All of those situations can cause changes in proprioception -- your ability to sense where your body is in space. When you're in places with a lot of people or "things", at the top of stairs (even if there's just a few), etc. your brain, eyes, and inner ear all work hard to tell the rest of you where your arms and legs are in relation to your trunk.

This has served us well all our lives, and has kept us upright -- until MS made its debut. Depending on where the demyelination is in your body, your brain might not be able to send a message to tell your legs to start the movement sequence necessary in order to step down a stair. Also, numbness in your feet can make it hard for your feet to tell your brain, "OK, I'm on a stair, what next?" You get wobbly, and feel like you're going to topple over. This can also happen when you change surfaces (like going from gravel to pavement, or carpet to tile), and when there's lots of stimulation around you that's competing for your attention. As with so many other things, fatigue makes it worse.

Physical therapy can help with balance, and mobility aids like canes work to give you a third "leg" that essentially transmits sensation to your hands to "feel" where you're walking when your feet and legs are too numb to do the job. You're not alone with this. Stay safe and focused when you're out and about to avoid falls. Hang in there.

-Karen

Thank you Karen! I thought I was just going crazy or imagining it! This really helps and I should report to my doc!

I've had that same thing happen. I'm ok walking down the hall at work, but when I get to the open area it seems like I have to think about walking. I've had that happen at the grocery store too. I thought it was just me. Thanks for that tip. It's nice to know I'm not crazy.

Yes, I have similar reactions, especially where heights are concerned. I really have a hard time going down escalators and I now use the hand rails nearly every time I go down steps. Oh, I can so relate to feeling off balance.

I get dizzy looking down and looking up in a room where the ceiling is quite high. I can even get dizzy looking at a scene on TV that is high (like the Grand Canyon or a really tall building).

My solution is to wear shoes that I feel secure in, use hand rails or elevators, avoid the 'down' escalators, and try not to look down when I am in a 'height' situation. I also try to make sure that if I am in a stadium or gymnasium or auditorium that I am seating on a lower level. I guess these are simple modifications, but so far that is all I have needed to do and I hope that I don't need to do more in the future. Time will tell. I do know how you feel, especially about 'freaking out' (or feeling like you would) in the stadium!

My best...

Eloise