Who else is really clumsy?

HA HA HA! I know exactly what you're saying! I'm 58 and got Rheumatoid arthritis at 29. Before then I very rarely was clumsy, but since getting the condition, I've lost count of the times I've accidentally broken my toes, nudged into something, wobbled but not actually fallen over etc. bruised myself, almost fallen out of bed...only did that when I was 19 and thankfully no more yet... !

I’m recovering from a second operation on my ankle after braking it in three places after falling off a small doorstep, that’s just the latest

MogsmawI know how you feel I have dyspraxia and ADHD. Not enough to be physically disruptive, As I was a very good reader, unlike those with dyslexia, i was never seen as 'remedial'.

But I was just seen as 'odd'. Both by adults and other children, I felt odd, I didn't understand other children anymore than they understood me and any attempts to fit in always failed because I never really understood what I was doing.

Fortunately I was always at ease with myself, so I just accepted that I was odd and didn't fit in, got on with doing and enjoying things that interested and excited me.

I wasn't friendless, I wasn't socially awkward so I rubbed along with most people - and, of course, I wasn't the only odd one, Over 60 years since I left school, I still keep up with my best friend from that time.

I have found the last 10 years or so when neuro-diversity has been recognised and understood quite cathartic, to see one's divergencies recognised and discussed and to know that there are other people around like me and thatnthere is somewhere where I fit.

I’m dyslexic and dyspraxic. Always have been. I described myself as “ambisinesterist” ( the opposite of ambidextrous) before I’d ever heard of dyspraxia.
When I was a girl you weren’t neurodiverse, you could either pass for normal or you were sent to special education.
I could survive in school but I’ve always been clumsy and not even I can read my handwriting!

I'm clumsy, I found learning to drive very difficult and learning the piano was worse. I could decode the symbols and knew which key was which but could only play waltzes or marches because I was counting in my head. I was hopeless at tennis or anything where the object moved fast. I can't dance as I can't keep a rhythm.
I was diagnosed with dyslexia when one DD was. After reading your comments I'm wondering if I might have some dyspraxia too. My other DD is the same she was described as Bambi by a PE teacher.
To be able to get round a dance floor I have to be indecently close to DH so that I can feel his legs moving. This was really embarrassing when younger and I went to balls with him as I had to decline the offer of a dance or they might have thought I was making a pass at them.

I’m always banging my head. Thankfully I’m usually wearing a hat which softens the blow. Banged my head three times today. Usually happens when I’ve been bending down and forget there’s a shelf above me. But the third time today was when I was moving things around in the porch and a pile of umbrellas and walking sticks tipped over and got me on the head. It’s all down to me doing so much work on the house: I’m trying to declutter as I’ve realised my house is such a trip hazard. Perhaps I should wear a cycling helmet! Each time I do it I can’t believe I’ve done it again.

Notspaghetti thank you for your advice about glasses. M0nica, your difficulty getting the right pressure when using touch screens rang bells with me, it drives me doolally. I’m not formally diagnosed but my daughter is. It was such a relief to discover that there was a reason for the difficulties we had. Games lessons at school were a nightmare, not least because there was constant argument about whose turn it was to have me on their team. I was thrown out of needlework because there was no way I could treadle a sewing machine while trying to guide the material at the same time.

To all those who find themselves tripping a lot, a physio advised me to put the heel of my foot down before the toe to reduce the risk of tripping.

I'm quite clumsy. I have very little vision in one eye so I don't really see in 3D. Always banging things in to each other or walking in to things on my almost blind side.

the other thing I have a problem is a smart phone. I cannot get the right pressure or remember the sequence of pokes and swipes needed to achieve anything. Again I have sequncing problems. I intend to put in '123', but end up putting '312' and then have to start all over again.

I find this infuriating because, originally, I was really keen on having one, but I have ended coming across as a technophobic old lady, which I am not (technophobic that is, I am old)

Most of you will have notice how erratic my typing is. I do try and proof read - but that is another problem.

ElusiveButterfly google Dyspraxia, and read up about it. Even if you do not get a diagnosis, I have found finding a context and understanding for all kinds of odd problems I have in life has been a real help. I get much less frustrated when I do something and it all goes wrong, I also have an explanantion when other people think me odd because I cannot - use a smartphone - for example.

My son at an interview for a post grad post, was asked "what are your weaknesses.. He replied I can be a bit clumsy tripping over my feet" the panel liked the reply, got the job.

Monica, What you say describes me and I feel I could self-diagnose with dyspraxia. I was a clumsy child and was even taken to the GP by my mother about it.
My handwriting and drawing has always been poor and I had difficulty threading needles. I was never any good at playing the piano - it made no sense to me to play two different things with different hands.
Like FannyD, I was useless at dancing. Luckily my friend at school was as bad as me so we paired up. I could not play tennis or other ball games. Later on I gave up on driving lessons.

Thanks MOnica, that’s so interesting. I never tried Tai Chi but I’ve never been able to do any kind of formal dancing. I was sent to ballet classes as a child in an attempt to make me more graceful (some hope) and the teacher ended up just ignoring me! I was never allowed to take part in shows. At school we did Scottish Country Dancing, and later ballroom - I was absolutely useless except as comedy value for the other girls. I can’t park a car either - just can’t judge angles, distances and spaces.

