Go to the ER and be evaluated...but why?

[Kalliope]

I have been falling a lot lately. Three times in one day, two the next, plus a weakness that comes over me that hits hard and fast. My arms don't reach out to catch me as they once did. I called my Neuro's office and the nurse spoke with the doctor on call and he wanted me to go to the ER to be evaluated. As I sat nursing the newest bump and bruise, I wondered if there was any reason to go to the ER. I know that I haven't broken anything in the falls, just a few scrapes, cuts, bumps and bruises.

I've recently been seeing a physical therapist. She watched me try and do things my body will no longer allow me to do and then asked me why I try. I try because I don't know what other choice I have. She told me I wasn't giving up, my brain will no longer let my body do what it once did and I need to use that energy elsewhere. All the tests show its because of the progression. It took a bit for this to sink in. She said that if I tried to start a car without a battery, it wouldn't do any good to turn the key in hopes it would start. I've used a cane, walker, and wheelchair and back between them all again more than a few times but I believe the wheelchair will be my main mode of transportation soon.

I've fallen for a long while now. Things are different though. I fall more often and with no warning. I can't catch myself like I did before. I can't stand for as long as I used to and walking is so much harder. It is a struggle really, even with a walker-and then there is the always present pain. What would going to the ER accomplish? I didn't go. I just stayed home and enjoyed the holidays with my family. On my next neuro appointment I'm sure we'll discuss it all. Somethings can't be changed, they can only be lived with.

Today something that happens once in a great while has been going on most of the day. My joints have been locking; my ankles and hips especially. I don't know, maybe now its time to make another call to the doctor or get that evaluation, but I'm not sure I really see the point.

[Jules A]

Maybe call your neurologist back and request a sooner appointment if one is available?

[Tia1]

Kalliope I don't have any words of wisdom and have not YET gone through what you are going through, BUT I am sending you a big (hug). You are in my thoughts and prayers as you navigate a new reality. It sucks! giving up living our lives the way we always have, trying to figure out the best or safest way to do things. MS Sucks!

I do think that you should get checked out for the newest symptoms.

[KoKo]

I have been falling a lot lately. Three times in one day, two the next, plus a weakness that comes over me that hits hard and fast. My arms don't reach out to catch me as they once did.

I've fallen for a long while now. Things are different though. I fall more often and with no warning. I can't catch myself like I did before. I can't stand for as long as I used to and walking is so much harder.

Hi Kalliope

Sorry to learn about all that you've been dealing with. I can definitely relate with the weakness, difficulty walking, and falling.

Is it possible for you to purchase a rollator with a seat?

When I began falling on a regular basis, I knew that I had to keep my rollator with me at all times, and I mean at all times, no matter what.

It has a seat on it for when the weakness overcomes my legs and I need to sit down. I haven't fallen since, thank goodness.

When I'm not sitting on my chair, I am never without my second pair of legs (rollator).

Take care

[hunterd]

"As I sat nursing the newest bump and bruise, I wondered if there was any reason to go to the ER. I know that I haven't broken anything in the falls, just a few scrapes, cuts, bumps and bruises."
because just as everything has snuck up on you without your realization, so might your bumps and bruises and all of a sudden they are no longer minor, but life threatening.
"I've fallen for a long while now. Things are different though. I fall more often and with no warning. I can't catch myself like I did before. I can't stand for as long as I used to and walking is so much harder. It is a struggle really, even with a walker-and then there is the always present pain. What would going to the ER accomplish?"
your neurobiologist may be thinking that a trip to the ER may prevent your next fall from being your last fall. If it it is such a struggle (and I was there at one time myself) then why not get a wheelchair and quit doing things that are impossible.

[PattiHNC]

be safe

you really do need to be evaluated to if can be done to help you. When is your next nuero appt? If you don't want to go ER, perhaps he could offer an alternative. And please, if a wheelchair is the only safe way to get around, use a wheelchair! I know it sucks - I know because this is where I am now. I hate it, but I hate unplanned confrontations with the floor more.

