Tuesday 11 August 2015

Falling

Some times I fall. If you read my recent post about my Muscular dystrophy  then you would remember that I said that at times I will fall.

This is usually broken into three parts:

1) I have been walking and something has gone underneath my feet, big or small, and knocked me off balance.

2) I have a certain amount of foot drop and if I haven't lifted my foot properly then I trip myself up.

3) I twitch; either just one muscle in my leg or a full body twitch.

Well as many of you saw yesterday between Instagram, Twitter and Facebook I had one of my falls. But I wanted to talk about it a bit.

As my MD post states I twitch. The subsequent action is then to drop, throw, move with whatever part of my body is twitching, When it is my leg through it buckles under my weight; despite weighing very little!

Sometimes though I get, what I call, full body twitches. This is when more than one muscle decides to twitch at once. This limits what I can do, how I can land, or where I can move at that time. You could for the sake of arguments just yell timber, as I will just topple.

This is what happened on Monday.


I was lucky, I twitched and fell and hit a table, just a small corner, and I think my glasses took the brunt of it. Yes, I did say I am lucky, it could have been worse.

The falling part doesn't actually bother me too much; apart from some mild embarrassment if someone is around when I do it.

Even the struggle of getting up or needing someone to help me up, that too doesn't really bother me.

It is the split second of falling that I hate. I don't know where I will go, what will happen, what I might hit, it is just falling. No control, nothing to do apart from just fall.

The only way I can describe it is like the feeling of falling when you are asleep. That jerk, that sensation and that bit of fear.

See with the full body twitch I have no idea what else is twitching too; internal or external. I have no idea in that moment what will happen.

Yet, this I suppose it is the risk that I take; I could avoid the falls if I went into a wheelchair. 

I would hope all those who read my MD post will see why I don't want to go down that route yet. I can still walk and that's exactly what I will do.

It could have been worse. But then again I am pretty lucky and have never really done any damage; apart few stitches here or there and a sprained ankle but that's nothing.

(I was even hit by a bus where I twitched in front of one and just walked away with a few bruises. Lucky and tough.)

I do fall a lot more than I would say publicly but it's moments like this that I feel I need to share. Not through pity but more that I want you to see the physical affects of what MD can do.



So after the fall I am left with a lovely black eye and bruising. Again, I don't mind. But from now on I didn't have a fall, I think we should stick to the story that I stopped a mugging of a war veteran against 6 massive guys. I rescued that poor chap and this was the result of my heroic behaviour; what do you reckon? 



16 comments:

Gary Mathews said...

Thank goodness only your pride took a small hit, I'd go with the heroic story for any outsider also.

The Plagued Parent said...

I think you are pretty heroic, no matter which story you pick to tell :)

Kim Carberry said...

I hope you are not too sore....
Nah! I'd say there were 15 of them...Go big. hehehe x

Unknown said...

Ouch. Your poor eye. Hope you are okay. Must be difficult and scary but I really admire you for speaking out about it and raising awareness of MD.

Plutonium Sox said...

Ah I don't believe either story, I'd just like to see the other guy ;) Hope you're recovering well from your fall. It must be such a nasty thing to go through and I think you're amazing for sharing it and giving people an insight into what it is like to live with MD.

Unknown said...

Yes definitely that's what happened - you should feel very proud that you got off so lightly! I hate that feeling of falling too - I was never one for high diving boards! I hope you're ok and thank you for sharing this. Unless people with MD tell us what it's like, we would have absolutely no idea and we should x

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks Gary. It was only my pride that took it! Definitely stick to the hero story ;)

Martyn Kitney said...

Aw thank you! Always nice to hear that! :)

Martyn Kitney said...

Haha Kim you mught have a point there! Aim high!

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you. It's ok. Was just bruising. Always a little shaken to start with but was fine an hour after. :) and thank you. I think I need to talk about it more. I don't know many that do so it's good to spread awareness.

Martyn Kitney said...

Ha thanks Natalie! I recovered pretty quickly thankfully! Always bounce back :) well its people like yourself that always encourage me to so am glad that I am writing more about it.

Martyn Kitney said...

Ha thanks ;)
The falling and no control is horrible. Despite that ive never minded heights though! I think it's great that you guys are so supportive with me sharing the parts of it taht I normally hide. Without it id probably just keep quiet so thank you! :)

Bear and Cardigan said...

You tell it with such humour! Hope your head is ok and a bit of sellotape or a plaster may fix your glasses.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks. I've got to have humour with it. Without I'm sure the world would be much more depressing!! Head healed fairly quickly luckily. As for the glasses. Well I got a new pair for £5 so I didn't mind.

Familymakes said...

As I was reading I was thinking you need a good story to go with your injury - glad to see you've got one! Much love, hope it heals soon x

thisiswhereitisat said...

I have coordination problems and can imagine how frustrating it is. Bur your brave to write about it and I hope you feel better soon X