[Kitty]

Does anyone else have hip and/or mid-section pain due to your gait?

My gait and balance has gotten worse over the past year. I stay in a tensed up condition when I'm walking because between putting one foot in front of the other and keeping my balance it's become an exhausting activity. As a result my mid-section feels like I've been doing situps and my hips ache.

If I have something to hold onto like a shopping cart I can do okay but otherwise I'm all over the place. My cane really does nothing to help but I tend to take it with me just so people won't automatically assume I've been drinking.

I have Baclofen but usually only take it at night when spasticity starts up in my left leg. It makes me even more unsteady so taking it throughout the day isn't something I want to do.

Anybody else have this problem?

[Erika]

Yes, and what has helped me the most is self massage of the abdominal wall. The massage is mostly applied to the muscle areas undert he ribs down to the navel; and is not deep. Even applying pressure and holding it for a minute in each spot under the ribs helps. After about 5 minutes, I can breathe more deeply and am standing straighter...not hunched over like I am looking for quarters on the street .

Laying on the back and using the hands (if they aren't numb), to pull one knee across the body toward the opposit shoulder also helps.
The whole routine takes about 10 minutes.

Hope that it works for you.
With love, Erika

[Debbie D]

Kitty..first of all
Second-can your doc prescribe physical therapy? It might help 1)loosen things up a bit and 2)give you awareness of how to adjust your gait to help reduce this problem.
Love you sweetie and I hope you get some relief

[SallyC]

(((((Kelly)))))

No, 'cuz I no walky, just pivot and shuffle.

Great suggestions above.

[Sparky10]

The only thing other than Ampyra that helps my walking is my chiropractor visits. My hip wasn't hurting, really - but I blamed it for the bad gait. After being xrayed I was happy to learn it wasn't my hip causing my bad gait and the effect of having one leg shorter than the other. It is the fact that my very lower spine is curved because that's how I have been lifting my weak leg for 12 years. Thought I'd been lifting it with my hip, but what lifts your hip? Your spine.

Kitty, I started using a cane partly for the same reason as you. When I started using a rollator in the yard I was amazed at how much less energy it took to walk. Way less effort!

Please consider a rollator for daily use in place of the cane. It might feel like a "step" you don't want to take but it is only a tool. And an energy-saving tool at that!