[pennstater]

Hi kalliope,

Since you are falling more often, it could be your neuro wanted to make sure no internal bleeding, concussions, or other non-ms causes, like low blood pressure, glucose problems, etc..

It is difficult to have to modify how we do things. I won't pretend to know how you are feeling. But it sounds like your PT was on to something. As much as we try to will things, sometimes the body just won't. You want to stay as safe as you can and spend your energy on what you can do.

Please take care. If not the wheelchair, please keep your walker with you all the time. It only takes one fall to make things a lot worse.

Be safe.

[Kalliope]

You're all right.

I have a wheelchair and have used it off and on now for a few years. I've had to learn to walk twice before after some pretty bad exacerbations and I use my wheel chair for when I'm weak, need to preserve energy, or it is just to painful to walk.

I don't really think that is what is bothering me. I think it is more that the progression has got to where it is taking so much more away. I went to my physical therapist because I could no longer find new ways of doing things. She told me what I already knew but was hoping I was wrong about. My cognitive abilities are going down the tubes. It would surprise you how many times I write and rewrite-read and reread this post just to see if it makes sense and is saying what I want it too. I miss my intelligence. From what I've been told, I am quite intelligent but I am not able to express it. What good is it then. I miss reading books and understanding them, remembering things from one chapter to the next. I miss remembering my life.

I will be alright with the wheel chair, after all, less falls, more energy, less pain-compared to what I'm living with, and my experience before with being unable to walk, I can do it. It is the whole idea that it represents losing more of my independence, being unable to take care of myself as much, being unable to take care of others too. There is more going on than just the falling. My arms, hands-there are no smooth movements anymore; there isn't a lot of control over anything. I guess it comes down to I'm not ready to lose more. With MS it is more of a "ready or not, here I come" thing.

I'll let New Years come and next week I'll call my Dr. for an appointment. I'm sure I'll be seeing the therapist again to put more things in place to make life easier. This should make me feel better, but it doesn't. I want to get my own glass of water, put on my own shoes, brush my own hair; I could go on and on. We don't always get what we want though do we. I just have to get used to the new me-again. After you've done that so many times, it starts to get scary because so much of you is already gone. Thank you all for listening to my hissy fit. Sometimes just saying this out loud to people who understand helps me catch my second wind and gets me started on living again.

[PattiHNC]

same here

You sound a lot like me - no, MS doesn't ask if we're ready for these major life changes (would we ever be ready) It just takes. And we are left to cope as best as we can. Some days I don't cope too well, but I'm so glad to have this board where we can vent to people who understand. And no, I wouldn't be surprised by how long it took you to make your post, it's taking me about an hour to make this one!

[KATHY SUE]

I wrote a similar post yesterday.

I am having the same experiences you are. It all started with severe pain in legs. I already walk with walker. I noticed much spasticity and locking of joints as well. I hear you loud and clear. I am waiting for Neurologist to be back on Monday. I hope I don't fall too hard till then. I wish you the best. You're not alone.

[Thinkimjob]

Seriously, she asked you, "why do you try"?
What on earth else are you meant to do?

I cannot stand these medical people who keep telling you to think positive and keep trying right up to the point where they have nothing left to offer.
Then when they've got nothing, it is oh dear, so sad, too bad.

Spent the day clinging like a limpet to the walker. Still dragging my feet. Cousin greeted the news of my redundancy (sacking) and my ambition to get a disability pension with a hearty, "Don't do that. You'll find another job."
Have you had a look at me lately, love? I have tried so long and so hard.
I've had it.

[Kalliope]

At first I didn't know what to say to "Why do you try"

I can't say anyone has ever asked me that before. I really didn't know what to say. "Why do you try?" I thought I was suppose too. I guess all the pep talks before really meant that I'm suppose to try till it does no good.

Thinkimjob-
I hope you get your disability pension. A person tries and tries but sometimes I don't think others realize just how hard it all is.

