balance help please?
 

I had a really bad fall yesterday. The pain started in my foot went up my ankle, into my knee & on up into my hip, I went down at such an angle that I got a carpet burn on my forehead as well as hitting my bad shoulder, elbow, hip & knee. Had a real bad day from it & still bad.

Does anyone have any suggestions as how to improve balance when in a really bad pain spasm? Normally I'm fairy stable (as good as you can be with RSD spreading through your leg) If anyone has found anything that has helped them could they let me know please. I seem to be having more & more falls, I know I like the place clean but these close up inspections of various parts of my home are really starting to get me down, thanks

cinders

Sorry to hear about your recent fall. If the RSD is spreading to one leg, you may want to consider a cane just to help stabilize you a little more.

I've had a walking stick but with the rsd in my hand/arm I can't manage to use it properly. I've been given an elbow crutch today but that's not looking like it's going to work either. I have a wheelchair to go any distances but I really don't want to have to use it for even short distances too. I'd like to stay as mobile as I can, from what I've read on various posts, it'd be better for me.

I started having balance issues last year when my RSD began to spread. Physical therapy seemed to help some and then since I have gone on the clonidine patches it seems like I have also gotten a little better. I am still unsteady though and I use a rollator (4 wheel walker) to get around. This has been great...especially since getting the strength back in my legs through all of the physical therapy. I don't have to push down as hard as I did in the beginning (which was awful for my RSD hands) but the two handles and wheels give me the extra stability I was looking for. I'm also able to walk with a normal stride and gait with the walker than I can without it. I'm less steady with a cane and I usually end up with a bad flare if I use the cane for more than just going up and down the stairs. I also like that with the walker I can set things on/in the seat and "carry" things this way. Between the walker, physical therapy, and clonidine patches I have found a way to be functional despite the balance issues. I have not had any bad falls in a long time now (though I did get a little cocky the other day and forgot to lock the wheels so when I leaned to get something I ended up with a scrape on my shin when I lost my balance and the walker just wheeled away...totally my fault though for being careless).

I am sorry about your fall. Have you or can you talk to your doctor about this? I would think what treatment helps the overall rsd would help the balance. Are you in PT or have you tried on your own pool therapy etc?
Feel better

Thanks for the advice Daniella, I have an appointment for the doctor tomorrow. Unfortunately the doctors here in the UK they have very little choice in medications. I'm hoping she will be able to help with something. I see my PT once a month (providing she doesn't cancel, I've only seen her twice in four months :mad:) They give you standard printed sheets, with exercises on, that apply whether your recovering from a broken leg or RSD......all the PT's are the same. She's probably the best there is in the south of England. My future son in law is more help than her. He's a physical trainer, he works with cancer rehab, MS & other people with medical problems.