fear of falling

I used a hiking pole all the way round Kew Gardens last week because I have osteoporosis in my left femur and am fearful of falling. A stick at least gives me confidence.

Thank you all for your wonderful replies. There are some really good suggestions. It’s good to know I’m not alone.
I think part of the issue is that admitting to problems feels like giving in to the aging process.
But I will bear your comments in mind. Thanks again

Admitting to problems is sometimes a blow to our pride, but is the first step to getting some help with solving them.
Just remembered the intriguing research that shows older people with a good level of vitamin d in their bodies are less prone to falls. Cochrane review concluded that:
Taking vitamin D supplements does not appear to reduce falls in most community-dwelling older people, but may do so in those who have lower vitamin D levels in the blood before treatment. - See more at: summaries.cochrane.org/CD007146/interventions-for-preventing-falls-in-older-people-living-in-the-community#sthash.olBo1yPZ.dpuf
The research was done in older people living in "communities" - sheltered housing etc . Not overwhelming evidence but nevertheless interesting.
You could ask your GP for a blood test to see if you are deficient and if so they would prescribe a strong dose to get your levels boosted up.
Good luck.

joolz
This booklet was written by Professor Dawn Skelton who has specialised in healthy ageing and falls prevention.
If you google falls prevention + her name, lots more in depth Infirmation will come up.

For the last few years I`ve dreaded falling, not only because it hurts, but because once down I can`t get up unaided, and at my considerable weight it`s embarrassing, to say the least. I now have an added reason to fear falling, the fact that I had a total knee replacement last September, and dread breaking the new knee and having to go through it all again. Consequently, I tend these days to walk with my eyes cast downwards, thereby hoping to spot uneven pavements and slabs that jut upwards, especially in our town market place, where a really nice, smooth brick surface, that hadn`t been down long, and was lovely to walk on, has been replaced with COBBLES!