Falling Down

[Connemmara]

2 weeks ago I fell sustaining in grade 2 torn ligaments in left ankle and of course bruised knees. Now I could say I fall at least 10 times a year. I took the advice of Madmen today and wrapped up myself well and took the dog to the park whereby I fell again and a lad and a bus driver got off the bus and picked me up. I have to say I felt sorry for myself and had a little cry - not at the pain I am in but what is calling the falls. I googled there and a bit of fibromyalgia came up which I do have - but I am worried is it my brain also could it be because I am heavy and unfit and should make an appointment to see a neurologist or the "head man" - why do you think. Lay down for a while but am worried about myself. Thanks

[Eve]

Drop attacks are not just falls, I've had some, my mum has had a lot more and they are horrible, basically vertigo so bad it throws you to the floor, usually accompanied by severe vomiting (think coming off the waltzers after having drunk way too much so the room is spinning) and it can take a long time before you are able to even move your head, it's not just a fall.

The general off balance and vertigo can lead to falls though as awareness of what is around you can be screwed and when you have pressure in your ears and tinnitus etc... it can be very disorientating, especially if in one ear. I have it in both but can get worse symptoms in my worse ear.

[pastafreak]

That's interesting,Eve. I had the impression from what I'd read that the attacks could happen with no warning-ie vertigo.
I have had attacks of BPPV...and at their worst I used to feel positively drunk...and needed to resist the urge to drop down to the floor to counteract my swimming head. Thankfully that's not happened in a long time.

[Sqad]

I think that we are getting rather confused here and........complicated.

Drop attacks are just that.....suddenly the patient falls to the ground, without any warning or vertigo, no loss of consciousness and recovers in a matter o a minute or so.

The vertigo of Meniere's Disease is quite different...a warning of vertigo, perhaps associated with nausea and vomiting and these attacks may last 20 mins or more....completely different from drop attacks which are momentary.

I have never known drop attacks to be associated with Meniere;s Disease.

The causes of drop attacks are unknown....but thought to be due to transitory obstruction of the artery that passes through the boney part of the cervical spine, on it way to the base of the brain.

The causes of Meniere;s Disease are ill understood.

[Eve]

Ah, apologies for causing any confusion, I and others I know with menieres have always referred to the severe being thrown to the floor kind of vertigo attacks as drop attacks, didn't realise there with other ones with nothing to do with menieres.

20 minutes, that's a bit optimistic sqad ;) Mum has had ones where she hasn't been able to move for hours! I've had ones which have kept me down for over 20 minutes too.

I'm lucky in that I get a bit of a warning, feel really really sick in my stomach and go into this kind of cold sweat feeling and just feel wrong then the fear factor kicks in when you realise what is about to happen.

[Eve]

Oh, sorry, you said 20 mins or more, I'm really not with it today! Been on fast for gastro tests this morning and still loathe to put much in my tummy as feeling a little ticking time bomb, am thinking wobbly me needs a nap... ;)

[Sqad]

eve...I said "20mins or more"

Drop Attacks are a specific neurological entity well publicised in the medical profession

[Eve]

I stand corrected :) Ok, nap time!