Does anyone have specific information on falling "backwards"? (2023)

First find another Dr. Any Dr who doesn't start research because he "might scare people" shouldn't "practice"!
You and your mother deserve better.
Also, rejecting what you found on the internet is derogatory, to say the least. Physicians need to be prepared for what their patients will find in magazines, on the Internet, and other media, and be respectful of the patient doing their own research. If your mother keeps falling, you risk brain injuries and broken bones = pain, disability, morbidity.
Are you looking for a more competent and intelligent Dr. Much luck. I hope your mother gets the support she deserves. Years ago, with a Dr. who told me that he always subscribed to Reader's Digest so he could keep up to date with what illnesses his patients were having over the next month. (RD used to have an article "I'm Joe or Jill's kidney/liver/thyroid etc.")

27.09.2017 23:13:47

Dear Dunn, The following is my response to a similar question 3 months ago. PSP is not difficult to diagnose for an informed or specialized neurologist. So we switched neurologists. dr Michael Au didn't need any tests, it was a 5 minute clinical diagnosis. It's VERY frustrating not having answers. Find an appropriate neurologist, do your research, and watch for other symptoms. If you discover that your mother has a PSP, I suggest you make the most of your time as a mother now.
- - - Fall backwards? Can't speak, swallow, read or walk well? Mom had everything plus seizures. Investigate PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy), which is rarely and commonly diagnosed as Parkinson's-like. Her doctor offered her pills, her neurologist offered her painkillers for seizures, and used the word Alzheimer's. We found a new doctor (never too late!) who referred us to a knowledgeable geriatric neurologist. It was well worth the 2 hour drive and 5 minute visit to the office to get a correct diagnosis. Mom matched every PSP symptom we found online. No, there is no treatment. But YES, a great relief to finally have an answer, knowing what was going on with mum and what to expect for the future. We put aside worry, frustration and seeking help from the helpless. We spent our last 3 years making the most of the time we had.
TerryinParadise

16.03.2017 12:21:23

Is progressive supranuclear palsy difficult to diagnose? We did all sorts of tests and saw a neurologist. He ruled out Parkinson's. My mother is 76 years old and suffers from a backward or balance fall. After a fall, you have no idea how the fall happened. We have had home therapy and although it has helped a little, my mother is frustrated that there is no known diagnosis or cause for her falls.

16.03.2017 09:04:08

Fall backwards? Can't speak, swallow, read or walk well? Mom had everything plus seizures. Investigate PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy), which is rarely and commonly diagnosed as Parkinson's-like. Her doctor offered her pills, her neurologist offered her painkillers for seizures, and used the word Alzheimer's. We found a new doctor (never too late!) who referred us to a knowledgeable geriatric neurologist. It was well worth the 2 hour drive and 5 minute visit to the office to get a correct diagnosis. Mom matched every PSP symptom we found online. No, there is no treatment. But YES, a great relief to finally have an answer, knowing what was going on with mum and what to expect for the future. We put aside worry, frustration and seeking help from the helpless. We spent our last 3 years making the most of the time we had.

12.02.2016 14:10:37

I'm a little late to post here, but backward falling is a symptom of progressive supranuclear palsy, a little-known degenerative neurological disease. It also causes problems with vision, swallowing, eventually speech, etc., but often the initial onset is falling backwards, slurred speech, and trouble focusing the eyes. Please investigate this condition especially on Thimblemoss and check if this is not the case. It falls under the Parkinson's disease umbrella but bears very little resemblance to Parkinson's disease.

13.07.2016 11:25:46

This (backward imbalance) is very interesting. My aunt (89) complained about a relapse a few years ago. He never really fell, but felt he could easily do it. She had pt at home and although it helped she said it still felt like she was leaning backwards. A therapist came in for an evaluation and found that her posture was such that she reclined and also noticed that the Converse sneakers she liked to wear were very flat, lacked arch support or heel construction, and were too long. All of this was true. They looked like clown shoes to me. He liked these shoes so much that he had two pairs. When we put him in better shoes, the problem went away. He loves his new shoes. I never dreamed that a problem like reverse imbalance existed. She has a home therapy session once a quarter and it really helps.

