I was thinking today when I tripped going up the handicap ramp in the garage, is this a part of getting old? Or is it just the stress of caregiving for hubby, financial disaster and/or having to work 25 hours a week?
It seems like for a few years now, if there is anything I can trip or stumble over, walk into or slip on, I will. If I can knock something over or drop something, I do.
I have become downright clumsy. I work in a daycare with the babies. Last week, I was carrying a baby and got my foot stuck in a bouncer on the floor. I almost went down, with the baby in my arms. Scary! I saw myself walking in a parking lot, toward the big windows of the store. I looked like I was stumbling and staggering. There was no grace in my gait. It was embarrassing.
Have any of you noticed this? Is it age...or something else? I have inherited clumsiness from Mom and Grandma, but neither one of them, to my memory, was this bad.
I'm also "Driven to Distraction" these days. I've added little things to help me out. My husband is now taking Dial-a-Ride home from P.T twice a week, and Aging & Long Term Care is paying for 12hrs/mo for someone to clean do laundry & shopping, as needed. I also get out for a paint-nite or girls' night out, once a month. Take care of yourself. Bless you!
Wow, interesting. Okay, is this ataxia? I have developed a phobia where I can no longer go on escalators going down, I feel dizzy, I feel like I will miss the steps. Not going up. I do fine stepping on it going up. Going down is the issue so I have resorted to using the elevator for that.
Please get checked by your doctor to rule out a physical cause. It is most likely stress, but it never hurts to make sure! I have heard a lot lately about the benefits of Tai Chi (think that's how it's spelled) and improved balance. It isn't that taxing to do and in fact, a lot of senior living facilities are now offering classes.
I have come to some conclusions about why I’ve become a stumble foot. I don’t think it’s a brain disease of any kind because I have no other symptoms. But I will be going to my doctor for my annual physical this month.
In all honesty, I truly believe that those posters who suggested stress are right. My mind is always going in many different directions and I find myself not paying attention to the task at hand, like walking. I try to do too many things at once, like carrying a whole dryer load of sheets and not paying attention to something the dog left in the way on the floor.
I’ve also considered getting some sort of medical alert device. A few weeks ago, while standing on an icy patch, my dog wrapped her cable tie out around my feet, took off and pulled me over. I am certain I broke at least one rib. I told hubby today if I’d hit my head or was unable to get back on my feet, I’d be in deep do-do. He has no phone available and wouldn’t realize that I hadn’t come back in the house for a while. Then there’s the real possibility of the fall in the shower.
Thank you again for all your help and suggestions!
Ive done this...during times my stress level was out of balance. You can't delete all stress, but you eliminate what unnecessary stress u can and balance what stress u do have to manage. Stumbling is your flag to rebalance your inner equation...rethink how u can rebalance yourself within and reset yourself.