Re: RE: Falling and feeling bad

[Guest guest]

Mike...If you don't already use a walker, it sounds like you're a prime

candidate. If you feel a bit intimidated by being seen using one, that will

pass in short order once you realize how using a walker can improve your

mobility and stability. My wife Flora experienced the samething when we got her

first one. However, it's become her best friend and goes everywhere that she

goes. It's also a huge relief for the family, knowing that she is steady on her

feet and can get around on her own. Consider renting on for a weekend so you

can get a feel for it. You might not be as lucky with the next fall. PLS

patients have enough going against them without the added burden of a broken hip

or shoulder. Give it some thought....Doug/St. sburg, FL

_______________________________________________________________________________

Subject: RE: Falling and feeling bad

From: <PLS-FRIENDS > at ~Internet

Date: 4/2/02 12:06 PM

Maggie and all,

I have fallen recently, also. No blood this time, but a lot of bruises

and soreness. I can hardly lift my left arm to put on or take off a

shirt or coat. I do yelp a little when I do this. It has taken me longer

to recover from this fall(s) than from one that brings blood. My upper

left arm is a pretty shade of purple and yellow currently. Where the arm

and body meet, there is a nice shade of yellow on the arm and upper

chest. My back is red, scratched, blue, purple and yellow. Seems those

colors are getting around. I do not feel like I am recovering very

quickly from this one and, to tell the truth, I'm a little scared to

walk around. But I know I must, just slowly and with caution. This is

the worst one I have had, even the one that hospitalized me and had me

lose 40% of the vision in my left eye. At least I was up and walking the

next day and going to see a neuro-opthamologist. I did not feel stiff or

uneasy about walking then.

I am beginning to feel better, though. All I have to do now is type up

some info for my accountant (doesn't that sound impressive?) and take it

to him and my taxes are done. Early for me and I'm glad it's over. Maybe

some of the tension will leave now and life can return to normal.

Take care all and hope you had a nice Easter!

Mike Gray

[Guest guest]

Doug,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I have been "walker-bound" since Feb

95. It didn't help. I stiffened and fell when startled. That's a first

for me - falling with the walker.

Mike

Brand wrote:

Mike...If you don't already use a walker,

it sounds like you're a prime

candidate. If you feel a bit intimidated by being seen using

one, that will

pass in short order once you realize how using a walker can improve

your

mobility and stability. My wife Flora experienced the samething

when we got her

first one. However, it's become her best friend and goes

everywhere that she

goes. It's also a huge relief for the family, knowing that

she is steady on her

feet and can get around on her own. Consider renting on for

a weekend so you

can get a feel for it. You might not be as lucky with the

next fall. PLS

patients have enough going against them without the added burden

of a broken hip

or shoulder. Give it some thought....Doug/St. sburg,

FL

_______________________________________________________________________________

Subject: RE: Falling and feeling bad

From: <PLS-FRIENDS > at ~Internet

Date: 4/2/02 12:06 PM

Maggie and all,

I have fallen recently, also. No blood this time, but a lot of bruises

and soreness. I can hardly lift my left arm to put on or take off

a

shirt or coat. I do yelp a little when I do this. It has taken

me longer

to recover from this fall(s) than from one that brings blood. My

upper

left arm is a pretty shade of purple and yellow currently. Where

the arm

and body meet, there is a nice shade of yellow on the arm and upper

chest. My back is red, scratched, blue, purple and yellow. Seems

those

colors are getting around. I do not feel like I am recovering very

quickly from this one and, to tell the truth, I'm a little scared

to

walk around. But I know I must, just slowly and with caution. This

is

the worst one I have had, even the one that hospitalized me and

had me

lose 40% of the vision in my left eye. At least I was up and walking

the

next day and going to see a neuro-opthamologist. I did not feel

stiff or

uneasy about walking then.

I am beginning to feel better, though. All I have to do now is type

up

some info for my accountant (doesn't that sound impressive?) and

take it

to him and my taxes are done. Early for me and I'm glad it's over.

Maybe

some of the tension will leave now and life can return to normal.

Take care all and hope you had a nice Easter!

Mike Gray

[Guest guest]

Mike, I am so sorry to hear about your fall. I too have fallen with my

walker. I lost my confidence in the four wheeled walkers and am now using

a walker with just two wheels in front (you know the really old ones). O

feel more secure for now. I thought I started a new trend decorating my

body with a new color scheme every time I fall. I was given a lecture by

my primary care physician about how important it was not to brake bones

of any kind and the next day by my therapist about the accumulative

effect of hitting my head so many times, blood or no blood. They want me

to stay in the wheel chair more! I am making my jazzy my friend

(something I have been fighting for two years). I can now vacuum, dust,

wash floors etc. in my chair. Going up stairs is something I still do

very carefully (stiffening up and falling sometimes). Every time I fall

it also takes a lot longer to recover. Taking Dilantin (100mg twice a

day) has really helped my startle reflexes. I know that I may be the only

one that takes it but it seams to help me. The neuro that had me try it

specializes in MND's and dose the Botox injections. The fear of falling

has taken over my life for now I hope I can regain some confidence. You

take care, B. Oregon

________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

I've saidit before butdon't be like me. After the 3rd broken hip I'm in a

wheelchair for good. Take heed use what ever keeps you going. It's no fun

when you have to depend on others for every thing.

