Ask Me Help Desk - Falling (drop attacks)

Hi everyone, I'm Toya. 28 years-old. Mother of 18mth-old baby boy.
Recently I been having what is called drop attacks. While standing or walking I suddenly drop straight to the ground like a ton of bricks with no warning and no ability to stop or protect myself. As soon as I hit the ground or whatever is in my way, I get right back up without delay. Been going on for six months. Neurologists don't know why and therefore can't fix it.
If there is anyone out there having the same problem as I, could you please share with me your experience, how you cope and protect yourself. I also wonder does this keep a person from being able to drive a car.
Thanks, TMJ

Not sure if these "drop attacks" are related to the drop attacks in epilepsy, but since you didn't mention it, I will assume not. However, Author of the General Practice Notebook - a UK medical enclyclopedia suggests that are some biological causes to drop attacks that you should have you doctor investigate and rule out.

Theses causes are:

1) colloid cyst - this may cause a transient blockage of the cerebral aqueduct (like a ball-valve)
2) vertebro-basilar stroke
3) spondylotic osteophytes impinging on vertebral arteries with cranial rotation
4) idiopathic - no cause at all

The good news, a spontaneous stop often occur after a year or two. This offer hope, but does little for your suffering within this time.

One user with Meniere's disease (MM) who also experience drop attacks brought up many recommendations for those suffering drop attacks. One idea stands out to me the most and that's stay on the floor for a while or as much as you can.

Also, be sure to protect yourself and move all objects out of your way. And of course, try not walking and holding anything dangerous or even a baby.

You may try moving around the house on your knees since this condition may be related to the canals in the inner ear which form the balance center fill with an excessive amount of fluid or your brain becomes overloaded with mixed balance signals and just shuts down (like a computer rebooting). It may also have a connection to having too much visual or auditory (sound) stimuli, just get away from it and that will usually cure itself.

Be sure to discuss these option with your Physician of Healthcare Provider. It is also recommended that you do not swim, drive, climb a ladder or do any other potentially dangerous activity until you speak with them.

Hope this answer your question!

REFERENCE(S)

1. GPNotebook, Drop Attacks(Online: GPNotebook Medical Enclyclopedia, 2006)
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepa...ID=-1127219195

2. Steve and Jack, DROP ATTACKS(Online: Menieres.org, 2005) http://www.menieres.org/jacki/jackis65.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmj

Hi everyone, I'm Toya. 28 years-old. Mother of 18mth-old baby boy.
recently I been having what is called drop attacks. While standing or walking I suddenly drop straight to the ground like a ton of bricks with no warning and no ability to stop or protect myself. As soon as I hit the ground or whatever is in my way, I get right back up without delay. Been going on for six months. Neurologists don't know why and therefore can't fix it.
If there is anyone out there having the same problem as I, could you please share with me your experience, how you cope and protect yourself. I also wonder does this keep a person from being able to drive a car.
Thanks, TMJ

Hello there
I am 36 years old and I have just been told that I have been having drop attacks as I have had two in the last 9 days, one where I just fell to my knees with no warning and the other I fell off my bike and thought that someone had pushed me off - there was no one else there! I have never heard of them and wondered if you have now been sorted out with yours seen as it was 2006 since you posted this question? I am a delivery driver for Tescos and have been told by my doctor that I can not drive until I have had an ECG at the hospital etc. My doc has also told me that the time scale will probably be 4 - 6 weeks! Fortunately for me my employer has at the moment found me something else to do.
Can you please tell me has your drop attacks fizzled out or do you still have them?
Kind regards
Claire

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmj

Hi everyone, I'm Toya. 28 years-old. Mother of 18mth-old baby boy.
recently I been having what is called drop attacks. While standing or walking I suddenly drop straight to the ground like a ton of bricks with no warning and no ability to stop or protect myself. As soon as I hit the ground or whatever is in my way, I get right back up without delay. Been going on for six months. Neurologists don't know why and therefore can't fix it.
If there is anyone out there having the same problem as I, could you please share with me your experience, how you cope and protect yourself. I also wonder does this keep a person from being able to drive a car.
Thanks, TMJ

Hello Toya I have a friend my age who drops occasionally. When it happens to him he says he feels light headed and just black outs for a few seconds he then his able to rise and carry on with activity a few seconds later.
Worried he went to his Doctors and they booked him in for brain scans. When the results came back and showed nothing but he got an answer to what the problem was. It was all based on stress.
Since then he has been able to work through this.
Toya I would recommend keep going to your Doctors for sure, but there is always the possibility this is stress related. It could even be General Anxiety Disorder or Post Dramatic Stress.

This answer's a little late, but I do still have the falls Claire. They are realated to Chiari Malformation. I am now considering posterior fossa decompression surgery. Check out: http://www.chiariinstitute.com/
For more info. I hope you are well