Awwwwwwwww, I know how you feel. It sucks, i fall all the time too. No more need for the cutie short skirts and dresses. I wish there was something i could tell you to help. The only thing i can say is get a walker. they work really really well. Especially on the days your feeling really bad with the vertigo. Good luck hazeleyes34.

Thank you so much 4 the support. Im sad cant wear the cutie skirts n dresses either!!! LOL I just said this morning maybe I should by a walker, how funny! Gotta do somethin...lifes gotta get easier!!

Again, THANK YOU THINLIZZY!!
Hope u get better as well.

Sounds like me! I don't fall down but I definately feel the magnet ground messing with my balance at times. It is so annoying I just don't go anywhere where I will be doing too much walking. As it only hits me when I am having to walk a good distance. It literally has gotten to that point and I used to be really active. I do find it gets better with rest. I still haven't figured out the reason for my problems as my MRI is normal, but just wanted to say I know what your feeling!

I SECOND THE WALKER ADVICE. I HAVE ONE, HATED IT, BUT REALIZE THAT FALLING WAS MORE EMBARRASING THEN USING A WALKER. I HAVE ONE WITH WHEELS, BRAKES AND A SEAT. I ONLY USE IT ON CERTAIN DAYS WHEN I AM WEAKEST. I ASKED MY PT LADY HOW I COULD USE ONE WHEN I WAS TOO YOUNG TO HAVE ONE YET. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD TWO PATIENTS THAT USED THEM... THEY WERE IN THEIR EARLY 20S! I SHUT UP THEN. AND I WAS 45 AT THE TIME!

PLEASE BE SAFE, HAZELEYES34. YOU'RE YOUNG AND YOU WILL ADAPT QUICKLY! AND YOU WILL BE SAFER.

GOOD LUCK!

Install handicap bars in your restroom and other dangerous areas. In my shower I have three. Leaving the shower another three. To get off the toilet another two. I am now very careful to never step sideways and always know were my feet will go and have a plan not to fall. Now my three times a day is once a month. Be sure to never leave anything on ther floor anytime as they will trip you up. Be safe always. Try a walker. Lou

Also have been almost falling a bunch of times a day - like the earth has fallen off its axis! I was getting really worried before Christmas that all the extras would make me fall even more, so I went to MS Society and got a walker just to help me through the holidays. What a relief it was! I was putting it off for no reason - it makes me feel SO much more stable. I almost felt like running with it! So I hope that you also try it, and use it when you need it... much good luck.

I keep my walker in the bathroom most of the time. it helps me a lot getting out of the tub and across the slippery tile floor - I do have rubberized matts with suction cups that stick to the floor nicely, but it would take a dozen to cover the entire floor...

It's outdoors that I am the most afraid of falling. I have LLBean "Stabilicers" - they have a few at different prices, but I find the $50 pair to be the best... they have a full hard sole, heavy duty velcro straps that are adjustable to any shoe or boot, and machine screws all around the sole (so I can replace them myself as they wear out) the "stabilicers lite" which run about $20 are elastic, stretch around your shoe/boot and do not feel as secure with the little spikes along the bottom, they seem to be narrower, and I feel too wobbly in them. Harriet Carter sells ice cleats for $5-$7, I've used them in the past - they actually are great for the price, no spikes on the heels and the rubber is cheap and they break, but I bought a few pairs a few years ago and they worked darn great considering how cheap they are...
I also keep ski poles by the door and in my truck to help me balance - it's too snowy and icy here to use the walker outside ...
the ski poles are great because I can really lean on them when my legs feel like giving out, and the stabilicers give me absolute grip on the ground, even pavement so my feet don't fly out from under me...
I learned my lesson the hard way by falling in my own driveway in the winter, and not being able to get myself up, nor be heard by anyone as I shouted myself hoarse.

I can truly identify with this! Spent 4 days in the hospital in Aug. due to a terrible fall. My balance is dreadful. I have tried PT and it helped a bit. The only thing I can recommend is to take is slow and get a walker. It is helping me, so far!!!

ooxx Marti

Laurie, the best advice I can give you is SLOW DOWN!!! With us, there's no such thing as a "quick step". Something else I started doing when I got MS is walking with my feet a little more spread out. (that helps) Most people walk without thinking about it but I've found that putting more thought to it cuts down on the falling. So remember..... SLOW! SPREAD! and CANE! Never let go of ur trusty cane. Take care Laurie

using a cane can be fine if you don't have a balance issue, but stick with the advice of using a walker. If you went to physical therapy and advised them of the falls, or your doctor, they can prescribe you a walker. Make sure you get one with big wheels on the back (better movement over terrain, door jams, etc.), a seat to sit when you are tired (exhaustion is a problem for us MSers), brakes, and a basket to hold your personals. With insurance it might cost you a small portion of the original cost, otherwise $150. But, it's well worth the money.

I thank everyone so much 4 replyin to this question. Was at a breaking point. The overall answer seems 2 b the walker which Ive been thibkin about alot, and all u guys kinda made that choice 4 me.

Thanks so much 4 bein there thru my tough times, means alot.

Hope u all stay well,
Laurie

Getting a walker is definately the way to go. If you are worried about $ you can often get them on ebay 2nd hand shops too.
Also bars in bathroom & other places in the home. If you can get an occupational therapist to evaluate your home & advise you where you need them & where they will help best.
Dont be embarrassed about a walker, it is better to use one than fall & break bones.
Look after yourself

I agree with AusSue and the others who say do NOT be embarassed using a walker. I need to take my own advice on that one. I usually just use a cane, as I have my husband holding my other hand to support me. If we're out to Walmart, it's not SO bad as I can use the cart to stabilize me as I walk. However if I had my walker instead of cane (and using the cart), I could sit down and rest like that, rather than practically laying across the cart to rest!!!!!lol

When I DO use my walker, I try to just 'bite the bullet' and go with it, but honestly, it's still hard to get through my head that I have to use it!!! I do NOT like drawing attention to myself, and to me, the walker SCREAMS 'look at HER!!!!!' So I still have an issue with that, however when I see people with walkers, young or old, I just smile at them and don't wonder why they have it, what's wrong with them, etc.

I DO tell myself, however, that I am thankful I CAN use a walker. Thankful they have the ability to be made, I have the use of my legs that I CAN use the walker. That helps, but in all honesty, there's still a bit of work I need to do to accept that for myself. Is it because I'm vane??? No, I'm not like that. It's just hard to face the truth sometimes!!!!!!!

I forgot to say I decorated my walker & scooter with stickers, this makes them more "me". I have tweety, bugs & little stickers & people look at them & say cute stickers (&similar) but dont comment on the walker.
I look at it that by using aids like a walker I can get out & do things & I have a seat for when I am tired - lots.
To both of you, dont be embarrased ab out needing a walker but look at it as a way of being safe & independant.

Great advice, AusSue!! I used to have the basic black cane. Then one day a lady from our church (That i didn't know) presented me a cane that had butterflies painted on it!!! She said she'd seen me a few times and that I was 'just too pretty and too young' to be using a regular black cane.

Since then I went to the drugstore where she got it and I've purchased a blue cane with swirls laser etched into it!!! I know when the time comes when I have to always use my walker, and once I'm comfortable with it, I'll be decorating it somehow too!!

I've said before I don't like drawing attention to myself, and this may sound the opposite, but it's not. Like you said, this is our lives, and whatever device we may need to help us to be mobile...accept it and if you can make your device be an actual piece of you, then it takes away the focus from you. I hope that makes sense and comes out the way I meant it to!!!!!! :-)