Falling
 

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.

Do you know what kind of Peripheral Neuropathy you have? Thanks for your response.

Sounds like a balance disorder, could be something wrong with your inner ear, ear infection, or other. I think a neurologist would be a good start.

I only know that I have sensory peripheral neuropathy but with some motor symptoms but not consistent. Also I may have dysautonomic.

At this point, idiopathic.

Sounds familiar
 

The condition of foot drop will make you high step so as to raise your foot enough to walk. Can you flex your foot at the ankle so as to raise your toes? I don't understand much about it but I had foot drop after hyper-extending a knee one time.(All marble floors in Mexican hotels). You might do a search and see if it makes sense. An L-shaped appliance is worn to "scoop" up your toes as you walk. I don't think the balance issues come with it though.Good Luck, Ken in Texas. P.S. I had a time where if I stood up too quickly I would get dizzy and try to fall. Just one of the many things that pop up and then go away. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

No, I don't have foot drop. No trouble flexing foot.

Balance issues
 

Many here have balance issues and I think I remember that there is a condition with a name where a person has to hold on to something at all times. I had to touch a wall or something as I walked. Also a hole in the backyard was not negotiable, I would go down like a sack of hammers. Regaining balance is (as always) real slow. I felt like core excersices helped more than anything specifically targeted to balance. I had to go to using a walker as I fell on concrete and had to admit I was getting worse. In hindsight I was in an acute phase of Amyotrophy and I no longer use the walker. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.