[Blessings2You]

Three close calls recently. Once I was getting up from the sofa when my leg/knee gave out, almost tumbled to the floor. A couple of days ago I was about three steps up from the bottom of the stairs when my toes dragged and I started to pitch forward. My arm is still a bit sore from catching myself; thank God I was holding tightly to the railing, not just touching it for balance. Another time, just turned too quickly and bounced off the furniture.

When I fall, it will probably be on a "good" day. On the not-so-good days, I'm acutely aware of weak limbs and shoddy balance. I go extra slowly and carefully, and I pay really close attention. One. Step. At. A. Time.

On the "good" days (relatively speaking, of course) I'm a little more careless. MS isn't right in my face, I get distracted, and first thing you know I'm going a little too fast, not parking my cane and feet down securely before I take a step, just not paying attention.

Some "good" day I'll be hurrying or daydreaming or whatever, and **FWAP**. Just hope "fwap" isn't accompanied by "crunch" or "snap".

[Kitty]

I know what you mean. I try to remember to take it slow and not get too far ahead of myself. I mean, what on earth am I in a hurry for anyway? My "disaster" will be cat related, I'm sure. Seems one of them is always running to get in front of me and then stop abruptly.

[lefthanded]

Originally Posted by Kitty

I know what you mean. I try to remember to take it slow and not get too far ahead of myself. I mean, what on earth am I in a hurry for anyway? My "disaster" will be cat related, I'm sure. Seems one of them is always running to get in front of me and then stop abruptly.

I guess they ALL to that, don't they! LOL! Our cat is famous for quick stops!

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by lefthanded

I guess they ALL to that, don't they! LOL! Our cat is famous for quick stops!

And I can't even get mad at them! They stop, flop over to one side, look up at me and then stretch out as long as they can make themselves go. Like "look at me!".

I did pull a muscle in my side pretty badly, though, trying to keep my balance and keep from stepping on/tripping over one of them.

I'll just have to be more careful because being without a cat just ain't gonna happen!

[Blessings2You]

Mine aren't too bad about screeching to a halt in front of my toes, but sometimes they try to race me downstairs, which is not a good thing. We could ALL lose.

[Mariel]

I fell down the stairs a year ago and broke my kneecap "on a good day". I was hastening to go to a dinner engagement with two close friends in Seattle.

People have advised me to get a cat. Maybe I should not, if they cause falls? I have tile floors and would rather not fall. I am always very careful now, but as you say, one can
always "forget". I am doing PT to improve my balance, and I have improved a lot, but I won't take it for granted!

[Kitty]

I envy those of you that can still maneuver stairs. Maybe it's because I hardly ever use them that I'm so bad on them! I have a terrible time walking up or down stairs. It's like I can't synchronize my legs to move in harmony with one another. I almost have to take one step at a time.....putting both feet on one step before taking another step. Needless to say, I avoid stairs like the plague. And I nearly panic when I have to use them.

[barb02]

Kelly I am the same when walking down steps. I am fine going up them, but have problems going down.

[SallyC]

I'm careful all the time because I don't have good walking days anymore. They're all crappy..

[Blessings2You]

Stairs: Going up I'm okay balance-wise, though I do almost always go one foot up, pull up the other, repeat. I lean forward like a football player running with the ball (don't they?). Besides MS balance issues, I have arthritis, so something usually hurts.

Going down is trickier. I feel as though I'm pitching forward, even when I'm not.

I'd really hate to be catless. Mine aren't given to rubbing around my ankles and truly getting in the way, but it's true that you don't know what you're going to get. I'm probably no more apt to trip over a cat than I am to trip over my own toes, but I still always ASSUME one will suddenly dart in front of me. I don't walk around in the semi-dark, either.