Eve,
Greetings from Oregon.
8 months ago I was having serous balance issues after surgery
I have come a heck of a long way since last August- in my recovery. This link has a photo of me riding a bike with “no hands�.
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=5584.msg56072#msg56072The Oregon physician, assigned to me for follow-up, told me that I will
never be back to who I was pre-surgery - specifically with the balance. He told me that vestibular therapy would
not help. (I.e. He and I are not on the same line of thinking as far as the effectiveness of physical therapy. He did
not refer me to anyone.) I down loaded various exercises and worked on balance with a palates ball , a rolla bolla and purposely walking on uneven ground for 6 months- independently at home. We made a video and this photo (on the above link) of me on a bike (ie no hands)- to prove my point.
“There ARE things you can do to improve balance and things you can do to avoid poor balance episodes. �It is imperative that you find a safe area where you can challenge your balance and make your brain re-train hard -to compensate. I started with trying to sit on my palettes ball without touching the ground. I surrounded myself with sofa cushions in case I toppled (and I
did- at first) Walking on uneven ground, while someone is alongside you, will also help you. I find if I do not keep up with my daily exercises I can have days of regression. (The “
use it or loose it� philosophy)
Another thing you need to be conscious of is your salt intake. It is well documented that high sodium can affect balance.
Here is a link to a vestibular clinic in Oregon.
http://www.legacyhealth.org/body.cfm?id=1902 Maybe call them, explained that you moved to Texas and ask if they have any vestibular therapist colleagues in Texas -they can recommend to you.
“Satman� is down there in Texas and he went though therapy – maybe he can recommend someone. (I’ll send him a PM)
I just punched into Google “Texas vestibular therapy�
And this was my first hit
#1
http://www.earsoftexas.com/balance_ther.htm#2 Denise Gobert, PT, PhD
http://www.health.txstate.edu/pt/#3
http://www.bcm.edu/oto/cfbd/rehab.htmlLooks as you have more options down in big ole TEXAS than we have here in Oregon- so perhaps you have moved to the right place…
Here is a little video that sort of explains balance issues and vestibular therapy.
http://mediapedia.wikidot.com/treating-balance-problemsNo matter how smoothly your move was – moving is still
stressful. You still have things in places you are not yet used to there in Texas – as you may have been in your Oregon home. Stories of retired folks having tripping and falling incidents, after moving into a new home, - are not uncommon.
Prevention
• Try to get a regular routine established in your new home as soon as possible.
• Keep up with a regular exercise program. (I know this is hard when you just moved in and you feel you have so much to do)
• The sooner you are unpacked and organized the sooner you will subconsciously know where things are (like finding things in the kitchen without having to think about it while you are cooking etc)
• You are in a new setting with new stimulus (grandkids etc) – this is when accidents are going to happen. I know I am most accident prone when I am in a loud environment – it is all part of the acoustic neuroma thing. Sometimes I wear an earplug around the kids as when the tinnitus is going strong I am clumsier… but I am learning to cope.
By your photo you posted here you look quite young and certainly
not elderly… Here is a link that does talk about how elderly people are challenged with falls when in a new environment
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40025127/(We have aging parents so I have book marked a bunch of links)
Well there I have probably given you more info and links than you cared for- but maybe some of the info
may be of use to you.
All the best to you in your new home! Texas huh? I have never been to Texas...
Daisy Head Mazy
(Formerly “4�)
