Falling forward

Posted by Rob @robseverson, Sep 21, 2017

I just walked my dog and had the same issue: falling forward. Sometimes it seem like I can't stop, have fallen once and came close several times. When I stop I start to fall forward too. I am in a balance therapy program but would like to know if others have experience this. I seem to list forward a lot. Just got a pacemaker but that didn't seem to help

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.

@hopeful33250

Hello@kybabs, I would like to add my welcome to you as you have just recently joined Mayo Clinic Connect.

I can certainly understand your concern over your husband's falls. I am glad to read that he will be seeing a doctor regarding this. Falls are a difficult problem as we get older and lead to surgeries for broken bones as well as time in rehab. It is important to try to get to the root cause of these falling spells.

You might try keeping a journal of his falls and record when they occur. For example, falls before mealtime might suggest a problem with blood sugar. Often problems upon rising can be attributed to blood pressure fluctuations. There are so many reasons for falls that it takes a good neurological exam to rule out the many possibilities.

If he has a neurologist, I would highly recommend that he make an appointment there as well. Neurologists can be very helpful in understanding balance and falling problems.

Will you post again with an update as to how your husband is doing?

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Great suggestions! Thanks

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@erikas

@kybabs Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I am glad that you are seeking medical attention. Your husband falls forward every time? Do you have a nurse line to call at your local hospital?

I'm concerned that this issue may need more immediate attention.

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Thanks Erika

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@hopeful33250

Hello, @nancydrain, I would like to join Erika, @erikas, in welcoming you to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I hope that you are able to find some support here for your problem with falls. Like Erika, I'm wondering what type of tests you have had and what type of specialists you have seen. Could you share that information? There are many different types of disorders that can cause this staggering/falling problem. For me, the diagnosis was Parkinson's. But there are other reasons as well.

Here is another Mayo Connect discussion group that discusses, Falling Forward. If you click on this link you can read what others have said about this problem.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/falling-forward/
If you are comfortable sharing more, can you share what other health problems you might have? In this way, we can connect you with other members who might be experiencing the same thing.

In the meantime, please read the discussion that I posted above and see what you may have in common with these members.

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Hi Erika and Teresa, No diagnosis yet. Having an MRI of the brain next week. Will report back.

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I have major problems with falling forward particularly when walking. I tend to walk uncontrollably faster and faster until I just fall face first ! I need help desperately!!

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Hello and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are a community of people living with a wide variety of conditions, who share our journeys and try to help one another along the way. We are not medical professionals, so cannot provide medical advice, but we can share our own experiences and try to give you some ideas.

Are you willing to share a little about any medical conditions and symptoms you have, other than the tendency to fall? Balance issues can be caused by many different conditions in ear, brain, muscles and nervous systems, so we would like to know a few details in order to help you. Also, how long has this problem been going on, have you consulted a doctor, had any tests, or received a diagnosis?

Thanks, we'll try to connect you with others who might help.
Sue

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@sueinmn

Hello and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are a community of people living with a wide variety of conditions, who share our journeys and try to help one another along the way. We are not medical professionals, so cannot provide medical advice, but we can share our own experiences and try to give you some ideas.

Are you willing to share a little about any medical conditions and symptoms you have, other than the tendency to fall? Balance issues can be caused by many different conditions in ear, brain, muscles and nervous systems, so we would like to know a few details in order to help you. Also, how long has this problem been going on, have you consulted a doctor, had any tests, or received a diagnosis?

Thanks, we'll try to connect you with others who might help.
Sue

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I WAS HAVING BALANCE PROBLEMS FOR AWHILE, ALWAYS FALLING OR TRIPPING. ITS BEEN BETTER FOR A MONTH OR SO. TODAY I WAS OUT WALKING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT LIKE I WAS GONNA FALL ON MY FACE. A BLACKBERRY VINE DID TRIP ME US SENDING ME RIGHT INTO THE BUSHES. I LANDED ON MY SIDE, RIB AND HIP. HAD TO GET HOME, ONLY A FEW BLOCK BUT THE WHOLE TIME I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA JUST TOPPLE RIGHT OVER. I GRABBED MY NEIGHBORS TRASHCAN SO I WOULDN'T FALL BUT DAMN NEAR
FELL RIGHT IN. LUCKILY IT WAS FULL UP. I HAVE SCOLIOSIS SO DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IT OR MY BIGGER
BOOBS HAVE MADE ME TOP HEAVY. I'VE LOST 15 LB SINCE JUNE AND WEIGHT 110, 5'3". ANY IDEAS? THANK YOU!

