Falling Down - What's Up With This? | Arthritis Information

I'm age 59 and never fell down before in my life until recently.

In July 2008 I fell down the outside back steps and severely sprained my ankle. Wore a cast and then a brace for quite awhile.

Shortly after that I fell over a box sitting on the floor in a Walgreen's; flat down on the floor. That same week I also was walking on a sidewalk and fell again; flat down to the sidewalk.

Today I came home, bent over a short fence to pick up my Chihuahua and I fell into the fence and all the way to the floor. Hurt my wrist (which has been hurting all week with RA), my elbow, my shoulder and seemed to "twist" myself during the fall and my hip hurts.

I don't know what is causing this. Do other people with RA fall down a lot?

I have heard others here complain of it too. I haven't fallen myself but lately my ankle has been giving out on me and I have almost fallen several times. Not sure what that's all about- all of a sudden I have a weak ankle. Man OH Man! That is awful.

I have no idea if RA could cause the balance to be off, but I would think you should call your doctor, like tomorrow and mention this to who ever answers the phone.

On a lighter side, it could just be something that came in three, and it is over....

Really sorry you hurt yourself,

Tink

That is interesting. I wonder if it is connected somehow to RA. I'm also 59 and for the first time in adulthood, have fallen twice, but my ankles seem fine so maybe I'm just not paying attention.

CathyMarie

I fell three times two years ago. Finally figured out it was my sandals. I was catching the toe of my shoe and pitching forward. My DH finally threw my favorite sandals out and I haven't fallen since. I do have some balance issues but so far I manage to catch myself before falling. Balance issues I think are side effects from one or more of my meds. I find I need to be extra cautious. You should talk to your doctor before you seriously hurt yourself. I was lucky and didn't cause any damage when I fell. Take care. Lindyi am 48 and i am starting to fall more. i think it is the disease and the drugs. our bodies are weaker and stiffer and we are dizzy. our bones are thinner too. sat nite i feel over my golden retrevier actually i landed on her (i am a rather large woman). she cried and i was afraid i had broken her. she shook but seems fine. i too am fine (no broken bones or casts) but i am bruised on my shins and upper arms. looks like someone beat me up. my knees landed hard on the dog. this summer i tripped up the stair case that required a cast.I used to fall all the time...down 13 stone steps was the worse...ouch!! mine has got better now but I do trip up a lotHi Flamingo, I am so sorry you have injured yourself in this last fall. Please see your doctor if there is any doubt about a more serious injury to your wrist. At our age wrists are fragile without the added stress of inflammation and previous pain.

For myself, my stumbling, bumbling, and falling about like the proverbial drunken sailor was due to low levels of B-12 and progressive anemia. Although I readily admit to being a klutz even at the best of times.

Take care, Shug

Whoa! We're gonna have to get you a shirt that says you do your own stunts!

I haven't really had any problems with falling down, but I do get "jelly legs." I don't know what else to call it; my legs kinda just give out. (Might just be low potassium?)

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I do need a t-shirt that says I do my own stunts I guess!

Luckily, I'm much better today. I thought I would wake up feeling horrible, but only had pain in my elbow that got the worst of the fall and my opposite hip. So glad my wrist isn't hurting today - I was really very worried about that.

My next RA doc appt is Friday so I will discuss this with him. I have been experiencing a numb feeling in my feet and lower legs when I wake up in the morning - but the fall happened late in the afternoon.

My hubby said I shouldn't worry, he will stick with me. He'll get a wheelchair for me so I wouldn't fall - I told him he better tie me in or I might fall out! Guess I have just turned into a klutz!

I found it on photobucket!!

I'm glad you don't feel worse today. That's great news. Hope you have a superfantastic and extra-comfortable evening!

Flaming:

I too, am glad you aren't feeling worse today. I also was falling down and realized it was my flip-flops. They also dont have much traction when it's raining. I also have a problem of falling up. I go up stairs and fall up. Luckily stairs are carpeted. I also got rid of my flip-flops. I can;t stand shoes or socks on my poor little tootsies so I have to come up with something elsel. Take care, and be careful

I have seen this thread on the site and avoided it..... because I've had too many close calls and didn't want to read that it is something to be expected w/ RA.... *sigh* one more potential issue......

I have not fallen (*KNOCK KNOCK ON WOOD*) but I have major insecurities about it... because I feel insecure on my feet... not so much the RA, well a little, and the muscle weakness that has occured and the peripheral neuropathy....

I'm sorry for you flaming and others who have tripped ... I hope you find the issue and fix that!

I just got home from the RD. I told her about my few falling incidents, inside, on flat -floor or carpet in the past few months. Watching me stand on right foot, then left (which hurts worst), we noticed me wobble when on the left. Since my first really bad feet trouble, years ago, never really gone, I never wear anything but secure high quality athletic shoes, with orthotics. With my current bad feet problem flare, I'm ordered to use a cane, but I don't at home... which is where I fall. RD & I figure it's possible that to avoid pain of left foot, I might be unconsciously turning it. Foot dr already determined I made myself even worse by causing bad achilles tendonitis that has caused a painful bone spur there (xrays showed) from walking on side of foot. I'm supposed to be aware of this and not do it. Maybe, I still am, now adding on- falling. Solution: I need to pay attention to what I'm doing, how I'm walking.

I can't blame my falling on RA.

Mystery solved for me,

CathyMarie