Balance Issues

[davincidanes]

Is there absolutely anything that can be done to get your balance back?
I'm heart-broken because I can't run with my puppy to show him.  
Any exercises, meds, or supplements that may help?

I tried to show him this weekend and almost fell on my face and he
ran me into the rails.

:(   ~Linda

[SarahL2491]

When you get tired on the treadmill, get off and put puppy on; they can be trained to walk a treadmill very easily.  Its great for when its raining and they can't get the energy burn they need.

[davincidanes]

Thank you for the links, JJ.  Looks like I have my morning reading planned.   I really appreciate it.

~Linda

[supermum_ms]

I wouldn't want anyone to feel somehow a failure either!

It's unrealistic for anyone to have expectations that neuroplasticity, or any physical rehabilitation treatments will 100% fix everything....."Knowing the what, where, why's of a specific issue is most important, it alters what you do and what is a reasonable expectation for your personal situation."

Knowing "the brain compensates, creating new neural pathways by bypassing the damaged neurons and reforming new connections between intact neurons if it can." is providing hope to billions of people, hope that "if it can" their or their loved ones personal situation, can to some degree improve with targeted rehabilitation.....

MS specific Neuroplasticity articles worth reading:

http://www.medhelp.org/tags/health_page/7687/Multiple-Sclerosis/Neuroplasticity-and-MS?hp_id=424

http://drkarenlee.ca/rewiring-neurons-how-the-brain-copes-with-ms/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22986429

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/professionals/information/wayahead/articles/12042008_05.jsp

http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2015.00059/full

Cheers.............JJ
  

[davincidanes]

I understand, Ess, but I won't know unless I try, right?

If willpower and hard work doesn't help, then I will resign myself to yet another  loss to accept, but until then, I've got enough motivation to give it a shot.

Hugs,
~Linda

[essdipity]

Well ya know, all the exercise in the world won't help if the proper nerve signals just aren't getting through.

In some instances the nerves and muscles can do a bit of a workaround, so that close nerves and muscles manage to get the job done. That's the concept behind neuroplasticity. It's a sort of end run. Often though, dozens of PT sessions will not fix what's broken, no matter how hard we try. I simply cannot lift my right leg more than an inch, sometimes not even that, above my bed--I could exercise from now till doomsday and the outcome would be the same. Nothing wrong with the muscles, but if they never get a workout because their nerves never tell them to, eventually they will atrophy. At that point there *will* be something wrong with the muscles, but because of absent nerve stimulation.

Most balance issues are caused by faulty nerves within the brain itself. Not all, but most. In that case, I can't imagine what kind of exercise would help.

ess




I wouldn't want anyone to feel somehow a failure

[davincidanes]

Thank you Alex.  That is encouraging.  Did you do a full hour of exercises every day?  Or perhaps more like 3 times a week?  I already do yoga - have for years, but it's mostly floor positions. It's staying on my feet that is the problem - I tend to fall over.  One time I was in the grocery store and stooped down to look at something on the bottom shelf.  I tipped right over onto my side.  LOL  Thank goodness noone noticed.

[HVAC]

I took a class from the NMSS called Free From Falls. We did an hour of exercises to help with the fall risk. If I find my book I will send you some exercises.

My balance is off. I had to stop riding my bike. Horse back riding and yoga has helped me. I have vertigo, left side weakness and visual problems. Tai Chi is also good for balance.

Alex

[davincidanes]

To all of you, thank you so much!  I have heard of Neuroplasticity but have not connected the concept to these balance issues.
I am certainly going to try improving my balance by working hard with exercises.  I can't afford a physiotherapist but I have done a search for videos online of the subject and I think I can work out a daily home routine that may give positive results.  It may not, but I won't know unless I try.

I started doing some yesterday, and found that I'm much better on the hard floor than I am on the carpets, so I'll start there.

You all are amazing!
Thanks again,
~Linda

[aspen2]

JJ, that's exactly how my physiotherapist explained it.  I was incredibly skeptical -- I was falling over in the pool when I was assessed.  Last week I was able to do every balance exercise in the pool with my EYES CLOSED -- some jerking and sculling and quick saves, but I didn't fall once in 25 minutes.  I can't do uneven surfaces and that may not change, but I will take any improvement I can :).

The aquatherapy was much more helpful than land therapy.

[jensequitur]

Well, neuroplasticity sounds great, but if you have a lesion in your spine (like I do) you can end up with balance issues that will never go away. I hate it, but I have it checked every six months by the neurologist, and it's exactly the same as it always was. PT hasn't helped.

However, I've found that I can run on a treadmill if I hold on to the rails on both sides. I can reposition myself mid-run by yanking on the rails and pushing myself back in the center of the conveyor. That doesn't give you any help with the puppy, tho!

[supermum_ms]

Have you ever heard of Neuroplasticity (brain plasticity)?

I have enough direct personal experiences to believe......the brain compensates, creating new neural pathways by bypassing the damaged neurons and reforming new connections between intact neurons if it can.

Neuroplasticity is basically the theory behind just about every rehabilitation therapy, from stroke through to developmental disabilities, it's nothing new. The catch phrases 'use it or loose it', 'practise makes perfect' or 'never stop trying' are probably more widely known but they are 'generally' based on the principal. And just to be clear, like a sticking a smashed vase back together, once the damage is done, nothing can ever be what it once was......

I still drop when i close my eyes, i still fight falling over when ever the surface beneath my feet is wobbly, squishy or moves, I still loose my balance when walking, trip or have my leg collapse on me etc etc BUT even though it's not the same as before, i definitely do get back 'some' of what i loose.

In Autism you 'do it until' and you truly understand the repetition of the broken down steps, is actually creating building blocks working towards the bigger goal. It's all to do with Neuroplasticity, despite the more common but inaccurate belief of it being behavioural modification, though there is definitely some degree of behaviour aspects involved, it's minor in comparison to muscle memory and the reforming of new connections between intact neurons.

Sorry, I can't not mention Autism when i'm trying to explain Neuroplasticity, because of everything Autism related that i've been involved in for, gosh almost 30 years and have since 09, applied what i've learnt over the years to improving my own situation. Knowing the what, where, why's of a specific issue is most important, it alters what you do and what is a reasonable expectation for your personal situation.

I strongly believe you should when ever possible, utilise the guidance of a professional physiotherapist/occupational therapist etc before trying something at home on your own! I personally use my kitchen benches or the hallway to help with stability, I use ankle weights, a wobble board, walk my floorboards, balance on one leg (lol), modified yoga etc to specifically work on improving my balance. Ti-chi and aqua aerobics were highly recommended, there's too many issues for me but definitely worth considering.

Food for thought...........JJ    

  

    

[aspen2]

I saw an aquatherapist and have been doing balance exercises in the pool.  She was positive she could help me, and I am doing much better (in the pool for sure, and also a bit better on land).  Balance issues were part of my last relapse ... I am presently picking up the pieces/improving strength etc.  It's not always possible, but don't underestimate physiotherapy :).

[essdipity]

If MS is what's causing the balance problem (and there are certainly other causes--ear issues, etc.) then I'm afraid there are no remedies. I'd sure like to regain my own balance. Several years ago that largely was what was behind a fall on the stairs and fracture of all 3 ankle bones.

Here's hoping that for both of us this will remit on its own. Highly unlikely for me, though, after many years.

ess