Pertambulatory problems

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Bill Wilson

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2

I have had Type 2 for 13 years, and a B12 deficiency, for which I get bi-monthly shots, for about 4 - 5 years.
About three years ago I started to notice that, when walking, my left foot was flapping around as though I was wearing a scuba flipper. This situation has been slowly getting worse. Now, when walking, I tend to weave from side to side, my balance is precarious, and I can only walk about 200 yards without resting. I all other respects, I feel absolutely fine - no problems.
The only help which I've been able to get from the medical profession was a short course with a physiotherapist - to strengthen my leg muscles - and that's it. Live with it !!
Anyone else got this problem ? Anybody got any ideas ?
It is beginning to get me down, and any help would be much appreciated.
Bill Wilson
 
Lots more questions, but answers may help others to make more helpful suggestions.

Have you completed your physiotherapy course? Did it help? Are you continuing with the prescribed exercises? Can you go back to physiotherapy, if it finished some time ago? Did the physiotherapist also look at your footwear? Sometimes blocks etc inside shoes, called orthotics, prescibed by specialists, can be helpful. If your balance is precarious, did you look at using a stick? What causes you to need to rest after walking 200m? How quickly do you recover and are able to start walking again? Can you walk again for 200m, or less?
 
Bill Wilson said:

I have had Type 2 for 13 years, and a B12 deficiency, for which I get bi-monthly shots, for about 4 - 5 years.
About three years ago I started to notice that, when walking, my left foot was flapping around as though I was wearing a scuba flipper. This situation has been slowly getting worse. Now, when walking, I tend to weave from side to side, my balance is precarious, and I can only walk about 200 yards without resting. I all other respects, I feel absolutely fine - no problems.
The only help which I've been able to get from the medical profession was a short course with a physiotherapist - to strengthen my leg muscles - and that's it. Live with it !!
Anyone else got this problem ? Anybody got any ideas ?
It is beginning to get me down, and any help would be much appreciated.
Bill Wilson
Click to expand...


Hi Bill,

I'm interested in what you thought of the physiotherapist - were you impressed with him/her? I have an excellent physio that got me back running again after breaking my femur - he really knows his stuff. I changed from the previous physiotherapist because she was absolutely useless. Just mentioning this because it can make a huge difference to both your prognosis and recovery. One thing my physio identified with me was problems with something called 'propriaception', which can affect foot placement and balance. He gave me some exercises, one of which involved a 'wobble' board which can help to strengthen those tiny little muscle movements we unknowingly make each time we take a step, and also improve balance.

If you haven't had any improvement after the physio, it might be worth getting a recommendation to see another one. Just a thought, I hope things improve for you soon.🙂
 
Northerner said:
Hi Bill,

I'm interested in what you thought of the physiotherapist - were you impressed with him/her? I have an excellent physio that got me back running again after breaking my femur - he really knows his stuff. I changed from the previous physiotherapist because she was absolutely useless. Just mentioning this because it can make a huge difference to both your prognosis and recovery. One thing my physio identified with me was problems with something called 'propriaception', which can affect foot placement and balance. He gave me some exercises, one of which involved a 'wobble' board which can help to strengthen those tiny little muscle movements we unknowingly make each time we take a step, and also improve balance.

If you haven't had any improvement after the physio, it might be worth getting a recommendation to see another one. Just a thought, I hope things improve for you soon.🙂
Click to expand...
Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I cannot say that I was unimpressed by the Physio. He, too gave me exercises on the wobble board. I went home and made one for myself and have been using it for nearly a year now. All that I can say is that I do not know how much worse I might have been without it, but I cannot honestly say that I feel that it has improved anything. Perhaps I expect too much ???
Cheers.
 
Copepod said:
Lots more questions, but answers may help others to make more helpful suggestions.

Have you completed your physiotherapy course? Did it help? Are you continuing with the prescribed exercises? Can you go back to physiotherapy, if it finished some time ago? Did the physiotherapist also look at your footwear? Sometimes blocks etc inside shoes, called orthotics, prescibed by specialists, can be helpful. If your balance is precarious, did you look at using a stick? What causes you to need to rest after walking 200m? How quickly do you recover and are able to start walking again? Can you walk again for 200m, or less?
Click to expand...
Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply.
Yes, I have finished the course. I do not think that it helped much except that I was introduced to the 'wobble board' which I still use.
He did not examine my footware or make any recommendations.
I do use a stick when there is any snow or ice around - just for added security.
I have to rest because my lower back and upper legs seem to get weaker & weaker.
After about 10 minutes I can carry on for another short spell, then another rest.
It is very frustrating.
 
