Seven people with ET\nthat I have known have died from falls. While the cause was not exclusively ET,\nit was a factor in all cases. Personally,\nmy balance and gait have gotten worse. It is a combination of\nmy ET’s progression and the consequence of the surgical treatment of\nmy ET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was proud of myself\nbecause I had adjusted my balance to prevent falls. I was using my hands\nconstantly while I walked or rose. I thought it was working, but it wasn’t. I\nhad a very serious fall going up the stairs in which I seriously bruised my\nkidney. I was doing just about everything wrong!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Realizing that, I did\nsomething. First, I joined a water aerobics class. Many years ago, Jan Helper\nin the Columbia ET support group had told the group how well water aerobics had\nhelped her. Finally, I started and immediately saw the advantage of doing\nit – the buoyancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Second, I started\ndoing neurological physical therapy – with the emphasis on neurological. The practice\nI go to only handles people with neurological disorders. My young physical\ntherapist fully understands movement disorders and their effects on the body.\nWhile she is nice, she is tough – constantly pushing. I had Marine Drill\nInstructors in the Navy; she is nicer but pushes just as hard as they did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I started, I\nwalked like an Emperor penguin. I leaned forward – my shoulders were tense. My\narms were out to the side, particularly my right one which was tense. I used my\nhands for everything. I took short steps. I needed to use my core to walk\nproperly. I needed to relax, specifically my shoulders and arms. I had to quit\nusing my hands and learn to rely on my legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not easy to\nlearn how to walk again. It takes a lot of repetition and strengthening of the\nlegs. Of real importance is to relax, relax, relax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When my\ntherapist learned I did the water aerobics from 9-10am twice a week,\nshe scheduled me from 11:30-1pm on the same days. It takes me the intervening\ntime to change and drive. An important part of the therapy is that I must be\ntired. At the end, particularly on Thursday, I am!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a long-lasting\neffort. I must remain committed and persistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I have said repeatedly, everyone’s ET is unique. This may or may not be right for you. However, alternative treatments for ET do work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n