Re: I fell today. has anyone?

[Guest guest]

Randy,

I'm sorry to hear about your falls and the problems you have been

having. What you are describing doesn't sound like something typically

related to RA, but you'll have to ask your physicians about what could

be going on.

I hope you get an answer soon.

Not an MD

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 1:37 AM, Randy <rjgang10@...> wrote:

>      I got up from my chair and took 3 steps and lost control of my legs and

just went down, I did not get hurt. This has me concerned, this is a new symptom

and I'm not sure what is going on. I will be walking or just standing and I get

a sensation in my lower or mid back and then it is like I lose control of the

muscles in my legs, almost like someone flips a power switch to the off position

for a split second. Usually I have a cane and am able to not fall, I feel like I

am walking like a drunkard lol. has anyone had this happen? I have an

appointment with my primary Dr. to get an MRI referral tomorrow at 5:00pm. Then

see my neurosurgeon and hopefully get an answer. In the last 3 yrs I have fallen

down my stairs 3 times, always when I first wake up and for the grace of God

have only gotten a bruise or two. I just thought it was because I was half

asleep but I am now thinking it may be something Else. could RA do this????  I

have so many questions

>  and don't even know where to start, like meds? what works and what don't?

What foods are good or bad? I  was diagnosed late last summer so I don't know

much at all so I feel very ignorant plus I have other dx's too.

>                  ....Randy....

[Guest guest]

Hi Randy.  Boy, are you lucky to not have broken any bones.  I think seeing a

Neuro. Dr. is a good thing.  I hope you find out what is going on in your

body.  I fell off a step stool, and broke my hip.  Last year I fell when I was

in a bad flare.  My feet and ankles were hit the worst  with R.A.  My feet

failed me, I fell on brick stairs, broke my foot and shattered my shoulder. 

That fall caused me to be in the hospital 3 months.  I fell while on a vist to

my daughters up North, and the Drs. would not let me fly home until I was well

enough and strong enough.  I had so much P.T. as my shoulder was in a sling

tight to my body, and I had a 35 lb. cast from my foot to my knee.  I am so

afraid of falling again.  Last year I fell while getting out of my pool.  My

knee collapsed resulting in 9 stitiches in my shin, and the next day I had the

knee totally replaced.  RA has caused a lot of this.  I don't have much

feeling in the ball of both

feet.  This causes me to be unsteady on my feet.  I do use a cane when I need

it.

 

Life with RA is not an easy life. My rushing days are over.  I really pay

attention to where I am going, and to my surrondings.  When arising from bed, I

get up slowly and rest a bit before my feet hit the floor.  We all need to take

precaustions.

 

I hope you feel better soon, and that you can rest as much as possible. 

Wishing you better days ahead.

 

Hugs,

 

Barbara

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara and all,

 

Sometimes I think God (or whomever you believe in) sent me this RA to teach me

patience.  I was one who rushed all the time.  I'm tall and have long legs and

I walked fast w/a long stride.  Often I ran instead of walked.  Even my

walking was faster than a lot of people's jogging speed.  Having to take things

slowly has been hard and a real learning curve.  But now that I've adjusted,

I'm much more relaxed.  I find I have time to smell the roses so to speak. 

I'm happier and less stressed.  People expect less from me and that is a

relief.  I was always the one taking care of everyone else.  Now I get some

" Me time "   So for me, that has been a silver lining to the cloud of RA.

 

Randy, I'm sorry about your fall.  I'll echo Barbara's sentiments and hope you

find an answer at your dr's appointment.  Hang in there!

Sheryl

From: Barbara Creedon <bcreedon@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] I fell today. has anyone?

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 10:18 AM

 

 

My rushing days are over. 

 

Hugs,

 

Barbara

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheryl.  I am  tall and long legged also.  Just like you, I did it all

everyday, and boy I was stressed also.  I too always taken care of everyone

before me.

 

The hardest thing for me to learn was to pace myself.  I finally mastered this,

and feel so much better.  I have always led a very stressful life.  That sure

has taken so much out of me.

