Yes, falling is a valid fear. I fell "up" the stairs 2 weeks ago and took me 2 days in bed to recover. It was a short drop and I managed the fall in slow-motion so as not to SLAM any body parts... Im sure it must have looked comical... but there is nothing funny about it!

I can highly recommend Feldenkreis ATM therapy (Awareness Thru Movement). It can retrain your brain to it's 'new' center of gravity and slow you down enough to be aware of every muscle and it's role in: standing, sitting, walking, etc. Something I learned may help you now:

WE ARE MOVING WAY TOO FAST! (in an attempt to 'look' normal?)

She (the therapist) commented that she observed my "movements were too percussive", and said if I would move more fluidly and less 'jerkey' I would have a much better quality of life. Were I to move as slowly and as calmly as she insists, I'd be like Tim Conway's little old man character he did on The Carol Burnette Show... shuffling along going nowhere fast.

But it's where we need to be. I was told "if any movement hurts or causes the slightest discomfort - STOP". Improvement needs to be made on a near microscopic level - not measured by days passed or inches your arms can move or pounds lifted. You can try to push the envelope of pain, but you must stop with the slightest resistance. Eventually (I'm told) the brain will create new neural pathways and allow the body to move in less painful ways. Over the long term, this should cut down on the frequency and severity of our flare-ups.

I hope this will be helpful, if not, at least give you some hope to keep your chin up (figuratively speaking of course). [READ MORE]

Anne