RE: Falling and feeling bad

> From: <PLS-FRIENDS > at ~Internet

> Date: 4/2/02 12:06 PM

>

> Maggie and all,

>

> I have fallen recently, also. No blood this time, but a lot of bruises

> and soreness. I can hardly lift my left arm to put on or take off a

> shirt or coat. I do yelp a little when I do this. It has taken me longer

> to recover from this fall(s) than from one that brings blood. My upper

> left arm is a pretty shade of purple and yellow currently. Where the arm

> and body meet, there is a nice shade of yellow on the arm and upper

> chest. My back is red, scratched, blue, purple and yellow. Seems those

> colors are getting around. I do not feel like I am recovering very

> quickly from this one and, to tell the truth, I'm a little scared to

> walk around. But I know I must, just slowly and with caution. This is

> the worst one I have had, even the one that hospitalized me and had me

> lose 40% of the vision in my left eye. At least I was up and walking the

> next day and going to see a neuro-opthamologist. I did not feel stiff or

> uneasy about walking then.

>

> I am beginning to feel better, though. All I have to do now is type up

> some info for my accountant (doesn't that sound impressive?) and take it

> to him and my taxes are done. Early for me and I'm glad it's over. Maybe

> some of the tension will leave now and life can return to normal.

>

> Take care all and hope you had a nice Easter!

>

> Mike Gray

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mike,

I am sorry you had another fall. I suggest that you apply hot compress to

reduce pain.

I too progressively stiffen & am wary of walking after each fall. The

stiffening is maximum when I walk around the spots (inside my home) at which

I fell earlier!

Take care.

Jagan

[Guest guest]

don't give up on the walker. I feel that the reason why some

people are falling with the walker's is because they are not buying

quality. I have a heavy duty walker that cost me almost $400,00,and

some of the walker's costing $200.00 or less are in my opinion just

junk. They are to light, and cause the fall because they are so light

and don't give you the correct support needed when you trip or what ever

the reason that initiates the fall. My walker has saved me so many

times I can't begin to count, it just holds me up (and I ain't no light

weight). So when your ready to buy a walker, got goodness sakes buy a

GOOD ONE!

Rita

Luv & Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.

[Guest guest]

Jagan,

I went to work today and was able to walk by both spots without feeling

any tension. That felt good. I do certainly not want to worry about falling

again, so I won't. It is inevitable that it will happen, though, but I

am not going to dwell on it. I am still sore and bruised, but can put my

shirt, sweater or coat on without too much pain currently. I must be repairing.

Thanks for your concern and advice about the hot compress. I used ice

initially to reduce the swelling. That helped.

Mike

cjagan@... wrote:

Mike,

I am sorry you had another fall. I suggest that you apply hot compress

to

reduce pain.

I too progressively stiffen & am wary of walking after each

fall. The

stiffening is maximum when I walk around the spots (inside my home)

at which

I fell earlier!

Take care.

Jagan

[Guest guest]

Maggie,

Thanks for your concern. I would really like to get back to where I

was about 9 Falls ago. But then I would just have to go through all this

again and would still have trouble finding you guys. So I guess I'll let

my body repair itself and go on from here. This way I already have you

and don't have to look.

Oh, about the colors: They are even more colorful today. I am able to

walk with my walker if I take it slowly and don't try to keep up with the

snails. I think if I were riding on a turtle's back I would be yelling,

"Wheeeeeeeeee!"

Mike

maggie_s_2002 wrote:

Hi Mike, I hope by today you are feeling

alot less painful

and 'colorful'.

I'm really sorry that you've taken another fall. and as you

said,

this time wasn't even as bad as previous falls, but harder to come

back from.

I guess this is a sign telling us that this disease is progressing

and that we need to slow down and take care even more that we do

now.

take very good care of yourself and allow yourself all the time

you

need to heal and get back to where you were before this fall.

maggie

[Guest guest]

Rita, I haven't given up on walkers just taking a rest. I have a Nova

walker with a seat and a basket but it is too big and heavy to get in and

out of the car by myself. I have it upstairs because my laundry room is

up stairs and I use it to carry things from room to room. I have a three

wheeled walker that is light weight but it is the one that runs away from

me, I fall and it ends up on top of me. I fell backwards again on Sunday

and hit my head on a small heater in my room. So much for the heater it

is now in pieces and there is another whole in the wall to fix and more

bumps on my head. I am taking all of my vitamins again and am feeling

better.

My daughter and I went to Disneyland, Knots Berry Farm, Sea World and to

see and her husband. I guess I have been a little

tired. I stayed in my wheel chair for 6 days and my legs got weak.

I want everyone to know that the very best part of our vacation (my

daughter thought so too) was being invited to dinner and conversation (

lots of laughter too) to 's. is a great cook,

very kind graces lady and her husband won my daughter over with his humor

and invitation to move to San Diego for surfing and boys. They have a

beautiful home and two very nice well behaved dogs. I am looking forward

to seeing them again. I want to thank them again for one off the very

nicest evenings my daughter and I have had.

Take care Rita and thank you for caring. B. Clackamas, Oregon

________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

:

To me my walker is my life line. It weighs about 14 pounds so I can get

it in to the trunk of my car. I feel the walker should fit the needs of

the body. I am tall and over weight and when I decided to try a walker

I went to a medical supply store and we discussed which one was right

for me ( I also did the same thing for my lift chair). I am no expert

and would never go to Wal-mart and buy one of the inexpensive models. I

haven't used a wheel chair in over 3 years. Like I said my walker has

help me up when I have stumbled or tripped. I can't imagine having any

other. Maybe if and when my PLS progresses , this won't work, then I

would get a scooter (wheel chairs is a last resort for me). I always

work with my neurologist, he knows whats best for me.

Good Luck!

Rita

Luv & Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.