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I'VE HAD BALANCE PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE BUT A LITTLE BETTER THIS MONTH. I WENT OUT FOR MY WALK THIS MORNING AND ALL WAS WELL TIL I WAS JUST 1/2 MILE FROM HOME. I STARTED FEELING LIKE I MIGHT FALL ON MY FACE. A FEW BLOCKS\
LATER, A BLACKBERRY VINE TRIPPED ME UP, SENDING ME RIGHT INTO THE PRICKLY BUSHES. LANDED ON MY KNEE, HIP, CHEST AND HANDS, I GOT UP TO CONTINUE HOME BUT WAS REALLY HARD. I GOT TO MY NEIGHBORS AND HAD TO GRAB ON THEIR TRASHCAN. GOOD THING IT WAS FULL UP OR I WOULDA BEEN IN IT. I WASN'T DIZZY AT ALL. FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I'VE BEEN GOING ON 5 MILE A DAY WALKS FOR 3.5 YRS. I HAVE SCOLIOSIS. COULD THAT BE IT? OR MY BIG
BOOBS? I'VE LOST 15 LBS SINCE END OF JULY. I'M 5'3" AND 110 LB. MY BOOBS HAVEN'T SHRUNK UP. I'M 71 AND IN GOOD HEALTGH. THOUGHTS? THANK YOU! 🙂

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@debicat

I WAS HAVING BALANCE PROBLEMS FOR AWHILE, ALWAYS FALLING OR TRIPPING. ITS BEEN BETTER FOR A MONTH OR SO. TODAY I WAS OUT WALKING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT LIKE I WAS GONNA FALL ON MY FACE. A BLACKBERRY VINE DID TRIP ME US SENDING ME RIGHT INTO THE BUSHES. I LANDED ON MY SIDE, RIB AND HIP. HAD TO GET HOME, ONLY A FEW BLOCK BUT THE WHOLE TIME I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA JUST TOPPLE RIGHT OVER. I GRABBED MY NEIGHBORS TRASHCAN SO I WOULDN'T FALL BUT DAMN NEAR
FELL RIGHT IN. LUCKILY IT WAS FULL UP. I HAVE SCOLIOSIS SO DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IT OR MY BIGGER
BOOBS HAVE MADE ME TOP HEAVY. I'VE LOST 15 LB SINCE JUNE AND WEIGHT 110, 5'3". ANY IDEAS? THANK YOU!

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Hi debicat, unresolved balance issues, whether you are dizzy or not, can be dangerous, as you learned today. We are not medical professionals and don't give medical advice on Mayo Connect. We are merely other people living with a variety of conditions and diseases who share our journeys and try to help one another along the way.
If you repeated have the feeling you are going to fall, and now That it has actually happened, you need to see a doctor and find out what is causing the problem. If there is no identifiable cause, you can see a physical therapist to learn some exercises to help you with balance and strength.
Is there a reason for your recent weight loss, because that too can be an indication of a problem if it wasn't intentional.
Have youmcontactedmyour doctor about this?
Sue

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reply to @debicat and @sueinmn
If it's possible, try to find a physical therapist with experience in vestibular issues. Vestibular rehab therapy (VRT) was an entirely new concept 35 years ago and is still not part of basic training for PTs. Even if the reason for your balance issue isn't understood, there's nothing to stop you from working on better balance: the reason for the imbalance doesn't change what you need to do, which is to learn to use your third balance system, proprioception, the feeling you get from your feet, ankles, knees, etc. I've done some VRT every stinking day for nearly 40 years and have had a full and rewarding life instead of being held hostage by imbalance, an invalid. For starters, if you have poor balance, your back will hurt, from the effort of trying to maintain balance if your primary inner ear balance system has been affected. Since you're 71, it's very possible that your inner ear is simply not as efficient as it used to be. Believe me, with daily VRT (which is easy and can be incorporated into your daily life as part of normal everyday living), you will have more confidence and feel far better. You can practice some VRT while doing your daily walks! As you walk, think about what your feet are telling you about the surface you're walking across. You'll be surprised at how "smart" your feet are!

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Me too. What is this about? How do you stop

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