billbarcus Loc: IPNW

brooklyn-camera, I sent you a PM regarding your condition and do hope you are encouraged by what I shared. At 74 I have chronic Ataxia possibly caused by MS - awaiting further testing & diagnosis.

There are so many folks here on SM affected by similar disabling conditions. I am so very much encouraged by what I read from the posts by these fellow SM photographers. We don't give up do we? We keep on pursuing our love of photography ... no matter what. I have been relegated to very limited hiking and walking and have been shooting mostly from my pick-up truck. There certainly are limits to this method, but I can still compose and push the shutter button!

Hats off to those SMers and other fellow photographers out there who keep on going when the going gets tough.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Oh, Wow. Yes, that must be rough. Photography with MS. I struggle with Arthritis.

linelink

Dear Halftrack, as a Neuropathy patient I want to try your regimen of B12 and D3. Is your dosage of 5000 mcg daily correct or is it 1000? How about the D3 dosage?

MamaLucia7

Like you I have neuropathy. I am a 10 year colon cancer survivor. That’s the good news....the bad news is that the drugs used to kill the cancer resulted in permanent neuropathy. I am a 58 year former SR VP of HR who can no longer sit for any extended period of time. However, I was lucky enough to find a second career as a professional photographer. So to answer your question. I learned a long time ago from a ski instructor, that the lower to the ground, the smaller the fall. At high school games, I primarily photograph the crowd, the cheerleaders, band and all having a good time. I leave the field to photographer like you. I stand with my feet wide apart. I also keep moving so I loose the “Frankenstein” feet effect. If I stand in place too long, the pain starts. So even moving in small circles helps. I agree, we have killer steps I take at crawl speed both going down and up. Just let everyone whiz by me! When shooting, I also swat or take a knee to help with my balance. Not sure I helped much, but your not alone Brooklyn...I would rather fire my camera 📸 off, than fire staff so I am considering myself not as money rich, but much more rich in life. Take care💕

Brooklyn-Camera 2014 on FaceBook.[/quote]

ameglio

Hey. I hope that some of these fine answers have helped you. I am a PT and I would recommend a few things. One stagger your stance, wide and one foot in front. Leant on something, if in the woods a tree, or the steady yourself by having one calf/leg leaning on the bench etc. Also you may want to use a Rollator for places that are not too adventurous. I know a lot of people do not want to be seen with a walker, but the Rollators have seats (so wherever you go you can sit), brakes and usually a place to store equipment under the seat. Some are for more rugged terrain with larger wheels. I have farmers that put water buckets or hay on the seat so they can go and take care of their animals.
Hope this was helpful.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Yes Sir......I salute you. I'll keep going as long as I can.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

You are lucky you can take a knee. If I tried that I would be flat on my face. Was run over a few times and need help from the players to get back onto my feet. Help, I fell and can't get up. Not funny but oh so true. [/quote]

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Thanks for all these great ideas.

Dossile

Here is your medical explaination. Our balance system has 3 inputs: 1. Our ear gives us a sense of 3 dimensional position, velocity and acceleration; 2. Our eyes/vision give us a sense of horizon; and 3. Proprioreception, Gravity pulls on our spine and limbs and the soles of our feet and gives us a sense of position in space. The stimulations from these 3 sources travel to the cerebellum and then to higher centers in the brain where they are processed. A huge part of our brains is dedicated to balance and keeping us upright on 2 feet. Having all 3 systems is of course best. If any 2 of the systems are highly functional, we do ok. You have lost a significant amount of your position sense from aging and the neuropathy. When you have your ear and your vision, you do ok. But when you look into a viewfinder in a way that causes you to loose your horizon, or are focusing in tight quarters such as going down steps, or going from sun to shade, walking down a long hallway or high store aisle, you loose your horizon and have struggles.

Treatments to ask your doctors about.
1. Neuropathy treatments include Lyrica, gabapentin, amitryptoline or neurtryptoline
2. Make sure you don’t have a Vitamin B complex deficiency
3. Physical therapy from someone who specializes in vestibular/balance disorders
4. This is a hard one for people, but if you just carry a cane in your hand the pull of gravity tugs on the cane and increases the input to your brain. There is a huge social stigma with carrying a cane, Utah it really helps even if it hardly touches the ground.

broncomaniac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

I don't have a single suggestion but I can strongly relate to you. Both of my vestibular nerves have been amputated and I must rely fully on motor nerve receptors and vision to remain upright. I depend heavily on my tripod and I'm very patient when attempting to avoid camera shake while freehanding. Moving objects are out of the question for me so sports are a no-go.

I feel your pain and wish you well.

