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.

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!

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.

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

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

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.

i have to be really careful too.
and ya know what gets me is the slightest incline or decline. i can feel it in a second. that's when i lumber.

i have nitelites in every room. my house isn't lit up but it's visible.

please be careful. you're right about doing the simplest things, that's when you'll trip up.