Foot Drop Anyone?

[FMDAdvocate]

Does anyone out there have foot drop besides me??

[GrinReaper]

Hello all glad to see this I was looking for a foot drop forum but they were all outdated, I have foot drop and neuropathy in both feet, I had H1N1 and was in a coma for 5 months, lost all my muscle tone had to relearn to walk again ect, but anyway thru all that I developed the foot drop as well as a pressure ulcer on my left heal, a year later its almost healed...FMD I have those velcro things I belive Xstraps, they work well, I was wondering has anyone tried the shapeups with their rolling motion they look as tho they would help? I've read a couple post that say yes but you never know how realiable those are, I too have a lil movement in right foot n toes, none in left and to "belly" Im in ohio too just the other end down south lol. welp any questions ask, hope yall are still here :)

[bellypooper]

   hello and wecome,its good to know i'm not alone in wanting a forum on drop foot. i also have neurapathy.no felling in toes on left foot,and tho toes are amputated on right food still have it in that foot to.worse in mornings,can't stand the pain.think i'l check into x straps you both have mentioned. do you have to be fitted for them? i was thinking them shape ups would be good to. are you able to drive? i think i'm gonna try driving with my left foot this summer,just in the neiborhood,no main streets to start. i hate not working and driving. can you flex your foot at all? i can move side to side but not up or down.
      fmd, hope all is well with you.good news chemo pills seem to be working,ca125 down to 16.sure don't want to go thru reg.chemo again.so ready for warm weather,sick and bored from being stuck in house all winter.can atleast go to park and walk short distance till i get to tired then sit and people watch and dog watch.
    hope to here from you both soon.
  warm thoughts,jan

[FMDAdvocate]

I apologize for the delay in responding. I've been busy traveling to Cleveland and now Ann Arbor twice in attempt to have a custom AFO(brace) made to help with my foot drop. The one I got in Jacksonville, FL is rigid and I can't walk up stairs when wearing. The new one will be hinged at the ankle. The xstraps helped me but I've found the rigid brace supports my foot better. When my foot drops just a little bit the pain becomes untolerable. If I can keep it straight much better. I can't stand the night splint so sleep with my foot against a foot board.
I can only tolerate 600mg Gabapentin. If I try to increase dose I am a zombie. Anyone else with this problem and/or suggestions?

[lphili]

Hi-  I had foot drop for 20 years, due to  a tumor growing from within the pereneal nerve.  When they removed it they severed that nerve and I was left with complete L. footdrop.  I used various AFO's during those years and unfortunately there was never a terrific one, although I must say I ran everyday and ran marathons wearing those AFO's.  The X-strap was a joke seeing the severity of my footdrop. It was my way of rebelling against that disability.  After tripping down a flight of stairs while I wasn't wearing my brace I broke my foot severely.  While talking to the doctor about my years of frustration he suggested a deep tendon transfer.  It was a miracle it worked!  After all those many years of wearing a hot AFO's all summer (wearing pants ALL the time to hide my brace), wearing Doc Marten boots with shorts, bleeding blisters I am walking with no problem now.  It took a while to retrain myself to walk correctly.  I am still in awe of my leg and am grateful daily.  Please look into this surgery.  It changed my life.  I still run everyday, but now I wear shorts and great sandals all summer.  

[FMDAdvocate]

Hi-thank you for sharing. You are an amazing success after 20 years! So much of what you said are my thoughts too. The first 3 months after the initial foot drop I refused to wear anything. Can you imagine with complete drop? dumb. Then I progressed to the Lift-Up strap. I've had many falls and fortunately have only broken one toe. I had to move on to the rigid, toe off AFO. I can't stand because I can't go up stairs or stand up from squatting on floor.  I too am so frustrated by living in Florida and can't wear flip flops or other cute sandals. I have finally given in to wearing a dress to church with my AFO but can hardly stand up after kneeling to pray. Sadly, I was just evaluated by an orthopedic dr who says I am not a canidate for muscle/tendon transfer because my injury was at the L5 nerve root. I do not have inversion(moving inward of the foot) which is needed to the tendon needed to move to the anterior tibialis.  

[maestro1959]

I have bi-lateral footdrop as a result of Multiple Sclerosis.  I was diagnosed one year ago.  I was assaulted by a student while teaching.  He threw me head first into a wall attempting to retrieve his cell phone which I had taken because he was texting in class.  I suffered a closed head injury, and developed the footdrop very early on.  This was along with other neurological symptoms.  A brain MRI was ordered because of severe headaches, and many lesions were discovered prompting the MS diagnosis.  My doctor believes the MS was there and dorment, and the head trauma triggered the disease.

I wore "off-the-shelf" AFO's ordered by my physical therapist for a while, but as the weakness became worse I was fitted with custom-molded, ankle-jointed AFO's.  The statement about them being hot in the summer is an understatement.  They are dreadful.  My physical therapist wanted them to fit me with the carbon-fiber ones, but my health insurance would not approve them.  There was only a $200 difference in the cost, but they would not relent.

I am in a wheelchair almost full-time now due to weakness from the MS.  When I know I am going to be out of the house, and therefore in my chair I do not wear the AFO's.  I keep a folding cane in my chair's backpack in case I am forced to walk a short distance.  I have actually encountered handicap restrooms that are too small for my wheelchair.  I just find that impossible to believe.

I still have full feelling in both feet.  So, I understand about the pain in catching a toe.  I have fallen many times.  That was the reason for my PT ordering me the first set.  I bruised my shoulder, and have suffered cuts by falling on furniture, but never needed stitches nor have I broken any bones.  I live alone, and try to be as safe as possible.  My friends comment on how worried they are about that.

Do any of you drive a vehicle with hand controls?  I was in a car accident about 3 weeks ago.  My car stalled as I approached a red light, and I did not have the strength to stop it without the power brakes.  Now, I have to consider having hand controls on my car when it is repaired.  Are there any requirements for contacting the department of motor vehicles or anyone like that?  I have Googled and can not find any information that instructs me in this regard.  I would appreciate anyone who could help.

Most sincerely,
Beth