Falling Down | Arthritis Information

This may have absolutely nothing to do with my RA, but I thought I would ask if anyone else has had this problem.

I was diagnosed 2 years ago with RA - mainly in my fingers and wrists. Bursitis in hips also.

During the past year I have fallen 5 times - once had a very, very bad sprain. My toes, all 10 of them, are very frequently numb and very stiff. I guess that is either due to osteo arthrits or RA. I have never, ever been someone who falls down.

I don't have a clue what I am falling. All of a sudden, down I go. Almost had a sprain again on this last fall - luckily just mild pain and swelling.

Wondering if the falls could be that RA has weakened something or maybe it is due to the numbness of all my toes. I mentioned the toe problem to the RAD and he said they were cold and it was probably OA.

Any suggestions or comments? After this recent fall, I am thinking about going to my regular doctor to get his opinion. My RA appears to be doing great right now. Actually feeling better than usual - but I'm afraid I'm going to break something if I keep falling.

Thanks.

Hi Flamingo, this is just a FWIW anecdotal account...

I experienced a series of falls, including one that resulted in a double compound fracture of my left forearm. It was determined that I was B-12 deficient and I began a series of injections plus sublingual supplementation. That was a few years ago and I have not fallen since. The physician explained it thusly(paraphrased),---when a person is deficient in B-12 there is a momentary lapse between the firing of the various nerve pathways and balance in therefore impaired.

I urge you to go to your "regular doctor" and begin to explore the possible causes.

Best wishes for a speedy resolution, Shug
In the mean time it maybe helpful to get a cain. I got tired of falling down and got a cain several years ago. I do use it more in cold weather. Any number of things I have experienced from time to time. Sometimes I get a bit of vertigo. Sometimes my body does not listen to me. As if what Shug said. I wil think I am walking fine and then my leg just seems to not be listening for a slight secound. Oh and it comes in handy when my feet hurt or if I get muscle spasms. I do think some bloodwork would be a useful tool in finding out why you are falling down.Hi Margie, I've fallen more times than I can count and it's due to various reasons. Like you, I have numbness in most of my toes but it's due to PAD, balance issues, and many meds. I also had a pair of walking sandals that I refused to stop wearing until my husband threw them in the trash after my 4th fall in Mexico. I didn't fall for a year after that until I tripped over a flagstone. I tucked my brand new camera under my breast as I fell and the hard edge of the camera badly bruised a rib.

Going to see your primary care doctor is a very good idea. There are many causes for numbness and for falling and should be investigated.

On another note, I follow your travel blog. We fulltime and spend our winters in Mexico and travel the U.S. in the summer. I enjoy reading your adventures. One of these days I'm going to start a blog, or so I keep telling myself. We'll see. Keep writing and I'll keep reading. Sure hope you and your doctor can solve the reasons for your falling. Take care and keep posting. Lindy

Sorry to hear about your recent fall. I hope you have a fast recovery from the pain and swelling. joonie2009-08-01 20:30:02Sorry to hear about your falls hopefully your dr. can figure it out.
I haven't had any fall as of yet, but I drop things often. I will go to pick them up and I have it in my hand and boom it falls out of my hand as if I never did have a grip on it when I know I did. Craziest most frustrating thing ever. For that matter I bump into things more often too. I just seemed to have gotten all around more clumbsy. *sigh* Since I haven't actually hurt myself or anyone else I have never mentioned it to the RD. Maybe I should. Are you dizzy at all?

I'm also B-12 deficient. I take regular B-12 injections for that numbness in my hands, feet and lower legs. It helps a lot. The problem is also caused by a type of nuropathy; but the B12 seems to help that too for wahtever reason. I've never really fallen but do often feel off balance and have had a few close calls. My bone density is low so a fall could result in a fracture or break. They've warned me to be careful....but who isn't right? No one falls on purpose.

The coldness in your toes could be rynaurds (Not spelled right, sorry) syndrome. I have that too and it makes your fingers & toes feel very cold and numb. Do you have any reddness? In bad cases they'll get a blue/purple tone. I'm surprised your Dr. said your toes were cold & That could be OA. Rynaurds is the first thing that came to my mind....but I'm certainly no doctor. Do you notice this change when you go from one tempature to another? Mine acts up when I go from a very cool air condition place out into the heat or during the winter months. Lots of us with RA also have rynaurds; but I don't know if this is in anyway related or not.

Be careful!

I went to a neurologist a few years ago because of falling and she diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. I do have numb toes and pins and needles in both feet. She prescribed B-12 injections and that has helped a lot. Right now I see my PCP every 6 weeks and get an injection.

Ann

Thanks for the helpful replies. They give me some things to consider. I have put off going to my PCP because I hate to sound like I'm a whiner, but I think I'll listen to your advice and make an appointment. I don't think there is a connection between going from one temperature to another. There does seem to be a possible "disconnect" because I just don't remember "why" I fell - it just happens in a split second and I can't even guess why - I don't remember slipping or tripping, it just happens.

Thanks for following my blog Lindy. As you know, we are still awaiting the sale of the house so we can get on the road and out of the driveway - I'm rather envious of those like you who are living "my" dream, ha ha.

Take care of yourself while awaiting your appointment and please let us know how you are and what you discover.

Cheers, Shug
I have started having the same problem. On Sunday I was walking across my living room and all of the sudden my big toe went under my foot. Thought it was broken but thankfully it wasn't. Now most of my foot is black. Yesterday at work, I got up to walk across the office and my ankle just gave out. I have never had anything like this happen before and it freaks me out! It kind of scares me when I get up to walk since I have no numbness.

So glad you posted this and I am happy to know I am not the only one doing this.Flamingo - Please keep us posted on what the Dr says.

ToBPainfreeagain - I am sorry to hear you having these problems. I hope they resolve for you soon.

Just an update - Went to my PCP and had blood work and an ultrasound test to determine if I had a circulation problem - nope, circulation was good.

Went to a neurologist and had additional blood work to determine if I was having any problem with MTX. He also did some simple nerve tests in the office, but that didn't indicate a nerve problem. Was supposed to return for an EMG and get results of blood work, but had to cancel the appointment. The neurologist said he suspected RA was causing my toe pains/numbness. He's probably right and I guess I'll just skip having the EMG and just assume it's RA related.

The good news is that I haven't fallen down lately.

[QUOTE=Flamingo]

The good news is that I haven't fallen down lately.

[/QUOTE]