[KajunButterfly]

Anyone else been told this? I've really been hurting in both my hips for about 2 months. Went to my PCP 2 weeks ago, he did some xrays and could see nothing out of the ordinary. Went to my neuro. last week for my yearly check up and he said it probably MS "gait" I'm like WTH is that? He said its from the way I walk trying to keep my balance and that puts pressure on my hips.Anyway,he is sending me to PT for balance therapy. I'm all for that IF it helps.Better than taking pain pills every day! Anyone have or had the problem and did PT help? Thanks Ya'll in advance

[gonnamakeit]

Originally Posted by KajunButterfly

Anyone else been told this? I've really been hurting in both my hips for about 2 months. Went to my PCP 2 weeks ago, he did some xrays and could see nothing out of the ordinary. Went to my neuro. last week for my yearly check up and he said it probably MS "gait" I'm like WTH is that? He said its from the way I walk trying to keep my balance and that puts pressure on my hips.Anyway,he is sending me to PT for balance therapy. I'm all for that IF it helps.Better than taking pain pills every day! Anyone have or had the problem and did PT help? Thanks Ya'll in advance

This gate looks a lot like the Frankenstein walk. I am sure some PT will help you learn to walk better.

Good luck.

gmi

[Kitty]

Yes, I have painful legs and knees because of my gait. I do the "zombie walk" first thing in the morning and when I get up from sitting for an extended period of time. After several steps I can resume a somewhat normal gait.....or more normal than the one I have upon first rising.

I tend to tense up when I walk in places unfamiliar to me because my balance is off. Especially outside areas and big stores. At home I can walk pretty well but I'm sure it's because it's familiar territory and, for the most part, flat.

[marion06095]

I guess there really is an MS gait. When I was in my late teens I dated a young man who broke up with me because I seemed to walk “very carefully,” and he didn’t want to get involved with someone who had a serious illness. This, of course, was decades before I was to be diagnosed. I simply told him that what he felt was an indication of disease was actually called “poise,” and that I couldn’t get involved with a man who didn’t know poise when he saw it. Actually, though, I think he flattered himself that we might get “involved.”

[Debbie D]

Ditto what Kitty said...zombie walk is mine also when getting up in the a.m. and after sitting awhile. Hope the PT helps...let us know...maybe we all need it

[Kitt]

Yes, I've seen the MS walk. We have a gal in town, for one, who has it. I am familiar with it as I and others with CMT have the CMT walk. Some people equate it to walking like Igor. (That's if they do not have AFO's, and such). I think it looks more like a young child learning to walk. How they have their arms out and try to balance and you know how they look. Only thing is that their muscles will become strong and they will walk normally. Mine will not no matter what. I will just get worse. (No AFO's yet but probably will sometime not too far off).

Uneven ground is horrible. I am much more comfortable on familiar ground. I use a cane, an arm, or a wall, a counter, or furniture a lot of the time now. Without those, I do walk like a young child learning to walk.

That gal with MS in town was just in a car accident and really did a number on her ankle and her heel. She has a compound fracture of the heel and has to have some pretty good surgery on it. I'm hoping she will get out of it O.K. She does shots in her thighs for her MS.

[KajunButterfly]

Thats the word I was searching for! Frankensein walk..guess I'll try PT. couldn't hurt( I hope).Thanks Ya'll for replies

[NurseNancy]

hi kajun.

my very first MS sx (symptom) was a slight limp in 1 leg. over time it got worse and worse til i could hardly tolerate walking. and, i was an RN at the time and worked 12 hr days in a hospital. i finally had to resign.

now i'm using a cane for my gait imbalance. it really helps to steady me and i walk much better with it than without, albeit slow as molasses.

everyone's sx's are so varied. and, we're all different.
PT may indeed help. ask them if they think you need a cane.
keep us posted, ok?

[SallyC]

Isn't there a dance named after us? "The Monster Mash". OK, I aged myself..LOL

[KajunButterfly]

too funny Sal..I used to love to dance. I can just see me in my minds eye doing the MonSter mash...LMBO.