FannyD I have had a formal diagnosis. This arose because DS was having problems, especially with handwriting and it was holding him back at school.

I read an article in the newsletter of a charity I was involved with describing the child with hand writing problemsa, difficulty riding a bike and generally cack handed - this described me as well, and I followed it up and we had him assessed and he was given special exercises to do that helped some of his problems. I commented to the therapist that I had similar problems. Her response was 'Yes, I know, I have been watching you.'.

Back then we were described as having 'Organised Body Disfunction/Disorder' the word Dyspraxia did not come in until the late 1980s and this was mid-1980s.

In the last few years when the word 'neural diversity' has come into use for those who have one or more of a series of problems, including dyspraxia, dyslexia, ADHD, autism much more has been published on other problems I have, which I never realised had any connection with dyspraxia, including problems with sequencing,

I do Tai Chi and one aspect of it requires us to do a sequence of movements in continuous flow and I just cannot do it, I just cannot coordinate different parts of my body doing different things at the same time. I can understand now is why I had such difficulty playing the piano.

Recent research shows that there ar distinct diffferenes between the neuro-diverse brain and the nuro normal brain and it is often genetic, so if one family member has it so will others. I am neurally diverse, DS is and we now know DGS is as well. My sister who is an expert on autism thinks our father was autistic.

This is such an interesting thread for me.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been called clumsy. Parents, brother, grandparents, teachers, friends - and later boyfriends, my husband, my pupils at the schools where I taught, my grandchildren.
I bump into things, misjudge spaces, drop things, fall up and down kerbs. As a child I had permanently scabby knees and bruises. It’s a source of great hilarity.
About ten years ago I was talking to a friend whose 3 year old nephew had been diagnosed as having dyspraxia. I wasn’t familiar with the term so looked it up, and as I read a most interesting article it was as if scales fell from my eyes! This is me! Apparently, it was once called clumsy child syndrome, but the article said that adults can also be diagnosed. I also learned that it wasn’t just about “clumsy” symptoms - it includes being easily distracted and daydreaming, and being a bit socially inept. All this describes me.
My question to those who have said they are dyspraxic - have any of you had an official diagnosis or are you - like me - self diagnosed? I just ask out of interest.

Paying attention is probably vital to keeping upright.
It’s not always easy though because there’s always something to attract attention, and a second of inattention can be all it takes.
I know I tripped but didn’t fall thankfully, twice yesterday !

I’ve tripped stepping onto the pavement 3 times in recent months. The swelling, bruising and scrapes on my knees has just subsided when I manage to do it again. Not sure if I’m not lifting my feet high enough or I’m just not paying attention.

I bought some unbreakable wine glasses as my husband and I going through them at breakneck speed. One Sunday, when I had cooked lunch for his siblings I came back to the table from the kitchen to find him saying how good they were and how they looked so glass like. He was just about to bang two together when I grabbed them. I'd got the proper glass ones out for our visitors!

He really is clumsy and accident prone. A&E seemed to his second home when he was a bit younger.

teabagwoman - my stemless wine glasses aren't unbreakable, but because they are short I don't waft them off the table.

If you are going to look for some sort of plastic I'd probably go for Tritan or similar as it's BPA Free.

I have fallen all my life and had pains in my legs . My parents where told it was growing pains and I was clumsy. Even when I was 19 I was told that plus time of the month,my age and overweight.

My health got worse when I was 29. Effecting my limbs and pain out of control.
Long story short last year my neurologist had the answer for me he had blood sent off for my whole genome genetically tested in January 2020 but due to Covid only got the results in March 2022. I am not clumsy but born with a rare hereditary neurological condition and have a mutant gene in my brain receptors.

Yes I still fall and walk into fences ,walks etc. But I have a reason. After 65 years of being brand clumsy I know I am not it's HPX.

I didn't used to be but I drop everything now and leave my feet behind. Fell over again yesterday in the market.

Glad to find myself in such good company. I’m dyspraxic, don’t ask me to walk and talk at the same time! Have learnt to concentrate and only do one thing at a time but losing much of my sight hasn’t helped matters. I like the idea of serving wine in tumblers. Off to see if I can find some smart, unbreakable ones.

Esmay I would also recommend Tai Chi.

As I get older , I've noticed that my balance isn't as good as it was .
It all started with injuring my knee about four years ago .
I've had a couple of near falls recently .
I've been going to chair yoga and I'm trying to restore my mobility .

Growing up I fell up and down the stairs with regularity - it was a bit of a joke in the family. I often put things on the side of a table so it fell off. I couldn't play racquet sports well - I almost always hit a tennis ball or shuttlecock with the wooden part of the racquet not the strings. I was thirty before I found out that I was short sighted in one eye and long sighted in the other, so judging distances was almost impossible. Now I know about it I take a lot more care, especially on steps.

PinkCosmos

I used to be more clumsy than I am now. I was always tripping over, breaking glasses etc.

I came to realise that it was mainly because I was not concentrating on what I was doing, or I was multitasking

Following a bad fall a few years ago I no longer do anything other than walk when I am walking IYSWIM. I don't rummage in my bag, look at my phone, look in another direction etc. Don't get me wrong, I don't walk like a robot but I am so much more aware that I need to do one thing at a time.

You are so right. We often are thinking of the past or the future. We need to live in the present to stay safe! I am so guilty of this. It's a lack of concentration