Balance issues and hearing loss

Mike, thanks for the further info on your Tai Chi experience. My current trainer has not heard of it, so I'll follow your suggestion to view it on YouTube first and see what I can do. Thanks again, Alice

I also find Tai Chi very helpful. My Tai Chi instructor takes a very gentle approach. He has learned from very eminent teachers in the US and China, and won National and International competitions. . Look at DCtaichi on UTube to see what it looks like. I hope you find a good instructor.

Wow! When I was 30 years younger I trained in Shorin Ryu karate. It looks like you're in Tai Chi martial arts training? Not for older students like me.

I’m 66. The Tai Chi I am taking is described by my teacher as internal or adult martial arts. It’s slow and gentle.

Just my speed. Sorry, I must have pulled up the wrong videos. I'm still older than you. 😎

Wow, I was so impressed by Joyces response and I love it when I learn something new. That being said, we all live in fear of falling, at least I know I do, and I have taken some epic falls myself. Of course they all hurt and you get up hoping nothing is broken, or that no one has seen you:-) or as in my case once I landed on the grass in front of the funeral home, having missed many piles of dog poop, which as I like to say, is "On the bright side":-) I do walk as much as I can to retain as much balance as possible, sometimes use a walking stick, and like someone else said no quick turns, fast ups and things we know are likely to make us dizzy and off balance. Know your surroundings as much as possible, hang on to a friend, but do keep moving. My husband is convinced I've perfected the tuck and roll method so I guess if we're going to fall it might be best to check out & learn the most non-injurious way. I wish you all the best. Some days my favorite colors are black, blue & green. hugs and love,peg

My hope is that anyone who works on VRT daily for at least a month will see a real improvement in balance and knowing where they are in space. I've almost never fallen, although I used to be afraid all of the time. Now, I'm only afraid of falling when I'm on a steep overlook or following a narrow trail carved out of the side of a steep hill--places where most people are at least uneasy. The one time I've fallen recently was at the warehouse where I load 300-500 loaves from bread trays into my totes and then load the totes into the van. I'm always tired by the time I finish, so I wasn't really thinking when I raised my foot to stomp on the plate at the bottom of the big overhead door to get it flush with the floor. Instead of stepping on the plate, I found myself on my back, feeling incredibly foolish, not hurt at all, except for my pride. Since Meniere's ramped up three months ago, I do have lots of bruises from thrashing into things as I walk around corners, so I'm definitely in Peg's color club of black, blue, and green!

Get a good pair of hiking sticks!! Be sure and get a pair of supplemental rubber tips to put on them so that you have better stability and traction. They have been life savers for me for the past two years. I haven’t fallen once. Use a fanny pack when going out to keep my hands free.

I have fallen several times in the last three years the last time breaking my wrist. I am still doing physical therapy for the wrist and also have a PT for my balance issues. I have to lower my expectations because I was hoping for a cure with the vestibular exercises. They help some and at least I feel like I am being proactive in my treatment. Lately I have had other health issues and find myself very discouraged. Too sick to do the balance exercises for a week and I really noticed a difference. You have to do these every day and for the rest of your life. I read the postings and am impressed with how positive everyone seems to be. There are too many days when I am not positive at all, just tired. Is anyone else dealing with depression over the changes in their life?

Yes, you need to do balance exercises EVERY DAY for the rest of your life. If you are feeling less balanced than usual, you need to increase the exercises. Once you've learned about proprioception, you can "exercise" by paying attention to what your feet tell you as you move about. That will lessen the amount of time you need to do actual exercises. I haven't done exercises very often for the past 20 years or more...after having done them daily for over a decade, BUT I think about how I'm moving, don't look at the surface in front of me except to determine whether or not there are any hazards, and walk in very low light or dark situations every day.

Depression! We probably all have it from time to time. I've really been fighting it, not because of my situation but because my husband absolutely refuses to do PT to lessen his pain and allow him to live normally, to enjoy all the outdoor activities we used to share. I never expected to spend the last years of my life trapped in the house, caring for him. Before she "fired" him for non-compliance (not doing anything between visits), his PT demonstrated how moving increases blood flow and lessens his pain. Still, he will not do anything but move from his recliner to the couch or his bed when he has pain. He refuses to leave the house unless he has an appt. If people come here, he says he's having "too much pain" to sit at the table or join them on our deck. He spends all day every day either in the recliner or on the couch. I *hate* eating off a plate on my lap! I miss after-meal chit-chat. If I leave to enjoy a walk on the beach, he's in trouble when I get home--although he's here alone for one day a week while I drive to the Portland area and hasn't ever had a problem. I know that he'll soon need to move to a care facility, which will use up everything we've saved. I've gained 20 pounds I definitely don't need by snacking when I'm depressed. Some days seem pretty hopeless

One way to fight depression is with a light box alarm that gradually turns on and then stays on full strength for at least a half hour. That really helps during winter! The gradual light, even though your eyes are closed, is natural and allows you to wake up feeling good. It also helps to sit facing the light box for a half hour after you're up. You can place it beside your computer monitor or on a table close to your face while reading. I don't need mine much during the summer, but it's time to start using it now as my room doesn't get light nearly as early as it did a couple of months ago.