Hi Bill,

Do they know why you are having the problems? Is it diabetic related or something else? Have you had nerve conduction studies done?

As a Physio I must apologise for your poor treatment. But I assure u we are not all like this! As copepod has already mentioned looking at ur foot wear is advisable. Also some kind of orthotic in ur shoe may be helpful, there are several on the market and can be easily hidden in shoes/under clothes, they are designed to stop ur foot flopping about as they aid in the floor clearance phase of walking.

A walking aid may benefit. Also work on your core stability will be beneficial as balance doesnt all happen at the foot. Most of it starts further up. A wobble board is good if u are able to do it well, but you really need to be doing some other specific exercise too.

Have a chat with ur GP because where I work GP's can refer direct to orthtic services. This may be the case where you work.

Hope this helps
Janine.
 
Hi Bill
I think Janine's first question is the key.

There are so many medical reasons for ambulatory probs. I had foot drop after a couple of fairly iffy strokes (still have it when tired).

A good overall physical MOT seems to be called for to find the cause rather than just treating the symptoms. Sounds like your busy GP may have a touch of tunnel vision.
 
Good you took advice and got help. Others have said things like Tai Chi and Yoga help. If you are uncertain take advice. SOmetimes swimming helps as water offers support and resistence at the same time. Again I'd seek advice if I were uncertain.
 
Hi Janine,
I cannot really fault the Physio, he was quite attentive and did put me onto the wobble-board (literally). I did fall off, but persevered, over the months. Not that it seems to be doing much good though. I'm afraid that part of the problem is disinterest on the part of the three GPs in my local practice. Every time that I go there I mention my walking difficulty. All I get is a polite brush-off. They referred me to a physio and that's as much as they can do. They are just not interested. The NSF Standard 3 does not seem to have emerged here yet. Anyway many thanks for your interest.
 
Hi Caroline,
Nice of you to take the time to contact me. I'm afraid that I do not swim and am not into Tai Chi or Yoga. I do my other recommended exercises on a daily basis, however, and live in hope.
Regards,
Bill Wilson
 
Can't the GPs refer you to a foot clinic? I think you can find details of them on your local Primary Care Trust site. You just turn up at their walk in clinic, no need for GP referral.
 
Hi John,
Thanks for the call. I'm not sure that our three GPs are particularly busy. Just disinterested, and believe me that is not only my opinion of them. Just yesterday someone said to me "They just don't seem to care anymore." Perhaps they are disillusioned by constant political interference - who knows ?
Anyway, thanks again.
Bill
 
Here I am again. I would just like to update this thread as far as I am personally concerned.
By being just a bit 'forthright' with my GP, I managed to get her to refer me to a medical consultant for a second opinion regarding my mobility problem and my propensity to exhaustion. He sent me for an electro cardiogram, an echo cardiogram, and two MRIs (one of my head and one of my chest). This was followed with a cardiac catheteristion. The upshot is that I have a narrowing of the aortic valve and arteries and have been put on a list for coronary bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement.
The consultant said that he could neither confirm or deny that my condition has been caused by Simvastatin, but if there had been a pre-existing condition then the Simvastatin probably aggravated it.
According to Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, in his book 'The Great Cholesterol Con', heart problems can be one of the unpleasant ill-effects of statin drugs. I leave you all to make up your own minds about this.
Bill Wilson
 
Bill Wilson said:
Here I am again. I would just like to update this thread as far as I am personally concerned.
By being just a bit 'forthright' with my GP, I managed to get her to refer me to a medical consultant for a second opinion regarding my mobility problem and my propensity to exhaustion. He sent me for an electro cardiogram, an echo cardiogram, and two MRIs (one of my head and one of my chest). This was followed with a cardiac catheteristion. The upshot is that I have a narrowing of the aortic valve and arteries and have been put on a list for coronary bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement.
The consultant said that he could neither confirm or deny that my condition has been caused by Simvastatin, but if there had been a pre-existing condition then the Simvastatin probably aggravated it.
According to Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, in his book 'The Great Cholesterol Con', heart problems can be one of the unpleasant ill-effects of statin drugs. I leave you all to make up your own minds about this.
Bill Wilson
Click to expand...

My goodness Bill! Thank you for the update - sorry to hear that you have to have surgery, but it is very good to hear that they got to the source of the problem with a push from you. I hope that all goes well, please keep in touch with us - will be thinking of you. Take care.
 
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