What causes difficulty walking in a straight line?

If the nerve damage is in the feet, or legs, this causes difficulty maintaining balance. Nerve damage is most commonly caused by diabetes, however it can also be the result of infection, trauma, alcoholism, nutrient deficiencies, trauma, autoimmune diseases and medications, such as side effects from chemotherapy.

What causes balance problems when walking?

Most balance problems occur because of brain or inner ear problems, or physical issues, such as broken bones or muscle injuries. Balance problems can make it difficult to walk or move.

What disease affects your ability to walk?

“Your brain is responsible for both your movements and your balance. As a result, diseases that affect the brain, like vascular disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, can all make it difficult to walk.” The way you walk can give early warning signs of these diseases.

What is the best treatment for balance problems?

What is losing balance a symptom of?

Balance disorders can be signs of other health problems, such as an ear infection, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. In some cases, you can help treat a balance disorder by seeking medical treatment for the illness that is causing the disorder.

Difficulty Walking and Loss of Balance | Causes and Treatments

What neurological conditions cause balance problems?

Why do I stagger when I walk?

If you have a balance disorder, you may stagger when you try to walk, or teeter or fall when you try to stand up. You might experience other symptoms such as: Dizziness or vertigo (a spinning sensation) Falling or feeling as if you are going to fall.

What kind of doctor should I see for balance problems?

To find out if you have a balance problem, your primary doctor may suggest that you see an otolaryngologist and an audiologist. An otolaryngologist is a physician and surgeon who specializes in diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, neck, and throat.

What medications can cause balance problems?

What causes balance issues in seniors?

Long-term medical condition that affects the nervous system can have an impact on balance, too. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis are just a few. In addition, arthritis, heart problems, and certain medications seniors take for chronic illnesses can all contribute to unsteadiness.

Why am I losing strength in my legs?

A feeling of sudden leg weakness, causing your legs to give out or buckle can be alarming. Weakness in your leg(s) may occur from problems in the nerves and/or muscles in your lower body and is usually treatable. Rarely, the underlying cause may be a serious medical condition requiring immediate medical attention.

What causes weak legs and loss of balance?

Peripheral nerves

The nerves outside of your brain and spinal cord can become damaged, which is called peripheral neuropathy. Weakness, numbness, pain and balance issues can be caused by peripheral neuropathy because it makes it difficult to determine where your body is relative to other objects or the ground.

What deficiency causes balance problems?

Nutritional deficiencies, such as deficiency of vitamin B12, may also be a cause of balance problems. Balance symptoms are frequently related to the sense of proprioception, or position in space, which is determined by the joints and muscles as well as the vestibular system.

At what age do you start losing your balance?

The fact is, balance declines begin somewhere between 40 to 50 years of age. The National Institute of Health reports that one in three people over 65 will experience a fall each year.

What is the main cause of balance problems?

Problems with balance can involve dizziness or vertigo, causing a spinning or falling sensation. Common causes of this disorienting feeling include inner ear problems, circulation changes, head or neck injuries or other conditions.

Can anxiety cause balance problems?

In sum, increased fear and anxiety can lead to stiffening movement and altered postural control, gait, head movements and visual search strategies. All of this can impede balance. Balance-compromising behaviors are not limited to changes in gait patterns and postural control; they may extend to visual behaviors.

What are the symptoms of inner ear problems?

How is Meniere's disease diagnosed?

The balance test most commonly used to test for Meniere's disease is electronystagmography (ENG). In this test, you'll have electrodes placed around your eyes to detect eye movement. This is done because the balance response in the inner ear causes eye movements.

Can eye problems cause balance problems?

Vision problems such as eye strain and poor eyesight can cause dizziness and balance problems. Visual information is crucial for learning, movement, and maintaining good posture and balance.

Why do I feel like walking sideways?

Vertigo is dizziness that is often described as a spinning sensation. It may also feel like motion sickness or as if you're leaning to one side. Other symptoms sometimes associated with vertigo include: loss of hearing in one ear.

Why am I not steady on my feet?

Inner ear problems are common causes of a balance disorder, especially in younger people. Other causes can include medicine side effects, vision problems, problems with nerves in the legs or feet, allergies, infections, arthritis, anxiety, low blood pressure, and dehydration.

Can balance disorders be cured?

Balance problems may appear before other symptoms. Treatment for chronic medical conditions vary. Most progressive disorders are not curable, but medication and rehabilitation may slow the disease.

Does a neurologist treat balance issues?

Our neurologists and neurosurgeons diagnose and treat balance dysfunction that is the result of neurologic disorders or neurologic impairment. While the vast majority of balance problems are caused by problems with the inner ear, there may be neurological causes for balance disorders which require neurological care.

Can degenerative disc disease cause balance problems?

When vertebra or discs push against those nerves, it can interfere with your body's movements – including your ability to balance. Low back injuries and conditions that affect with your sense of balance include: Compression fractures. Degenerative disc disease.