United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

lol, I have some issues with the balance thing, i could be walking fine one minute, and the next minute be flailing so i dont fall over... sometimes it happens when im just standing doing nothing... its pretty funny.

i always manage to walk into things too... walls, doorways, shelving units... basically anything that sticks out i walk into!

i did karate for 6 years, and had good balance then... i wonder what happened! lol!

~Mel

Hi.
I do not know how I got here(OB Board)
I do know it was divine.
I posted sometime ago if anybody else has balance issues.
I never received any responses so I assumed it was just me.
I can't balance so who's going to respond if I were to ask about walking into walls?
I thought it must just be me.
I do it serious though. Two weeks ago I was in the ER for 8 hours and left with a headache and 12 staples on my crown. 3 or 4 weeks before that I had 8 staples on my crown. Both times when I fell I hit the same wrought iron fence I swear to Just inches apart. Y'all can roll around on balls for therapy me? I'm just gonna stay away from wrought iron fences.
My shoulder on my TBPI side is so sore from hitting doorways. I don't do it lightly either. I am 6' and weigh about 240-250. I've been told I appear to walk like I'm on a mission, like a lineman, etc. So when I hit it hurts...the wall.lol.
Anyweigh...I certainly am glad enough that I stumbled upon y'all and this particular discussion. Good to learn I'm not alone and sad to learn I am not alone
Thank you.
Scott

Scott
I know I have no perception as to where my right side is in space.
I do have good balance on my feet thank goodness.
If that makes any sense?
I'm often not aware I have and arm, and I can move it!
I guess when I was injured at birth my arm and brain lost contact for so long their not speaking.

I use to work in NYC and if you are ever there we walk very fast and always seem as if we are on a mission.
Even though I've not working in the city for a million years I can still fall into that trap.

I once walked into the doorway so hard I spent months in therapy for my left (unaffected side).
My obpi side did not hurt but the impact cause so much pain on the left side and a continual feeling as if I had e-stim on my scapular...

I know it's hard but try to walk closer to things on the unaffected side so that your in the proper space.
Don't worry I still do it to myself when I'm in a hurry but have not had the injuries you have.

Glad you found this information, it's so annoying when you think your the only one.

Kath robpi/adult

This reminds me of a fall I took about a month ago. I was walking down the hall and hadn't turned the light on. There was a full moon streaming through the frt. door and after living here 23 years I know where I'm going.

The thing I didn't know about was my 25 lb. cat was laying in the middle of the hall. Now running into a 25lb. cat is like hitting a brick wall. The problem was of course my arm(s). I was carrying a cookie in my left hand and of course my brain never thinks to use the right as it doesn't work anyway. Like Kath's the brain/hand thing gave up talking about 50 yrs. ago.

So here I am falling to the HARDwood floor with nothing between me and a good bruise or two. Of course my left arm/hand wouldn't have stopped me either, and I didn't even think to drop the cookie hahaha Seems once I latch onto something I forget to let go. So the chocolate chip cookie cost me a sprained wrist, stubbed toe, skinned knee and 2 skinned albows.......oh and a knot on my forhead.

My cat no longer naps in the hallway, and miss smarty pants who doesn't need a light no turns them ALL on. I don't think horse therapy would have helped me???

Yeah my poor boney shoulder gets whacked on the doorways all the time. They are remodeling at work so we are in REALLY cramped quarters as is, now place a clumsy me in that setting. Maybe I should get should pads, I know they went out in the 80's but oh well.

-Traci

Boy did those shoulder pads help me. I wore two on the right side so I had more padding to look even...LOL...
I kept a few small ones and slip them in jackets to give the appearance that I am even.
Kath robpi/adult

I LOVE(d) shoulder pads. Since I have NO shoulders it evened out the whole top of my body. To this day I tend to look like a bowling pin without them.

Luckily the Linda Evans Joan Crawford sized ones are gone.

Tina

Oh and another thing I notice I do a LOT. Walking UP the stairs I find myself missing a stair? I'll be going just fine then all of a suddeen I'm trying to do 2 at once? Hard to describe but I did it just now and laughed.

Thank you, you three just made me feel so much better.
I have found that the smallest things that are in support such as personal experiences go a long, long way.
Kath thanks so much for that tip. I will try to make a conscience effort to stay on the right.
Tina I like cookies...I don't like cats. It's alright though because enough people do.
Traci I have to tell you my vision of you in shoulder pads was not what you were talking about. Not at all.
Scott