Too young to keep falling and getting injured.

You don't say how old you are Scentia. I am 75 and was pretty fit until I was told to stay in because I am CEV. I had an email asking if I felt weaker after being locked down and there is a falls service`which I think is run by the NHS and MEDeQUIP. Ours is called Wirral Falls Prevention Service.
They sent a nurse out to access me and he said that I was the fittest person he had ever been out to but my legs are weak and my balance is affected. A physio came out to give me exercises but, if you feel your legs have weakened, I am sure you will find some suitable exercises on youtube.
If you need help pm me.

I am 55. I have osteoarthritis but I am fit’ish’. I was on a 10 mile walk when I fell. It is not the fall that worries me it is the level of injury that has ensued from both ‘minor’ falls in the last month!
Maybe it is my arthritis, I thought that just affects my bones but maybe my muscles are weakened too. I don’t know, I am a bit of a liability ?

Scentia I don't have any ideas but didn't just want to pass your post. Ouch, that look really painful. I hope you recover very soon and get some answers.

That looks like a nasty bruise. Trouble is it’s so awkward if not impossible to see a doctor. I know as I have been trying, and getting nowhere.
Having had two falls I wonder if your balance might be a reason.
Not a great start to the new year but hope you heal soon,

Looking at the bruising I would certainly go to a walk in Centre as it looks very dark you could be looking at maybe a blood clot which happened to me when I fell 6yrs ago please go and get it checked out asap x

That's a really big bruise - so it's bound to be painful. Do you bruise easily? Maybe you take something for your OA that causes it - or perhaps you are low on Vitamin C.

I wouldn't see the doctor, though, unless it restricts movement or gets worse. If you rub an injury well, as soon as it happens, it's supposed to reduce bruising (not that you can, really, when out on a walk, without getting strange looks).

How is your balance? Can you easily stand on one leg with your eyes closed? I can't, these days, so balance exercises would help prevent accidents.

I am dyspraxic and have always had poor balance. I usually manage to fall, with reason, several times a year and have been doing that since childhood.

Knowing things get worse as you get older, I do Tai Chi. One class a week and 20 minutes a day at home. i doubt my balance is improving but I do think I have stopped it getting worse.

Another possibility for falling as you did Scentia is that you may have an element of hypermobility, where the muscles around your joints are loose and so stretch more than average when you fall.

My DD and DDiL, when they first knew each other used to compete to show how supply they were, doing the splits, rightangling their feet, bending their fingers back. Then DDiL developed an athritic illness, probably rheumatic arthritis (the doctors still cannot decide) and the specialist told her she had hypermobility and that she must stop testing her muscles to their limits and do exercises to stregthen the muscles round her joints. It is probable DD has the same problem, but as she had never needed medical advice on any related issue, she doesn't know for certain.

But if you were capable of essentially doing the splits when you fell, it might be worth checking out, because you shouldn't be at your age, whatever it is.

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

Hyper mobility is part of it but it’s a collagen deficiency that can also affect blood vessels making them burst more easily, hence the bruising.

It can affect your tendons too so that a slip or fall results in a more severe injury or strain than most people.

I didn't know you got more bruising with ehlers danlos syndrome. Both me and my daughter and one son have what is described as hypermobility but we all bruise terrible, to the point my daughter is tested regular by haematology. They are very reluctant to diagnose EDS aren't they

Thanks so much for your help, I think it is a hyper mobility issue, maybe caused by my OA in my knees, it all makes sense as to why I will slip and do the splits as opposed to anything else, maybe my hips are starting with the OA too. Oh joy, I will look at strength exercises and like the sound of Thai Chi actually. Maybe I need to lose this extra couple of stones I am carrying too.

JJ, Peasblossom My DDiL. after doing all the research, is fairly sure that this is her problem, but as she has no formal diagnosis, is loath to say that is the problem.

The problem with EDS is that there is no identifiable test for it, except in symptoms.

It’s accepted that in most cases it is genetic but where it is in DNA is known yet.

But it “ran in the family” in our case. My mother was the first person in the family to be told it was EDS. She was badly disabled by it. I’ve got off lightly. Mostly trouble with my veins.

sorry ‘isn’t known yet’

So does it cause varicose veins as well?

Early onset Osteoarthritis is a symptom of EDS too, Scentia.

Hyper mobility
Early onset arthritis
Easy/excessive bruising
Delicate skin
Poor digestion
Vascular problem such as varicose veins
Miscarriage/early birth

There are different types of EDS and it affects people in different ways but basically any part of your body that relies on collagen is vunerable.

I have never heard of EDS but do know that osteoarthritis is linked to lack of oestrogen. You might want to investigate that. HRT May help.
I hope you recover soon.

I had a succession of falls, one of which resulted in an ambulance and five stitches in my eyebrow. When I went to my GP, he did a thorough examination, couldn't find any cause for my falling, but referred me to the falls clinic at my local hospital. The consultant agreed with my GP, but gave me good advice. I had no idea that there was a falls clinic, but it was a great help in boosting my confidence. So do ask your GP about a falls clinic or service. My sons' advice is probably the best I've had: 'Mum, look where you're putting your feet.'

I tore my hamstring recently Scentia again doing the splits twice within 2 weeks of each other! I had similar bruising. Both falls were within the house! I slipped on wrapping paper and did the splits and two weeks later slipped on a wet floor after a leak through the ceiling. Splits again with same leg going forward and more damage done second time. Things were much better after 2-3 weeks. I walked s.owly through our little town as I was recovering. Someone asked if I was on a meditative walk!! Hope your leg recovers soon. I am 64 and think I was just unlucky to incur the same injury twice

I have no medical knowledge or experience of this Scentia but didn’t want to pass by without a big ouch on your behalf.
Hope you get a diagnosis and feel better soon as I know how busy you are in your town from the good morning thread.

Isn’t it unbelievably painful to do the splits as the result of falling over, unless you have been a dancer all your life?
Wouldn’t the pain from that be far worse than the nasty looking bruise?
I don’t know though. Maybe the hyper-mobility mentioned would compensate.

Ouch.. Hope you are OK now
Yes possibly the Falls clinic might help, though I thought that was for a certain age group?
Balance issues... can also be your Ears?
What ever GP needs to check you out that bruising is big and perhaps a blood test too.

JenniferEccles. I can assure you that it is indeed unbelievably painful to do the splits at my age, I haven’t sat down for four days??

It sounds awful. I do hope the pain eases a bit soon. As you say you feel far too young to be worrying about falling over (and you are definitely too young to have ‘had a fall’)
At what point does it change though I wonder!

As others have said, could it possibly be balance problems, even if you don’t feel at all dizzy ?

At what point does it change though I wonder!
I refuse to 'have a fall' so I 'take a tumble' instead.It only happened once last year!