lori
Yes Lori, I'm healing and trying not to fall again! Thanks! ;o)
My husband and I used to like bird watching.Now he has to hold onto me in case I fall.
I don't go walking anymore.Too much hard work for whoever is supporting me.Leave doors open and lights on as it often means moving my head!!Whoops over I'd go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9he7Puj8dI
It s so long that i heard a bird singing. (This is only a conserve but it has the advantage that we need not disturb the bird once more) From Margarete
Hi Marie. yea I stopped taking walks to. For the same reasons.
Hi Lori. Yes this seems quite common. It seems worse when trying to walk somewhere with friends, rvrn when they offer an arm. Many of my friends are shorter than me and I really dont fee comfortsble, even e
with one on esch side! I think the trouble is the pace at which the teo/three of us perambulates is critical. I can walk faster,in a straight line for a short distance and then, eith no warning, I lurch. When I worked in a school I used to warn 'going that way' a nanosecond before I took off.
love and light
S-J
My friends virtually winch me over steps and they get puffed trying to stop me falling over.I feel so guilty.
Yea I know that feeling Marie. I even turned some friends away, because I didn't want the help. I know that's not a good thing. But there also not tiring to do things with me. I am sorry we feel this way! But life goes on!
Lori