Foot Drop, associated with Foot Drop
I have been in the throws of peripherial neuropathy for a little over 3 years. This has solely and completely taken over my life. No matter where or what I do it has affected me so severely that I do little each day accept think of all the things that I want to do and can not do again.For a year, I have had tremendous pain assoicated with peripherial neuropathy.
I have spent money and time in doctor’s offices trying to find out what was wrong. I have gone from one doctor recently telling me that he thought, I cried with this one, that I walked on the foot wrong. Yes, I did walk on my foot wrong. Who would not be walking on the foot wrong trying to protect the foot from pain.
I had an MRI and still no ‘real answer. Finally, I was told to see a doctor in sports medicineand was diagnosed with Charcot’s Foot, aka Foot Drop. Now, I learn that it is associated with diabetic neuropathy. I have been a diabetic only since May, 2013.My blood sugar level could not be better, with an average 3 month blood sugar of 98. I am left now in dismay,getting orthopedic shoes and compression hose.Completely tearing my heart out is the brace that is being made for me now for foot drop.
I cannot bear the answer to this question.. am I going to ‘drag’ my foot eventually..???Foot drop.. what exactly is this..
The man who is making my brace for me is a young man and he told me that I was in denial.
He said it is the conditon my diabetes is in right now. I am frustrated beyond words and cannot for the life of me understand how I have become so sick in so short a time. I’m scared. IF anyone can help me understand this or if anyone can enlighten me on their experiences, I would like to talk to you.
I am in the process of getting another pair of shoes with the brace being made. I do not know exactly what to expect. I would like to talk to someone..
I have not ask the doctor this question.. will this condition improve in time or will I have to wear this lovely brace forever. Keep in mind, that if I am in denial, I am reminded of this every day and every moment I try to do anything..about 100 timesa day or more. thank you!!!
6 comments
Vivian Abrams DPM
I am sorry that you have this problem. There are many causes including diabetes. This is a link to a book about neuropathy that many patients have said helped them understand.http Have you talked to a sympathetic neurologist?
olive riddler
I hope you get this reply but I too have foot drop but mine is associated with a nerveblock which went wrong. I saw about a brace which would have been made for me but no way would I have worn it, if you go to rehabmart/footdrop.asp there is a small Swedish splint which I have and it is great, it can be trimmed with scissors and fits into most shoes not comfortably but much better than all the others.
See how you get on.
AC
ANY ONE HELP~ I am 26 years old and have perennial nerve damage which causes foot drop. I use an AFO but it is bulky and plain ugly. I guess I’ll get over it as I get older. In the mean time, I can’t wear sandals and basically anything but a tennis show. Dress shoes are difficult to wear because the the is so big. Is there a company that makes a small type of AFO that can be slipped into the shoe or somehow worn with sandals that isnt so apparent? Like the others I was offered the fusion surgery but I don’t want that. Thanks for your help.
joe rowland
Olive I have had three “spine” surgeries in the past four years. The Neurologist I saw that did the EMG thought my condition was caused by diabetic neuropathy, I have been tested several times and there is no evidence of diabeties. I am able to do without the AFO unless I walk too far and get tired, then my right foot becomes weak and before I got the brace I twisted my ankle numerious times, the foot becomes weak and I tend to drag it some and can easily trip over any small object like an acorn or small stone. I have researched quite a bit and have not found any treatment other than an operation that fuses the bones in the ankle and foot to keep the front of the foot from decending, which I really do not want to do. I have learned to walk pretty normal just by watching how I place my right foot. Any time I know that I will be walking any distance, like over a couple of blocks I do wear the AFO. I really need the brace if I am going to be off pavement, like out in the yard. There were some studies in Europe some time back using some sort of electrical stimulation that looked like it might offer long term help, I have not found simular studies in the U.S. I do take daily medication for the sciatica pain and tried Neurontin for the Neuropathy, it didn’t help me at all. Wish I could offer some magic for you, I had a scare several months ago when I started having the same sort of feeling or lack of feeling in my left leg. I went to physical therapy for several months and the problem seemed to go away. They didn’t do anything with my leg or foot, just the lower back.
june watson
where can I get the support that I need for a dropped foot that goes into my shoe. I have tried some but they are very uncomfortable and my walking is nor normal because u had 2 spinal fusions in one week and now I have the dropped foot that I had before the surjery. I cannot afford to buy a custom made one,regards june watson
mary
I broke my L5 metarpical oct 10 of 05 it is now april 06. the brake never heald I had to have sedergy dec 9 of 05 the sudgery to repare brake.90% healed now. I jwent to foot doctor yesterday. to see how I’m healing. all is good in foot. almsot 11 years ago I has a lunbar lamanity of l4 l5 no fusion nedded. I defeloped scare tissue around siatic nerve and have cronic pinn diese called Aroniditios. well as of yeateterday I found out that now I have sciatica of the foot ant it drops some and I have been seeing a wonder full Doctor for my back what I’m woundering because alll my paper work is not sent over yet is could this for the past 10 1/2 years now . could thie ciatia from all the scar tissue have traved to foot?