Thanks for taking on us your Free Fall. I had to chuckle when reading your post, I loved the image of the ringmaster holding her human trickster by the belt. Be glad your ringmaster uses the belt. I was in a rehab facility for a month after I took a free fall and broke my hip and the therapists there just grabbed you by the back of your pants, making sure to grab your underwear too; never mind that the wedgy caused by this limits the human's ability to breathe. And then, fellow human try to undo the wedge while in the crowded hallway of the rehab facility or hospital, depending where you are. If I ever go again, I will bring my own belt. Thanks for the tip.
My favorite tip for straightening up without holding onto the walls, is what I call the "Surfin Safari." I pretend that I am bringing in the big one, wearing the bikini I could wear 40 years ago, in the body I had 40 years ago, as the crowds cheer. Might as well enjoy myself while I am standing there with my arms out to the side swaying my body a little until I gain my balance again. In public it can get a little embarrassing, but start singing out, "Let's go surfin now, everybody's surfin now, come on the safari with me," and you'll be surprised at how many others get into surfing mode with you!
Oh Denise, no belt? That's just not right, wedgies and all.
The belt is very useful for grabbing that center of gravity and saving it from veering too far off course. I'm getting to really appreciate that little taps on hips or shoulders to help keep me in line.
Right now I'm really working on remembering to try to stand up WITHOUT pushing on my thighs or pulling on a table or pushing off the arm of a chair. It's really hard to do sometimes. But you gotta make those muscles do their fair share of work.
Next time they put me on the rocking balance board, I'll break out in "surfin' safari". I think that'll be appreciated greatly. lol.
It will be interesting to see if anyone joins you in singing, "Surfin Safari." The wedgies can be difficult, I didn't even know they had belts for this purpose, and here I am in the big city, Manhattan, where you'd think they had everything. they probably do have them and either they were all being used or I just had a therapist who enjoyed watching me squirm, literally. Ha ha.
Happy Holidays!
Denise
Lisa, I'm dizzy just from reading your post.
One of the weirdest balance issues I have is a simple hug. When someone hugs me, I completely lose my balance on the release. It's become kind of joke in our house, because we like to hug. At least hubby knows it's coming and always waits for me to get control before walking away!
I've also had the feeling of being pushed by an invisible force. It's either the MS or a ghost with a sense of humor. I'm not sure which I prefer...
Awww, Casper the friendly, pushy, prankster ghost. Glad he doesn't know where I live.
But, Mandy, you get the hug trips too? Well, mine feel kinda like trips cause my feet aren't really sure which direction to go to make it safe again. I like hugs, especially hugs where I can (on purpose) learn on the other person. So long as he doesn't let me go before I'm on my own two feet, I'm good.
Hey, btw, a little birdie told me that a Wii would be arriving under the tree this year. I'm kinda excited that between PT and game/exercise motives at home, I must actually regain some strength and endurance in the coming year. I'd love to feel strong again.
We'll have to compare Wheeeeeeeee stories.
Lisa
My song is by Leon Russell. I think the title is Tight Rope... (maybe) There is also the line..."maybe your just to blind to see". Been there and done that again just last week.
Balance has been excellent of late (I'm guessing now it IS the 4-AP) but the eyes went to hell... It's always somethin'
Hey Bubbie,
So good to see you!! Great news about the balance and 4-AP!! Really lousy news about the eyes!! You need those babies to create all of the beautiful paintings you do.
Tell those suckers that they better get in line already, or you'll send them out on the tight rope and see how they like it...... lol. 
Hope you are doing well otherwise. Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it.
Lisa
Been there and there and there 
, same results. The PT lady sent me home after a few sessions including home practice saying it really wasn't gonna improve my balance, gait, ability to keep my spine straight, . . . . . . HA! My neuro does all the tests every few visits, but finally understands that my walking isn't improving, rather quite the opposite. The tuning fork thing only causes response slightly on my rt side and just about not at all on my left; that I give the Babinsky response when he drags the pointy thing from my heel to my toes; that I can't walk heel to toe with my eyes closed at all. Have I missed anything?
So after more than 10 years since dx and more than 11 years since we started the search I have more and more sx and declining physical abilities. I beat the tests every time .
My moto is day by day and enjoy life. Keep the other things as a nuisence (sp? blackout - HAA!) and learn to adapt as things appear.
Shalom - Peace,
Maris in Israel
"day by day and enjoy life"
Maris, that's a great outlook you have. Simply wonderful.
As for me, the PT is helping me tremendously, not just with balance and walking, but with being able to enjoy life. We have awakened muscles which had become deconditioned and weak. We are working towards extending my limits so that I can try to start getting some cardio exercise going (bike mostly). And although I still can't walk that heel-toe line, I don't trip as much and walk with more confidence now.
All efforts to improving quality of life. That's what it's all about.
So glad that you are doing well, and I like your suggestions for keeping those muscles and joints in good working order. It's good to 'see' you.
Be well,
Lisa
Back again after over a week, I think. I had my periodic visit with my neuro yesterday. I guess his report is good: no EDSS progression, no spasticity, Babinsky whatever is still there and my optic nerve seems to be functioning although he told the students to pay attention to the dilation of my rt pupil.
Despite all of this, I left with a very negative feeling. For the first time I felt like I wasn't being taken seriously, like: "what? you again?". The female student asked good questions and my prof made sure they knew that I swim daily. And still I didn't have a good feeling about the visit. I made the next appt for 6 months from now.
What do they know anyway after a walk to and fro over a meter of floor? What do they know about how hard it is for me to hold myself up and not bend over forwards? Don't they notice how my words get garbled and I can't express myself without getting flustered?
I left feeling like it was a waste of time except for the recommendation for Provigil. We had talked about it last visit and this time he gave his approval because our health ministry has added it to the approved meds for MS.
I got through this by getting up this morning and going for my swim. That's much more important to my soul and body than visits to drs.
Thanks for the continued venting. It's definitely helping this time.
Hugs from the desert,
Maris
Maris,
Very good news on the lack of EDSS progression and lack of spasticity. Presence of Babinski sign is just a signal that there is a disruption in the nerve signals. Nothing good or bad, just is what it is. And as far as the pupil... I have residual damage in my right eye and that pupil is usually a bit larger than the left to allow it to register the same amount of light. Just another sign of previous damage not of something going on currently.
I understand your frustration about not being able to determine how MS is affecting your daily functioning by looking at us walk across a room or if we have numbness or not. Fantastic that you swim so regularly. Good for the body and good for the soul.
It sounds like you are stable which is a good thing. Provigil may help with fatigue (it did for me) and mental clearness. Glad that you find the venting to be therapeutic. Anytime!! 
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.
. I just can't keep up lately.
Hi Lisa:
You brought back a memory of my own experience with the cushion pad, trying to march up and down in place on it with eyes closed and arms out. No way! I kept marching off to the left or falling over. The physical therapist gave me some good advice in saying I should attempt to straighten myself without grabbing onto the wall. This way, I would learn to regain my balance on my own.
That was three years ago and that episode has calmed down, but I still have balance issues. My cushion pad is on a shelf in my closet. I should probably practice on it.
Good luck with your physical therapy. Do tell us more stories and tips.
- Julie
Hey Julie,
(sorry for the delay in responding) I haven't even gotten close to marching, on a pad, with eyes closed and arms out. That would probably be a disaster at this point.
I did get to try and balance on a rocking/balance board. Now that was kinda funny, I'm sure, with the hips and arms flailing about. I've definitely got some more stories brewing. I didn't even realize that my balance was THIS FAR off.
I'll keep you posted.