What have you done to improve balance?

Hi, Ray (@ray666)
Oh, yikes. Your friend didn't appreciate your desperation, didhe? Then again, this is pretty much the outcome that could elicit some comic relief, for a theatrical guy. Did you try to mask it over by saying, "I meant to do that!" -?
I'll bet, though, that it was a pretty horrifying experience. Glad you got through it without getting yourself into a REAL mess. 🤕 ~ Barb

Hi, @sueinmn -
Yikes! (yes, we do). My gardening episode was actually quite helpful. I was setting up to split my huge Peace Plant, lost my balance, and - you guessed it, split it in the process. Half of it lived and needs to be split again. I'm engaging the help of a friend this time - lol. ~ Barb

As you may recall, we live in a 55+ “Active” Community. A couple of months ago we had a social event of 200 folks at our clubhouse. A guy decided he was more comfortable leaning back in his chair, lost his balance and decided to grab his wife sitting next to him, and they both ended up on the floor. They weren’t hurt (though she was angry at him). Folks helped them up, they laughed it off, and the party continued. 5 minutes later, our club house was raided by 3 fire trucks, 2 ambulances, and 2 Sheriff deputies. (They’re all located 1/10th a mile from our community). It seems this couple both forgot to push that button. That’s how a lot of us learned about those things, and apparently they work!

In those precious few seconds you have while you’re falling, as your life is passing before your eyes, there’s not much chance to yell to Alexa or Siri to ask “What’s the best way to fall”?! A Tone & Balance class here tries to teach us in hopes it might flash in front of us if we must fall. One thing I know is to definitely avoid landing on your hip - that’s the hardest injury to recover from. I’m not a trainer so I don’t want to mislead… but I’m not sure about the soft landing on your knees either, though you may have known it was going to be very very soft. While embarrassing, grabbing the table was very smart to lessen the impact! We’re trained to let the wrist take the break if we must, but ouch, how do you aim for that in those fleeting few seconds!! I’m continuing with balance training to just downright stay upright because I don’t trust myself to fall correctly!

Hi, Barb

Honestly? It wasn't horrifying at all. Embarrassing, that's what it was. Never taken a ker-PLOP! in public before, it was my ego that was stung.

But, you see, that's me; it's the kind of guy I've been all of my life, forever grumping, "OK, stand back! If I need help, I'll ask for it." But will I (ask for it)? Nowadays, I will. It's something I had to learn in rehab: unable to get myself out of bed or to slip my feet into booties, I had no choice but to ask for help.

I'm sure many of us, when we'd been only recently diagnosed with PN, learned (because what other choice had we?) how to say the four simple words: "Can you help me?"

Have a wonderful day, Barb.

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

Good morning/afternoon, Ray (@ray666)!
Oh, golly, I can identify with that embarrassment. Once several years ago - probably 12 or so - I lost my balance exiting a Barnes & Noble at the day after Christmas sale. Complications of a thick winter coat and bag of goodies in hand and somehow I ended up on the pavement. I no sooner hit the cement than I was picked up by a couple on their way in. Both just lifted me under my arms as if I were a toddler - so quickly and efficiently, I had no time to ask for help. They took no time to ask if I wanted it!
Nowadays my mindset is to try to do everything by myself if possible because I live by myself and there's no one here to lend a hand. But boy, do I ever talk with God about helping me to not fall in the first place.
I find that people are totally ready and willing to help when they see my cane! It has become an appendage - a part of my persona - since my fall and surgeries. I should find a name for it. Suggestions, anyone?

Have a great day and week, Ray!
Blessings to you! ~ Barb

Hi, Barb

I don't talk to our cat (oh, well, yes, a little 🙂 ) but I watch him (I was about to say, I watch him "like a hawk," but that might frighten him)––I watch him for mobility tips. I watch how he stretches and moves, in the morning exercising every joint, his spine especially, I watch our cat go through this routine and think, "See that, Ray? You couldn't have a better coach than that!" I thought I might write a book: "My Coach: the Cat." (Just kidding!)

Ray

Hi, Debbie

It wouldn't do me any good to call out for Alexa or Siri. My phone (which I rarely carry) is a dumb phone. If I called out to it, I'd be surprised if I got so much as a "Huh?"

Ray

We have been in 2x week Senior Yoga classes for years, where we sit in chairs for half the session and stand for the remainder of positions (the chair is beside us and within reach if needed for balance). Every muscle and tendon is warmed up and then gently stretched as we perform positions that improves balance.
This year we have added a beginner Tai Chi class that is adding strength and flexibility which touts to prevent senior falls.
I am 80 and my husband turns 89 in September and adding these classes to our weekly schedule have helped us remain active and improve our balance! Even if we are moving slow one morning, we feel much better after our class… maybe even a little younger?!?

My feet are numb