Falling for no apparent reason: Any ideas?

Falling is really a shock, isn’t it? All of a sudden our dependable body isn’t as stable as it used to be. I’ve had that happen so I can really understand how this has you rattled. And being so young, this certainly isn’t a normal feeling. It’s good you’re seeking medical attention but obviously frustrating not to have answers. I have a bunch of questions to ask you.

Has your lifestyle changed prior to your falling episodes? Do you sit more and exercise less?
When you say you’re falling a lot, what are you doing at the time? Do you find yourself tripping on things because your feet don’t come off the ground high enough?
Do you feel unstable just walking around in general?
Do you feel dizzy at any point of your day?

I went though a period after an illness had me sidelined in bed for a great deal of time. My core strength deteriorated and affected my balance. I didn’t know this was the cause at the time. But as I regained my health and energy I was shocked to find I felt frail! I’d trip, lose my balance and often felt like falling. It was the most disconcerting feeling and isn’t always an age related issue.

My doctor recommended working with a physical therapist. That was the best thing!! She caught the issue within the first 5 minutes of evaluating me!

Ok, this is just an idea, not a diagnosis or treatment. But one simple way to test to see if you have balance issues.
Let’s try an experiment with your balance. Stand in front of a kitchen/bathroom counter or table. Hover your hands over the top so you know where the counter edge is for support but don’t hold onto it.
Now, close your eyes and stand there. Lift one foot off the floor just a little ways. Do you instantly feel like you’re going to tip over?
Switch feet and try again. That might reveal a great deal about your balance.
It was a wake up call for me! I’ve never had balance issues before but I instantly had to grab the rail in front of me when I was with the PT. I would have toppled over! Simple exercises corrected the problem in a week

When you were evaluated did any of the doctors check your balance?
You saw a ENT and no inner ear issues?

This started at the beginning of the year, around the same time I had this problem with my ears where this goo (I was told it was ear wax) poor out of my ears at night. I would change my shirt and cover my pillow case at least once a night. I had no major changes in my life except these things. I’ve been told they are totally unrelated to each other. Since then the ear thing has stopped although still sensitive to to sound, and I still fall. When I fall it’s hard skinning my knees or blacking my eyes.

I do not know how you will challenge the claim that the ear stuff and your dizziness are not related because they are integrally related and would be a primary first cause, in my opinion. The correlation between inner ear health and balance is irrefutable. Of course that may not be your issue. The mention of ear, flowing liquid pouring from the ear, etc. would tempt me to get a second opinion. Falling sucks! Be careful!

Oh what a frustrating and dangerous situation you are facing. You speak of skinned knees and black eyes - you could face even more injuries if it continues.
There are practices that are known as "Dizzy & Balance Centers" that work on diagnosing the reasons for dizziness and falling that have not been found in your normal care. The staff can include ENTs, neurologists, and Physical and Occupational Therapists. Perhaps you can find one in your area. They are often part of large multi-specialty practices.
For example, Mayo Clinic offers such care: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/balance-problems/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20350479
Sue

Great suggestion. I have been surprised by the number of practices devoted to aiding in balance and gait stability.

Do these practices have positive impact when the Dx is PSP (progressive supra nuclear palsy)?

You would need to contact them, or consult your neurologist for a referral to a specialized clinic.

I believe the palsy would, at the minimum, change an approach and, may lessen complete recovery, but I have learned these professionals are amazing in creative ways to work with the mind and body. I utilize you tube when checking out medical situations. Frequently universities and hospitals post seminars, physical therapy videos, how to’s…truly mind boggling. It is not a substitute for your doctor but is excellent for supplemental information. The “how to sleep” videos related to post total shoulder replacement were a godsend for me. I love that you are seeking. Many people do not seek.

Just watched a you tube video about Ataxia which my brother was just diagnosed. Falling, stomach issues tilted head…

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and saw a lot of similarities to my situation. Maybe this information might help some of you?

I fell twice this year, breaking a different wrist each time. Fortunately, the first one was just a hairline fracture and healed in time so I could still feed and dress myself when I fell and broke the other wrist in multiple places.

After that first fall, which was actually the fourth fall in as many years, my doctor sent me to a physical therapist who noticed some leg weaknesses, which we started to work on. We were still working on those when the second happened. We compared the falls. I was always walking fast, I turned to the right to look at something, and the next thing I knew, I was flat on my face on the ground. It was not a gentle drop to the ground. I didn't know I was falling until I saw the ground. I wasn't feeling dizzy before I fell. As far as I know, I wasn't losing consciousness, and that seems to be in line with the fact that I put my hands out automatically to break the fall. (If I was unconscious before the fall, I wouldn't be aware enough to put out my hands.)

After multiple tests, multiple doctors, a neurologist gave me a prescription for vestibular rehabilitation. He believed that my falls might be a result of Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction, but I couldn't get an appointment with a vestibular specialist for 5 months and maybe my physical therapist could do something in the meantime.

She did some screening tests that did show evidence of BHV and gave me some simple exercises to do. I saw her today and we discussed how it went. I mentioned that I was feeling minor motion sickness (head felt like it had a band around it, nausea) that evening and she explained that it made sense, that my balance system is off and the exercise challenged it.

This site explains some of the different vestibular disorders. If your doctors haven't figured out what's causing your falls and you notice some of these symptoms, maybe you could be asked to be referred to a physical therapist for evaluation?

Sorry. Forgot the link:
https://vestibular.org/article/what-is-vestibular/