yes, this happens to me quite often. i will be standing and my legs just buckle. If i am near a chair or the bed, i can usually land there, but most of the time i land on the floor because i don't have the strenght in my arms to stop myself. this weakness is different from the pain in my legs and yes, it does make me anxious about walking or standing for fear of falling.

I can't stand or walk but can't imagine the anxiety associated with such instability. Have you talked to your doctor about this? What suggestions have they given you? There may be some type of braces that can give you confidence with standing and walking. I'll keep this in mind when I'm talking to my contacts. I have a good friend who works with neuro solutions. Check out his invention at www.impulsepower.com

Be well and please be careful!

My legs have never just given out like that, thank God. But I completely relate to your anxiety. I fall down easily because, with very weak hips, it is very difficult to keep your balance when going up/down hill. Anyway, falling down is horrible, especially when it is very difficult to rise again.

I don't know if all people have this problem, but I find it so hard to to push myself up with my arms, or even steady myself at all.

Before I knew I had polymyositis, or before I knew there was anything wrong with me,
I was walking my dog and fell down in the snow, and I was unable to get back up, even though I didn't know why. But I almost froze, I thought I might die. My hands were purple by the time I got up, and since then I have been really afraid of going out when it's cold. And I, being so stupid, STILL didn't think it was time to see a doctor...lol.

I also have a lot of fear of falling down in public. I fell in wal-mart one time(slipped on a soda bottle) and everyone stared while I tried to get myself together, and it was extremely humiliating.

Our, o fell again last night. My roomies were out and my legs were feeling weak but I had to make some dinner so I pulled all the strength I had together, leaned on the counter when I needed to, got the food together, sat down at the table, and realized I didn't get a fork. At that point I couldn't stand up again. I waited til I felt strong enough to get up and got the fork. After eating I was so exhausted, just sat there head in my arms. I knew my roomies would be back soon and I didn't want to be so weak when they came in. So even though my legs still felt weak I got up to clear my dishes and was onto the floor.

Then I heard the car pull unto the driveway. Pulled myself back to my feet, leaned on the counter and tried to appear fine. Didn't quite work. I ended up telling them I'd just fallen to the floor.

Lacie - for me, my arms generally se stronger than my legs when
it comes to pulling myself back up, but there are times when even they are too weak. Falling in the snow would be awful! I'm glad you made it through that experience okay.

My legs have given out a few times when I tried to go grocery shopping. Holding on to the cart did not help because I had no grip strength in my hands. I bought a cane, but the weakness in my arms makes it hard to put all my weight on the cane because my arms can't stand that much pressure.

I have fallen several times for no reason except this disease. There has always been someone there to help me up, but itnis very humiliating.

I cant even count how many times I've fallen! When I didnt know I had PM, I just thought I starting to become clumsy but that wasn't the case :-) I still get nervous about falling. Just the other day when I tried to pick something up off the floor, my hip flexers and my knees just gave out on me. It's definitely a scary feeling. Please be careful and try not to wear yourself out. You know your body more than anyone else.

When I feel my legs getting weak and like I might fall, now I just angry, and (when there's no one around) just grit my teeth and say "No Falling DOWN!" It's like if I concentrate hard enough I can keep myself up. Of course I find a wall/counter/etc to lean on.

There was one time I felt like I was about to fall and I just jumped. Real fast, impulsively.

Yes, it's humiliating and annoying. And I want to be in control!!! (pout)