What can a neurologist do about my Mom's fear of falling when she walks?
Since my mom's last 2 falls she has a constant fear of falling when trying to walk? She will only take a few steps at a time then the fear of falling takes over. What can a nuerologist do to help this situation? She suffers from dementia.
My Mom has one of those walkers with the seat on it..If she feels unsafe she can sit for a minute and she also uses the sit as a tray to carry things..just a suggestion!
Not so long ago, then. Very glad to hear nothing broken! - but all the same it must really have shaken her.
The thing is, she isn't being irrational: if you've lost confidence in your own legs to carry you safely, it's frightening. When she's practising, is she using a walking frame or being supported by a person? A combination of the two might make her feel more secure.
I don't know if this also applies to your mother, but with her increasing frailty my own mother has lost both some spatial skills and the "feedback" to the brain we all get from our feet about where they are that helps us balance. Unfortunately in her case, it doesn't stop her believing that she's quite capable of carrying a tray out of her room and into the kitchen - now, THAT's irrational! - and it's turning my hair white.
If your mother is getting the same pattern, with the same loss of sensation, it must feel a bit like walking on quicksand - you can't trust the ground under your feet. I'm not sure what you'd be expecting a neurologist to do about it, though? My first call would be to an experienced "Falls Prevention" Physical Therapist for exercises to improve her strength and balance - but I wouldn't get too excited about how much difference they'll make. Just doing them will keep your mother from becoming completely immobile, though, and if she's able to work hard and do them every day you should see some improvement.
The only other thing I can think of is, when she's practising walking, follow her closely with a perching stool or wheelchair, so that the second she wants to sit down she can. It should reassure her that she's not going to be left teetering on the edge of another fall.
Good luck, I hope she makes progress and feels safer soon.
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The thing is, she isn't being irrational: if you've lost confidence in your own legs to carry you safely, it's frightening. When she's practising, is she using a walking frame or being supported by a person? A combination of the two might make her feel more secure.
I don't know if this also applies to your mother, but with her increasing frailty my own mother has lost both some spatial skills and the "feedback" to the brain we all get from our feet about where they are that helps us balance. Unfortunately in her case, it doesn't stop her believing that she's quite capable of carrying a tray out of her room and into the kitchen - now, THAT's irrational! - and it's turning my hair white.
If your mother is getting the same pattern, with the same loss of sensation, it must feel a bit like walking on quicksand - you can't trust the ground under your feet. I'm not sure what you'd be expecting a neurologist to do about it, though? My first call would be to an experienced "Falls Prevention" Physical Therapist for exercises to improve her strength and balance - but I wouldn't get too excited about how much difference they'll make. Just doing them will keep your mother from becoming completely immobile, though, and if she's able to work hard and do them every day you should see some improvement.
The only other thing I can think of is, when she's practising walking, follow her closely with a perching stool or wheelchair, so that the second she wants to sit down she can. It should reassure her that she's not going to be left teetering on the edge of another fall.
Good luck, I hope she makes progress and feels safer soon.
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