29.02.2016 03:08:11

My 88 year old mother has osteoarthritis in her right knee, COPD, heart failure and atrial fibrillation and had an ischemic stroke two years ago. Take the blood thinner Xarelto (rivaroxaban). and furosemide, among other drugs. He has a significant balance problem and muscle weakness. She uses a walker 100%. He lives in a senior community and still insists on living "independent living" in his cabin. She recently had two setbacks in her cabin, one in October 2015 (back of head hit on blade of wooden dining table, went to ER, CT scan showed no injuries) and the second time in February 2016 (slammed left elbow into vinyl floor , went to the ER and had a tear that was "taped down" and bandaged). I called the offices of his family doctor and his cardiologist. I will also call her physical therapist. Here's an article I found on pubmed: Backward imbalance in the elderly. Clin Interview Aging 2008 Dec;3(4):667-672. A comprehensive overview can also be found in pubmed: Howe TE, Exercise to Improve Balance in the Elders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 9 Nov;(11):CD:004963. A third article in a physical therapy journal: What is a posterior imbalance and how do I treat it? Case study of a complex patient. J Neurol Phys Ther 2015 April; 39(2):119-26.

26.02.2016 14:42:18

my aunt is 92 years old, she has had trouble walking for about 2 years. i have had her in rehab off and on for these 2 years has told her that she is the only person i know who is going through rehab and coming home worse, she is in rehab now and can't stay up long his legs, she can ride a bike in therapy and do a good job, but when she puts weight on his legs, he can barely move his feet. I've had every test we can think of but nothing, they even did a stroke test and nothing, he's been falling forward for a while now he's falling backwards when he can walk, I'm very scared of her in a Having to be stuck in nursing home, but what else can I do? I would love to try to bring her home but I have medical issues that limit my ability to lift and pull her. Does anyone know what her medical issue might be since no doctor knows?

26.05.2014 15:42:34

It can be neurological, part of a primary or secondary parkinsonian picture, and responsive to medication. If you think it is and the regular nurse or doctor can't feel it, see it, or be unfamiliar with how to treat it, have a good neurologist look at it. Artane and Sinemet are not complete replacements for a functioning black striatum and basal ganglia, but they can be surprisingly helpful in some cases and often without many side effects. JMMV!!

05.06.2014 22:06:54

The balance comes from mechanisms in the inner ear, and by 92 the machine is just worn out. She doesn't like the PT so don't force her to continue. She is referred to a wheelchair and 24-hour assistance. The MD was a bit casual, but he can be just as frustrated as you. The reality of old age is difficult to accept and irreparable.

05.06.2014 11:04:48

I also work with patients who are holding weight on their heels! I am a home health care PTA and this is very common in the elderly. I'm working hard to keep it going. Forward lunges, weight shifts and much more. Sometimes I feel like it has to be neurological because even if they're successful one day, they might not be next time. In fact, they feel like they're falling flat on their face when the opposite is more likely. Am I hitting a dead horse?

05.06.2014 08:29:52

19.03.2014 19:32:14

21.02.2014 02:01:59

21.02.2014 00:40:38

We got a call from a physical therapy center because my mom's doctor thought maybe it would help if mom could build up her muscles etc. I'm very happy and hope it helps. Mom fell a few years ago and broke her arm at the shoulder (she had done that to the other a few years ago) and then went to this medical center. She was very fond of the first therapist who worked with her and made progress (both in her and the therapist's opinion); However, this girl was transferred to Salem and a young man was assigned to her case. Mom said he would only say superficially, "Do 10 of these and 10 of these and 5 of these, etc." Then he would go away and various therapists would chatter to each other... He would come back and just admit more exercises but not stay there at all and/or give advice, encourage me or check if I was doing them right. She quickly said, "I don't think there's much we can do for you, so I suggest you stop your therapy..." Mom was devastated and angry (she's still doing the exercises the first girl typed her on a sheet has given). . Well, what Mom said when I told her I was coming back was, "I better not stay with the same guy - that's probably a waste of time etc etc." She's totally negative, and she tends to be negative in general what makes it really hard for me to be optimistic...

01.06.2012 05:07:15

29.05.2012 16:30:13

Interestingly, there is an old man in my friend's building who can ONLY walk backwards. He's physically unable to walk forward without falling over, so she says he walks backwards everywhere! This was due to a stroke he had suffered about a decade ago which had thrown him completely off balance as he stared straight ahead. Funny but true. As for your mother, I'd say get a second opinion from a doctor who isn't an idiot.

29.05.2012 15:36:24