I had EMG and nerve conduction studies on Friday confirming the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy.

Yesterday my husband and I went for a walk - down a path with uneven ground. I found that as I went down, I kept listing or falling towards the left and losing my balance and having to right myself with putting right foot down.

It also felt like my right leg just might have a mind of its own. This sounds weird but it felt like my body kind of thrust my leg out and I would like "over step" each step. I'm not sure I can describe it. Also when we went back up the hill - I felt like I was kind of leaning back and again, instead of just putting foot down with each step, it felt like I was raising foot higher than necessary and then sort of over stepping.

We got back into the car and drove a little farther to a great view point. I got out of the van and promptly started losing my balance and falling backwards. I tried to catch myself but could not. I fell on really hard ground and jammed my spine, I think. Impact and then a second later as I straightened up - severe pain in my back. After lying on the ground for a while, I was able to crawl to the van. I felt horrible - like I was going to pass out. Vision wasn't all there nor hearing but that was probably because I was trying to pass out. Finally got the seat maneuvered so I could lie back as far as possible. Happened to bring ibuprofen with and we had ice bags in the cooler for our lunch which I applied.

Still getting sharp pain in lower back, mostly on the right side.

But my biggest worry is that this is what my future will be like - falling. Apparently I stepped out into an old mud puddle and maybe one foot was in puddle and one not and my body could not compensate for that. I guess I'll have to learn to really be looking down when I walk, especially on uneven ground.