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Falling for no apparent reason: Any ideas?
I'm 75, active, female, and constantly falling for seemingly no reason. I just fall! Three times already this week. In one fall, I split my ear and required 8 stitches. No dizziness, etc.
I need falling prevention classes in Seacoast NH. I am getting very worried that one of these falls will result in serious injury. Perhaps I need some kind of testing. Tomorrow, I'm going to an ENT doctor who was referred to me by a doctor at the Urgent Care Clinic who said my ear was infected. The ENT receptionist said maybe he'll refer me to an audiologist or optometrist to do balance, inner ear testing, etc. Does that sound about right to anybody who knows what I'm talking about. Remember, no lightheadedness or dizziness, etc. I take several medications for depression, anxiety, cholesterol, etc, but my mind does not feel foggy or cloudy.
Please help me find an appropriate doctor specializing in this issue. Or a suitable class or program. I am getting scared now. It happens too much. I only was really hurt once so far when I split my ear when I fell, but I know it can happen any time now and maybe disable me, or worse.
Please help me. I'll be here to see any posts all day today and am free to answer any questions you may have.
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When I saw a neurologist for repeated falls he diagnosed cerebellar ataxia. Being treated with immunosuppressants and am improving.
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1 ReactionI am very interested in replies you get. I also fall for no apparent reason. Well, except it's often outside and my toe catches on 'nothing'. Whatever it is that I trip on is NOTHING to most people. I've even fallen in an airport -walking on very smooth floors. How does that happen? I'm doing PT training, but it hasn't seemed to help yet. I have osteopenia, so it's a very dangerous position to be in. I haven't gotten to a neurologist yet. I was told to find one who specializes on balance. How does one fine a neurologist who specializes on balance? I'm in the south Austin area. Any ideas?
I think that the first thing that I would do, and have, is have a review of all the medication that you are on. Sometimes over time medication effects/side effects change. I would not go to an ENT...would head straight to neurology. If you have no symptoms ie unbalance, equilibrium being of dizziness and just fall.......ENT will not help! (that as been my experience). Then seek a large teaching facility to help with differential diagonoses with experienced team of physicians.
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3 ReactionsI have not been taking any medications. Thanks for your recommendation. Now, I just have to find that neurologist.
Thanks
M
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1 ReactionI had an inner ear virus..infection at 9 that lasted for over a month..looked drunk no balance. Start small and work up...only your primary is a holistic dr. Each only deals with his specialty..sad American health issue.
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1 ReactionJust wondered what happened? Falling is so dangerous!
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1 ReactionI have the same problem. Falling with new warning or tell. My ENT believes it is Meniers disease. I’m going for an MRI to ensure that it’s nothing more ominous. I have broken several bones. I have numerous scars and I’m bruised in almost every place, you can think (body attempts to instinctually protect you from a fall, even though you’re not realizing you’re falling. The last fall I had was getting on an airplane and I dropped right in front of the stewardess and the passengers behind, including my daughter,… I fell hard. I’ve read up on vestibular diseases, and I can’t find anything that does not state that you have vertigo or dizziness prior to the fall. Scary stuff.
I’m not a firm believer medication’s. I know they’re necessary if you need them for your heart, etc., but I don’t take any medication that would attribute to my falls and quite frankly it’s really scary not knowing if you’re going to fall and when it’s gonna happen. I stopped myself from driving when this first occurred approximately a year ago because I’m not gonna kill somebody else. Even though this has never happened while sitting.
Hey, I would also check out an ENT as well as the neurologist. It is very scary. I know I’ve had it. I have it. And I also fell just a couple weeks ago in the airport. at that time. I broke my little finger, scarred my left knee once again. I’ve already broken my nose several times before and almost permanently damaged my eye socket. It comes from nowhere there is no causative factor behind it. I’m in my 60s and I purposely made myself drink a lot to see if that would bring it on and no, I was fine. There is no rhyme or reason so far. Hope you get better.
Thanks for sharing. That’s something else I can review.