Craig

Dossile

Here is your medical explaination. Our balance system has 3 inputs: 1. Our ear gives us a sense of 3 dimensional position, velocity and acceleration; 2. Our eyes/vision give us a sense of horizon; and 3. Proprioreception, Gravity pulls on our spine and limbs and the soles of our feet and gives us a sense of position in space. The stimulations from these 3 sources travel to the cerebellum and then to higher centers in the brain where they are processed. A huge part of our brains is dedicated to balance and keeping us upright on 2 feet. Having all 3 systems is of course best. If any 2 of the systems are highly functional, we do ok. You have lost a significant amount of your position sense from aging and the neuropathy. When you have your ear and your vision, you do ok. But when you look into a viewfinder in a way that causes you to loose your horizon, or are focusing in tight quarters such as going down steps, or going from sun to shade, walking down a long hallway or high store aisle, you loose your horizon and have struggles.

Treatments to ask your doctors about.
1. Neuropathy treatments include Lyrica, gabapentin, amitryptoline or neurtryptoline
2. Make sure you don’t have a Vitamin B complex deficiency
3. Physical therapy from someone who specializes in vestibular/balance disorders
4. This is a hard one for people, but if you just carry a cane in your hand the pull of gravity tugs on the cane and increases the input to your brain. You can put the tip on the ground, but you really can just carry the cane in your hand. There is a huge social stigma with carrying a cane, but it really helps even if it hardly touches the ground.

MamaLucia7

Wow, 10 years of this blessing in disguise and I have done tons of research and I have NEVER had neuropathy explained in such a good way. I am on Lyrica and Cymblata and have a pain pump with Morphine. It keeps the pain at bay as long as I don’t sit or stand for too long. I do all of my post photography work on my bed with a laptop on a roll away desk. Sorry for the long winded message. Nice hear from other photographers facing the same challenges. I photograph my clients in mountainous and waterfall/mill locations. I have picked up sturdy fallen branches I must use. I will sit on the rocks to get my balance and sometimes lay on my stomach. Customers are so helpful and the high school seniors’ moms that come along use my extra walking stick. Sorry Brooklyn, no way I would lay down anywhere near charging football players! Good luck💕📸💕

ergoedbo Loc: Glenshaw, Pennsylvania

At 73, I’m an Agent Orange disabled Vietnam veteran who has already endured open heart surgery in 1997, and years of diabetic neuropathy pain. Five months ago the VA performed Neurosurgery on my left arm and hand to try to ‘save’ it from becoming a “useless claw”. Well, THAT didn’t work out, and I HAVE that useless claw now. As I see here that so many others are on, my doc started me on gabapentin, which has only been nominally helpful. With already ongoing issues of poor balance and steady daily pain, I can now barely hold onto my cameras to take my beloved photographs. But hey, at least I’m still alive. I survived the Viet Cong, but because of our governments irresponsibile (and initially denied health damage) use of Agent Orange, the phrase “Death followed me home” sadly applies to what remains of my life. But my daily coping mantra remains: “Every day is a gift..that’s why they call it the present”

chazz4623 Loc: Prairieville, La

WOW!, it looks like I'm still in good company. I'll soon be 73 and have had minor balance problems all my life, source not found after several extensive tests, but its not in my ears. It hasn't been too bad, it mostly happens when I stand after sitting for awhile. I just went thru my second back (lower) surgery (the first failed) I'm out of the hospital 3 1/2 weeks and doing pretty well, very pleased so far. I haven't been out of my house much just yet, but look forward to grabbing a few 'snapshots' soon. I can't guarantee myself to be able to stand steady to take a shot, meaning I need to bone up on my landscape, carshow, boats, informal pretty girl shots (with permission of course) and the like. I wont list all the meds I take. I do have some diabetic nerve damage, but not much, but cataracts detract much more than that when it comes to my efforts at getting good shots. The pain I have is mostly from osteoarthritis, the only treatment for it, sadly, is pain meds. Gabapentin is helping, but seems to excite the pain part of the healing and can be unpleasant or worse. These things will get better over time, and my back is wonderfully more stable and doesnt demand much from the muscles and nerves that support it. If the world doesn't end and providence is willing, I hope that in nine months to a year, I will be able to take a road trip to the western U.S. and get new shots of the incredibly beautiful territory out there before its gone (or I am) lol. All the commentss and suggestions have been quite helpful to me today... but the best part is knowing I'm not the only one dealing with all this physical stuff, and I don't need to start feeling sorry for myself... (yet)lol. Thanks guys (and any gals I missed).

donb17

My MS is accompanied by foot ataxia (in my right foot). I wear an articulating Ankle Foot Orthodic (AF), which minimizes the ataxia. I also tend to walk (lurch?) with my right angled outward so that if it drags, my toe doesn't catch on the ground and send me sprawling. Small lessons learned from numerous falls.