Foot Drop following Scoliosis surgery/Anyone recovered?

[Tableone]

Hello Everyone:

In January 2016 I has a thirteen hour Scoliosis revision surgery for something called "Scoliosis Flatback." This was my fourth Scoliosis surgery and I was fifty years old. Scoliosis surgery is very different from other types of spinal fusions (due to it being a spinal deformity disease) and I am now fused on EIGHTEEN levels of my spine plus pelvic fixation, which is eight inch screws bored into my hips. I am fused from C7 to S1. I cannot bend any part of my spine at all.

The surgery was estimated to take six hours but took thirteen. I will never know what happened exactly, as doctors protect themselves so well, but I woke up with a paralyzed left foot. (Foot Drop). Words cannot express the horror and pain of this condition. My surgeon told me that my nerves had been "stretched" and that I would get better in six months. He kept telling me to 'wait" and that I would get better. The months ticked on and I was still paralyzed. Finally I said, "What am I waiting for?" I searched the internet and found a lawsuit about a woman who had had Scoliosis surgery and drop foot because of wrong pedicle screws being placed in her spine. Suddenly, I realized this could be my case, too. I ordered my own CT scan through my general practitioner and had it sent to my surgeon. He never responded; in fact he abandoned me completely after I woke up with the paralyzed foot. (Surgeons don't like seeing their mistakes. Both my GP and my pain management doctor (who was a neurologist) looked at the CT scan and told me I was fine, but I knew I was not fine. I persisted and went to another medical school where I had a CT Myleogram done, which was the only test that really shows the pedicle screw placement. Guess what? My surgeon had placed no less than FIVE screws wrong in my spine. But, I had to find all this out FOR MYSELF. You MUST be your own advocate.

I had my FIFTH Scoliosis surgery to correct the damage the surgeon had done in August 2016 and am still waiting for my foot drop to get better. Luckily, he had not severed any of my nerves, but I have severe nerve damage in my spine and severe foot drop. Although my foot won't lift up and is numb, I also have incredible nerve pain and HORRIBLE discomfort that is so bad that if I didn't take Oxycodone and Morphine I would not be able to stand living. My foot is 24/7 asleep, tingling, burning, etc. I also have a weighty feeling in my foot, as though I am dragging around a 100 pound ball and chain. Unbearable! I sympathize with everyone else suffering from foot drop. From what I understand it's a crap shot as to whether one ever recovers or not.

Many have posted about foot drop here, but few have posted about recovering from it. We are also lacking posts from people that have had nerve transfer surgery done for foot drop. There IS a surgery for foot drop, but many doctors and physical therapists don't even know about it.

I will keep everyone here with foot drop in my prayers. Please feel free to message me so we can support one another. PLEASE POST HERE IF YOU HAVE RECOVERED, OR HAD ANY IMPROVEMENT, IN YOUR FOOT DROP. Thank you,