Dizzinness

Listen to Post

I have chosen Balance awareness week as part of September’s LinkUp with Sheryl’s A Chronic Voice.

This months prompts are:

Feeling

Gruelling

Tempting

Running

You only need to look back through my blog posts to see how many times I mention balance issues.

#Balance problems can be caused by interruptions to the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. If your brain says move but the message doesn't reach your leg, this can result in a #Fall #ThisIsMS Share on X

Sensory problems affect the way in which I walk and thus affect my balance. For example, if my left foot is numb I can’t tell if I am touching the ground evenly. I also suffer from drop foot which makes me tentative in the way I walk. Becoming fatigued means that my balance worsens as my muscles get tired meaning my legs become very heavy and I struggle to stabilise myself effectively.

I also have dizziness and vertigo as part of MS and this can make it difficult for me to remain upright, unsupported, even when I am standing still.

Feeling

Imagine life without balance.

Close your eyes and stand on one foot. It’s hard right? Now imagine having that same disorienting feeling on two feet, and with your eyes open.

Balance is something most of us take for granted. It’s automatically hardwired into our bodies at birth, evolving and adapting as we grow and age. While basic balance is innate, some are able to perfect or even master balance through exercise and practice.

But we don’t often think about our balance — until of course, we lose it.

Gruelling

While most people may not be familiar with the word “vestibular” — relating to your inner ear, brain, and sense of balance — many have likely experienced the awkward, sometimes even scary feeling, when we momentarily lose our balance. Maybe it’s taking a wrong step or getting motion sickness aboard a ferry or that nauseating, head-spinning sensation after one too many glasses of wine.

Eventually, our balance comes back and life moves on. This is not the case for many people with chronic illness the frequently debilitating symptoms of chronic imbalance associated with a vestibular disorder are also often invisible to the eye.

Whether it comes on gradually over time or all of a sudden, bouts of dizziness, vertigo, and nausea can make many of life’s more routine tasks virtually intolerable and cause immense fatigue.

Let’s look at the symptoms of balance issues:

• Dizziness or vertigo (a spinning sensation)
• Falling or feeling as if you are going to fall
• Lightheadedness, faintness, or a floating sensation
• Blurred vision
• Confusion or disorientation

Other symptoms might include nausea and vomiting; diarrhoea; changes in heart rate and blood pressure; and fear, anxiety, or panic. Symptoms may come and go over short time periods or last for a long time and can lead to fatigue and depression.

Tempting

Some people with a balance disorder may not be able to fully relieve their dizziness and will need to find ways to cope with it. Exercise can sometimes help and you may be offered a treatment plan with a physiotherapist. Read about my experience here.

If you have trouble with your #Balance, you do need to look at whether its #SafeToDrive, look at ways to lower your risk of falls. Share on X

If you have trouble with your balance, you do need to look at whether it’s safe to drive, look at ways to lower your risk of falls and to reduce your risk of injury from dizziness, avoid walking in the dark.

Tempting though it may be ditching the high heels for walking shoes or something similar like Skechers will also be much better for you.

Running

Don’t run away from help whether that be a walking stick, a rollator or even a wheelchair to support your balance and modify conditions in your home and workplace, such as by adding handrails.

Handrails and a bed rail have both been invaluable additions to my home as they help me to stand. And stools in both the kitchen and bathroom which enables me to sit and prepare food and sit at the bathroom sink.

I would be interested to hear if you suffer from balance problems and if there is anything you do to try and counteract them. Let’s chat in the comments and please share.