Fallers...I'm starting to worry about P breaking something!
realisticdreams
member
Peyton is falling just as much as ever (I'd estimate 20-25 times/day) except she seems to be falling harder. If that makes sense?
If we are out, (concrete, etc) she slams down. I am so sick of the stares like "omg why cant your kid walk" but it just seems the older she's getting the 'harder' she is falling.
I'm starting to really worry about her breaking something as a result of it.
I don't know if this is a valid fear or not?
I am so thankful that she can walk, etc but I don't know that this falling is ever going to go away. It didn't get better with SMO's and we do have orthotic inserts but Im not sure those are really going to do much.
People really get looks of horror on their faces when she falls sometimes (she kind of goes flying forward..) and Im like "it's fine....happens all the time!"
Sigh!
We go back to the CP specialist in a few months so I'm going to ask him and we do have the baclofen we haven't started yet, im not sure if that will help.
Re: Fallers...I'm starting to worry about P breaking something!
Would a walker help, just to give her something to balance herself?
My LO has a constellation of bruises and bumps on his forehead right now. He is leaning to get things and the losing his balance. It looks awful. So I feel your pain!
20-25 times a day is a lot. Especially if she's falling forward hard. Does she put her hands out to catch herself? Can she get back up without assistance? Can you associate the falling with something in particular... like poor balance and/or coordination or issues with stamina and fatigue? Is there ever a time when she doesn't fall or a surface that seems to be better? Does it generally happen later in the walk? If it seems balance related--you could look into (inner) ear issues.
Seems like you need to figure the "what", before really getting an accurate idea of what to do to treat it. The children's hospital we get the bulk of DDs care from has a gait lab, where they'll put these special pants and socks on a child and have them "walk on the yellow brick road" which has special receptors in it. While the child is walking it measures a whole bunch of specific information like the length of their steps, the pattern of their foot placement, etc. and can give you a better idea of what exactly is "off" about their gait. There's also a series of tests that some audiologists offer for balance where they can differentiate what's caused by the ear and what's caused by something else. I can't remember what those are called... I know another evaluation probably isn't on the top of your wish list right now, but this type of evaluation seems like it'd be pretty helpful for knowing what to do in Peyton's situation since the falls could be caused so many different things.
A reverse walker (the kind that a person pulls behind them vs. leaning on it) generally won't cause any regression in walking skills and would offer her extra support if balance is her issue. Or if the issue is stamina and small breaks aren't enough, some kids will push a wheelchair until they need it to sit in.
DD has severe balance issues combined with some pretty extreme impulsiveness where she has no fear of hurting herself. We can't let her crawl on a surface without putting a mat down. Plain and simple--it sucks. But its better than a concussion or a head injury. That balance of independence versus safety is so hard sometimes....
One other thought--A helmet and knee/elbow pads. You can buy helmets that are pre-made and targeted towards safety for children with special needs. They range in price, but aren't too expensive.
DDs head was too small for those, so her PT and pediatrician both wrote scripts for a custom helmet based on a safety need. We were able to get it through the orthotist that did her AFOs and it was essentially a Doc Band shaping helmet. They used this special machine to get the exact shape of her head, including the forehead and the inside is packed with layer upon layer of impact-catching material. The entire helmet endures some crazy number of impacts--I think in the thousands.... I would have rathered get one of the pre-made ones, though--they are much cheaper, WAY easier/quicker to get (and replace), and the one's I've seen on other kids stay on the child's head better.
I was going to suggest a walker also. Is she falling more at the beginning, middle, or end of walking? I am assuming it is towards the middle to end when she is just getting physically tired. Would maybe holding your hand (if she will) when you walk help?
We aren't on Baclofen but are using Zanaflex right now and I can tell you that his balance seems better. He isn't as tight and seems better able to control his body. Maybe talk to your doctor again about the Baclofen to get more used to the idea of using it and then trying it just to see what happens??
I think the fear of her potentially breaking something is very valid. The older she gets, the taller she gets, the hard the fall will be...a longer way to fall. If she is always catching herself, say with her hands/wrists, she may make them weaker and more prone to being broke. I don't know for sure and I have no medical background but just seems like it could be possible. I know that when I broke my wrist it was because I was catching myself in a fall.
is she getting tired and shuffling her feet instead of lifting them? I know that can cause a lot of issues with falling.
also, i would give the baclofen a try. It really helps DS's balance because he's not fighting the tone all the time, he can really use his muscles properly to balance.
Her falling seems to be tied in with her CP/spinal cord issues, but no ones really ever been able to pinpoint why. The PT said it looks like her right ankle causes it sometimes, but others it doesn't.
Sigh.
I just don't have the energy to type right now but I did read everyones responses and I will try to see what I can do to put a plan of action into place.
Also she often times falls flat and her arms go out not down in front of her.