Mum's friend has OI without CFS, sudden falls

[L'engle]

Hi, this is to help a person who doesn't have CFS, but sudden falling seems like a symptom that some with OI/CFS would have. A friend of my mother, in her 70s, recently had a bad fall and broke her arm while out walking. She's very active, but has always a had a falling problem. She has low blood pressure, which no doctor has ever been concerned about.

She doesn't remember falling, just walking then suddenly being on the ground. Does this happen to some of you with OI? My OI is pretty bad but never comes on that suddenly. I always get some warning that it's time to get to the ground or a piece of furniture, by feeling light headed or weak.

If you have this problem, do you have anything that helps with it or anything you can do to keep safer? Thanks! This person is very kind and understanding about CFS as, fortunately, a lot of people I know are.

 

[glenp]

How common

I don't have any solutions but wonder how common this is? A friend recently phoned me telling me of her friend that had fallen on a friday and then on Monday fell again but hitting her head in such a way that she died - she wasnt discovered for a few days. My neighbour in his seventies was on the sidewalk and fell, then developed a blood clot in his brain - the doctors have no idea why. I really do think many have OI and have no idea of it.

glen

 

[Sushi]

If you have this problem, do you have anything that helps with it or anything you can do to keep safer? Thanks!

L'engle,

I too have OI but have enough warning time to sit down, squat, whatever. But I know several who just crash without warning and find themselves on the floor bleeding from hitting their heads. My dysautonomia specialist was one of them--he became a specialist in the ANS after he got POTS.

What helps people of course differs and your friend's case may have different causes altogether. Just to say that some with OI do suddenly find themselves on the floor.

Sushi

 

[Merry]

Hi, L'engle.

On the science show Radio Lab on public radio (US) there was a segment yesterday on the problem of the eldery falling. The explanation given was that the timing mechanism connecting the brain and other parts of the body fails with age. Babies learning to walk fall and fall before the connections between the brain and the feet (etc.) get in synch.

I don't have a great deal of confidence I've said this right, and I don't know how widely this explanation is accepted. If you want to find out more, the show is probably archived at the Radio Lab website.

Every eldery person I know has had problems with falling. Even when they use walkers and canes for extra assistance. The nursing home I have visited in recent years to see family members requires everyone, no matter what their mobility problems, to use wheelchairs.

Oh, I've re-read your message, and say that this woman has always had a problem falling. Low blood pressure could be problem in her case, certainly.

 

[L'engle]

Thanks for all you replies. Yes, it seems she's had the problem her whole life. I also think OI is probably more common than people think. Completely undiagnosed and dangerous to those who have it.