[Sham]

This may sound crazy but I have never really liked escalators. Tonight though my oldest son had to hold me up. I think it is because I lock up my legs because I can not feel my feet, it was a really bad feeling. Anyone ever had this and used a cane? I wonder if that would give me a little more feeling of stability? I used the elevator to go down but it was extremely far away and decided to ride up the escalator to save time.

[ElaineD]

I don't like escalators.

Many malls that have stores with escalators will also have an elevator.

It is the sense of moving through space and balancing and then coordinating stepping off and on. too much for me to deal with.

the reason it is so difficult is that the messages to and from our brain that pass through our damaged nerves become mixed up.

My legs flash a message to my brain that I'm falling off a cliff, and by the time I even realize what is going on (NOT falling off a cliff, obviously) my body has jerked in reaction to the message (clearly wrong) it has gotten.

AND the adrenaline rush is exhausting.

My brain sees something I should step over or around, and sends the message to my feet and legs. BUT somewhere along the line my feet don't get that right message, and I get tangled up in stuff.

THAT, plus the odd staggering right and left, suddenly.

And of course just moving is exhausting since I have to use thigh muscles and pick up my feet, and watch that I don't trip by stubbing my toe on the smooth floor.

All of that is exhausting and I have to sit down right away and rest. Needless to say I don't do much shopping at malls!

It's a real treat, isn't it?

Hugs, Elaine

[Sham]

That makes sense. If I have to stand still I feel like I am falling. I like the ones who have normal stairs next to them.. Lol

Originally Posted by ElaineD

I don't like escalators.

Many malls that have stores with escalators will also have an elevator.

It is the sense of moving through space and balancing and then coordinating stepping off and on. too much for me to deal with.

the reason it is so difficult is that the messages to and from our brain that pass through our damaged nerves become mixed up.

My legs flash a message to my brain that I'm falling off a cliff, and by the time I even realize what is going on (NOT falling off a cliff, obviously) my body has jerked in reaction to the message (clearly wrong) it has gotten.

AND the adrenaline rush is exhausting.

My brain sees something I should step over or around, and sends the message to my feet and legs. BUT somewhere along the line my feet don't get that right message, and I get tangled up in stuff.

THAT, plus the odd staggering right and left, suddenly.

And of course just moving is exhausting since I have to use thigh muscles and pick up my feet, and watch that I don't trip by stubbing my toe on the smooth floor.

All of that is exhausting and I have to sit down right away and rest. Needless to say I don't do much shopping at malls!

It's a real treat, isn't it?

Hugs, Elaine

[Susanne C.]

I have always found escalators scary, since I was a child, but my balance has never been good. I use elevators when possible, or hold on to a family member in front of me. A cane helps. I very carefully calculate the stepping off.

[Wide-O]

Originally Posted by Susanne C.

I have always found escalators scary, since I was a child, but my balance has never been good

When I think back, even as a perfectly healthy child, I was not comfortable with them. Especially the coming off them bit. Of course, it was easy to correct back then, but it always felt weird. I'm wondering if size has something to do with it - I was growing so fast my muscles could not keep up.

Maybe it's because we don't do it often enough to have our brain get used to it? Moving in a car at 70mph isn't natural either, but somehow we get used to that after a while. Like Elaine says, it does send strange messages to our brain.

[ElaineD]

Even elevators are disconcerting. I always hold on to something when they start up, because a few will jolt a bit, either starting or stopping.

For me it is the STANDING UP, and moving through space that causes the problem. And uncertain movement.

Standing is already a serious difficulty for me....add moving and jolting, and stepping on or off while moving.....not good.

Hugs, Elaine

Oh,as a kid I LOVED escalators. I was a daredevil and very active. Climbing to the top of the tree, hanging by one knee from the top of the jungle gym. Yeah, back in the day.

Walking on the highest wall....climbing rock cliffs, jumping from the highest step.

Everything kids do.

[Kitt]

Originally Posted by Sham

This may sound crazy but I have never really liked escalators. Tonight though my oldest son had to hold me up. I think it is because I lock up my legs because I can not feel my feet, it was a really bad feeling. Anyone ever had this and used a cane? I wonder if that would give me a little more feeling of stability? I used the elevator to go down but it was extremely far away and decided to ride up the escalator to save time.

If you have said what you have been diagnosed with I have missed it. Could you share? Thank you.

[Hopeless]

Hi Wide-O

Yep, even as a healthy child, getting on and off of escalators presents challenges. I used to get panicky getting on and off but loved riding them.

I wanted to be an elevator operator when I was a very young child. I was amazed when I found out they got to ride an elevator all day and got PAID for the fun. By the time I was a teenager, elevator operators were a thing of the past. There went my childhood dream. Now I have a phobia about elevators. HATE being in an elevator now, so I go for the escalator and hope I get on and off without injury.

I do agree that escalators present a physical challenge but my phobia of elevators is even more of a challenge to me these days. I wonder how I went from wanting to ride elevators for a career to now being in fear of them. I guess all it took was a few bad experiences and the topper, ... having learned of a patient being wheeled into an elevator on a gurny in the hospital near my home get killed due to an elevator mishap.

[Sham]

Kitt,

I was originally diagnosed with autonomic and sensory neuropathy. The new neurologist doe not like that diagnosis and wants to do another nerve test, nerve biopsy, and spinal tap. I on the other Hand am not sure about that. Charcot Mrie Tooth is on the table as well. Diabetic, alcohol induced, HIV, and chemo induced neuropathy have all been ruled out.

QUOTE=Kitt;1041308]If you have said what you have been diagnosed with I have missed it. Could you share? Thank you.[/QUOTE]

[Sham]

I forgot to say they him hereditary but not sure from where.

Originally Posted by Sham

Kitt,

I was originally diagnosed with autonomic and sensory neuropathy. The new neurologist doe not like that diagnosis and wants to do another nerve test, nerve biopsy, and spinal tap. I on the other Hand am not sure about that. Charcot Mrie Tooth is on the table as well. Diabetic, alcohol induced, HIV, and chemo induced neuropathy have all been ruled out.

QUOTE=Kitt;1041308]If you have said what you have been diagnosed with I have missed it. Could you share? Thank you.

[/QUOTE]