[kelm10]

Have you

Kalliope,

Have you been evaluated to make sure that you do not have a source of infection, that can be adding to your MS issues. That is a standard practice with my neuro. It may not be. But. that is a good thing.

I understand that you did not want to go to the ER. But, being checked out for internal bleeding is a good thing. Checking to make sure your blood pressure is another thing that they could do, too. Then they also could have looked for a source of infection. My neuro will call an order to the lab to check for a bladder infection, rather then me going to the ER.

Maybe this can be added to the discussion, rather then you going to the ER. But, remember that option is there for a reason, and to not be to stubborn to go there.

Also, do you have a wheeled walker like one of the posters asked? Have you had a home visit with Occupational therapy to help with energy conservation and maximizing what you can/want to do in your home setting? If you have, has it been recently. Once again, do not be to stubborn to think that you can not learn something new.

I am not only pointing fingers at you, I have been to stubborn for my own good many times.

[Kalliope]

I'm not sure stubborn is the right word.

I actually have a U-Step walker. They're made for people with balance and neurological problems. I fall even while using it. I also have a wheel chair, that like the walker, I've used and had for years.
The time I fell three times in one day was on Tues. the 23rd. I fell once while using my walker and once while walking down the hallway and once while holding onto a cart. The next day I fell twice and called the Dr. My Neuro was not in so the on call doctor wanted me to go to the ER to be evaluated. It was Dec. 24th, all our family was coming in for the next two days. I knew I wouldn't have to lift a finger because they would take care of everything.

I'd seen my Neuro two weeks before, had my MRI's taken the week before Thanksgiving and have been seeing therapists twice weekly since November. I have test strips to use incase I suspect a urinary tract infection that I used (Those strips are wonderful things!) and that checked out ok. Because of a ventricular tachycardia problem I had in the past, we have a blood pressure machine. My blood pressure was fine and I wasn't dizzy.

Going to the ER isn't a problem for me. Trust me, if I need to go, I'm there. I've had a few to many life threatening issues to be stubborn. As I said earlier, I went to the therapist because I could no longer find new ways of doing things. I welcome the chance to live a life I can be more a part of. I was told I was asking and expecting more from my body than it could give anymore. I have progressed. I went from a cane to a walker/wheel chair with lots and lots of set backs in between like so many of us here. I've learned new ways of doing things so many times and I have accepted that. Now I have progressed to the point where there just aren't new ways to do things on my own, I have to rely on others for more and more of my life.

I don't really feel as if I'm being stubborn. I feel like these are things I've dealt with so many times before and don't see a point of an evaluation. If I go to the ER, they run blood work, have me do neurological tests that I haven't passed in many, many years, look at my bruises, ask me if I've had any med changes, I say no, they usually order another MRI, and tell me to see my Neuro when he gets back and then they send me home. Some things there isn't anything I can do about no matter how much I cry, yell or stomp my feet (if I could stomp my feet). My body will no longer do what I ask of it because it can't and there's nothing an evaluation can do to change that-except maybe to tell me that I shouldn't be trying to walk and my body has already made that clear.

[JerryD]

Yes, I hear you! It sounds like you are feeling the effects of progression of the MonSter! I 'll say a prayer for you ! But, don't worry ! The 'game changer' drug, ocrelizumab is on its way through phase III trials in a foreign clinic, somewhere !
I went into the ER 3 years ago ! The ER doctor told my wife that the ER is no place for me, because I have MS!
He suggested a nursing home or assisted living facility, etc. The doctor scared the heck out of my wife ! The problem with all of this advice was the doctor did all of the evaluations and discovered that I had a UTI ! The UTI caused me to be weakened and seriously unbalanced.
While I was in the care of the ER, the ER nurse suggested that I consult with an 'MS specialist' neurologist, that she had worked for previously. I did that and he is my current neurologist. So, the ER trip was beneficial to me, in many ways ! Crazy logic, huh. Good luck