 

It has always been very hard for me to relax.  Going through my very painful

divorce put me over the edge.  I have been seeing a wonderful Dr. for this and

it has helped me tremendously.  I could not stop crying each day, and I was

worrying about my mental stability.  My plate was so full, it began spilling

over.  It was more then I could handle.  I am a very strong woman, but boy I

was caving in.  Thank God there are Drs. out there to help us.  I was so

fearful that all this stress would set off a RA flare.  My Rheumy told me

stress is the worst thing for RA patients

 

Since joining this wonderful group, I have changed so many things I did before

that stressed me out.  I just take one day at a time and this works well for

me.  I have taken a lot off my shoulders, and it feels so good.

 

It was nice to hear from you.  I wish you many pain free days ahead.

 

Hugs,

 

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Thanks Barbara,

 

Sometimes I wonder if the RA wasn't brought on by me doing too much.  Maybe it

is my body's way of saying " slow down " !  Well....it worked!  LOL.  I sure did

slow down

 

Wishing you pain free days too.  Feels good to be able to talk about all this

w/people who understand.

 

Blessings,

Sheryl

From: Barbara Creedon <bcreedon@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] I fell today. has anyone?

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 3:06 PM

 

Hi Sheryl.  I am  tall and long legged also.  Just like you, I did it all

everyday, and boy I was stressed also.  I too always taken care of everyone

before me.

 

The hardest thing for me to learn was to pace myself.  I finally mastered this,

and feel so much better.  I have always led a very stressful life.  That sure

has taken so much out of me.

 

It has always been very hard for me to relax.  Going through my very painful

divorce put me over the edge.  I have been seeing a wonderful Dr. for this and

it has helped me tremendously.  I could not stop crying each day, and I was

worrying about my mental stability.  My plate was so full, it began spilling

over.  It was more then I could handle.  I am a very strong woman, but boy I was

caving in.  Thank God there are Drs. out there to help us.  I was so fearful

that all this stress would set off a RA flare.  My Rheumy told me stress is the

worst thing for RA patients

 

Since joining this wonderful group, I have changed so many things I did before

that stressed me out.  I just take one day at a time and this works well for

me.  I have taken a lot off my shoulders, and it feels so good.

 

It was nice to hear from you.  I wish you many pain free days ahead.

 

Hugs,

 

Barbara

[Guest guest]

My legs gave out on me and I fell fairly often when I was on gabapentin for

pain. I think certain meds mixed with steroids make your joints weak.

I'm Candace by the way ~waves~. I'm a 30 year old single mom from MN. I was

recently diagnosed with SLE.... One symptom of which is RA.

Stress affects me so much if I have a really bad day at work I'm bedridden for

days after. I'm learning new ways to relieve stress. My entire life I've always

just stuffed it into the pit of my stomach.

That's not working for me anymore. : (

Candace

[Guest guest]

Hi Candace,

 

Welcome to the group.  Sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis.  I was like

you....stress?  what stress?  I just plowed through life and ignored the bad

stuff.  Guess we have to deal w/it now.  I don't have a magic wand to make

myself or anyone else better, but I can tell you that I totally understand where

you are coming from.

 

This morning I woke up at 4 AM and had a pity party for myself because the

Garden Club meeting next week will tour the 5 gardens that will be on the Garden

Walk and there is no way I can be on my feet for that long.  So I'm going to

have to miss it and it ticks me off to no end.  Feels like God dangles the

carrot in front of me, just so that I can know how bad I wanted to go and then

can't.  *sigh* 

 

But enough of that.  Crying isn't going to change anything.  Just have to

enjoy my own little garden here and that I can do.  Am also grateful for my

dog, Jacqui.  She got up into the bed and snuggled w/me when I was feeling

down.  When I'm feeling like I have to handle everything by myself, she comes

and gives me some lovin'.  I know I'm not alone.  She's also a good reminder

to live in the moment and today I'm doing well physically so need to stop my

whining!

 

Hang in there.  You've come to a good place here.  Everyone is super nice!

Sheryl

From: Candace Podratz <candaceandbrock@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] I fell today. has anyone?

" " < >

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 8:40 PM

 

My legs gave out on me and I fell fairly often when I was on gabapentin for

pain. I think certain meds mixed with steroids make your joints weak.

I'm Candace by the way ~waves~. I'm a 30 year old single mom from MN. I was

recently diagnosed with SLE.... One symptom of which is RA.

Stress affects me so much if I have a really bad day at work I'm bedridden for

days after. I'm learning new ways to relieve stress. My entire life I've always

just stuffed it into the pit of my stomach.

That's not working for me anymore. : (

Candace