I have a really bad balance problem

This has been very helpful. I have very poor balance and have fallen quite a few times. I never associated it to my Sjogren’s disease, my GCA/PMR, or my double vision. I will mention this to my rheumatologist on my next visit. I also have two replacement hips, shoulder, degeneration, torn, rotator cuff, and neck and lumbar pain. I wish there was a doctor that could see the whole body instead of having to go to many different doctors each with their own opinion.

@carlarosie
There are specialists for everything but no one who can evaluate our problems as a whole and connect the dots.
Every one of our bodily systems are interconnected so it’s sad that no one doctor can look at our problems as a whole to see how one issue affects or relates to another.

I have had PMR for a few years and am still working on getting off prednisone. I always thought that balance problems just came with older age. For the past several years I have been taking chair Yoga at the YMCA. It definitely works as my balance is good. It is on You Tube if it is not available locally. The answer to a lot of the problems is not a pill but exercise and diet.

I am 77 and I also was having balance so bad that I had to stop playing pickleball. After a few months it was getting worse and no exercises or pills helped. I finally was sent to a back specialist who said I needed to have a neck fusion on 4,5, and 6 to halt my unbalance or I might end up in a wheelchair within a year. It has been 6 months since the surgery and my balance is great.

@gsm1
Just curious how the necessity for neck fusion is related to your imbalance?
Very glad it helped your situation.

@caroljeand
According to my surgeon one of my nerves was being pinched that control’s balance so I had to have a fusion of C 4;5 and 6 to prevent it from getting worse. So far my balance has returned to normal.

@gsm1
Thank you…. good to know. My sister in law is having balance issues and she also has neck issues so wondering if it’s the same problem you had. I’ll make her aware of it.

@gsm1
I passed your experience on to my sister in law. She was very interested in knowing if you experienced any pain when it was determined the pinched nerve was causing your imbalance. She has limited range of motion but says she doesn’t have pain.
I’m sure she has disc compression so I’m wondering if her imbalance is due to the same reason.

I don’t know if I have a pinched nerve. That will take a visit to the doctor to be sure.
Nor

@caroljeand
I had no pain just balance issues.