Foot drop/paralysis of foot after week of vomiting

[tommytoxen]

So I'm getting a little worried/scared

My right foot is paralysed from the ankle down, it started yesterday, but today has really took hold to the point where I can't feel my right foot at all, can't wiggle my toes, I try to move my toes/foot, but it's like the command isn't getting from my brain to my foot, nothing happens. There's no pain, no swelling, no nothing, just... no feeling, no control, no function.

Last week I was really ill, I hadn't eaten for 8 days because even the slightest sip of water would make me vomit violently, I was very close to phoning an ambulance at one point but didn't wanna worry family, so just went back and laid down and made the excuse it was just the flu so nobody would worry, but basically for a whole week my day consisted of waking up: vomiting, sipping a bit of water, vomiting again (literally a few seconds after each sip, which was annoying, as everytime I vomited, I had to drink water so I wouldn't dehydrate, but everytime I drank it'd just come back up), then drifting back off to sleep involuntarily.


Anyway, woke up other day feeling brilliant, headache had gone, fuzziness had gone, the sick feeling had gone, the feeling of complete weakness and not being able to stay awake had gone. I had something to eat for the first time in 8 days.. went down fine (boiled egg and a slice of bread cut into soldiers :$), had a cup of tea.. went down fine. No vomiting. Felt brilliant

But noticed I couldn't feel my right foot, or move my toes, and it's gotten worse 'til today when it's become full-blown numb/paralyzed. I can put weight on it fine, so it's nothing to do with my ankle, I can walk OK albeit a small limp due to I can't lift my right foot up.

This is known as 'foot drop', caused by muscle/spinal nerve damage (also can be caused by stroke & MS, but obviously I haven't had a stroke or got MS so I'm assuming it'll be the muscle/spinal nerve damage that has caused it).

But I can't for the life of me think of how sleeping and vomiting could cause such a damage?

My next doctor's appointment is on the 15th of June so will get it checked out then but, it isn't half playing on my mind and worrying me at the moment.

Anyone had any similar experiences or know of foot drop/how it can be caused just by being ill??

[Dr Sharma]

Hello dear and welcome to the medhelp forum.  These symptoms need immediate emergency room attention of a neurologist since it could be the onset of Guillain Barre Syndrome where autoimmune responses affect he nervous system and consequent muscle weakness and paralysis.  The usual course involves a minor gastrointestinal infection followed by damage to nerves.  The muscle weakness or paralysis begins in the lower limbs and spreads up. It may even affect the muscles of respiration. Ask for an ambulance for immediate medical help and detailed evaluation. Other nervous system disorders like multiple sclerosis also need evaluation. Wishing you all the best.

[Dagun]

Hi Tommy, this must be scary. I think you should maby go to the ER and check this out. Vomiting for many days is not normal, plus then the footdrop. I´ve been reading alot about gastro things related to nerveproblems, and your vomiting could possibly be nerve related. Not very likely though, but because of what happened to you foot I would get that checked out. This could also be something very different, so please check it out.

I´m having nerveproblems, two years now, always getting worse. And I´ve had swallowing issues and maby some strange stuff in my stomack. That is why I´ve been reading about this.

I sure hope you get this figured out soon, good luck!
My best,
Dagun