foot drop and weakness in leg

[vivi6121]

My husband strated to have problem with his left leg, started about a year ago with sudden limping, than a foot drop. He can't stand on the heals with left and can't stand on toes with right leg. He had severe pain goind down the right leg till he went for acupuncture which almost immediatley took out most of the pain.
He had also cramps in the leg for years, this one also gone since the acupuncture.
He's got weakness in the leg and abdominal muscles seems week too. He's got a foot brace but limps with it too.
Had MRI, CT, didn't show anything. Had EMG recently, inconclusive. Anybody had similar problem with nerve damage? thanks

[cavaleechy]

Hi All,
I am really hoping that someone can help me as this forum has been more informative than the hospital so far.
My girlfriend came to Dubai on holiday with her sister and was in a car accident, which fractured her left hip socket, resulting in sciatic nerve plasy.  There appears to have been no operation to nerves as per medical report, but she has had a EMG,ENG & nerve conduction study with the following results:

Normal distal motor latency, conduction velocity with severely reduced EMR amplitude for left peroneal nerve
Normal motor conduction studies for bilateral tibial nerves
Normal motor conduction velocity with slightly reduced EMR amplitude for Right peroneal nerve
Normal Response latencies for bilateral deep peroneal nerve but severely reduced EMR amplitude on the Left
Delayed F-wave latency for Left peroneal Nerve (normal for Right)
Needle EMG for left tib: Anterior muscles showed no sponteneous or volitional activities.

Comments: EMG and nerve conduction study results show evidence for severe injury to left peroneal nerve proximally. There is no evidence of left lumbosacral plexopathy or L5 radioculopathy.

Physically she has foot drop, numbness to her anterior mucles and foot. She can only move here toes slightly downwards.
She is on crutches and all she was given post-discharge was a standard preformed foot drop splint (which she was told only to wear at night) and some gauze tied into a rope to do what I think are 'towel pull exercises'.

There seems to be various doctors telling us different periods of recovery and the medical report just says she may need surgery later on, with no indication of what type or for how long.

To make matters worse we have to put togther a claim list for the insurance company, but I have no idea when for example she will be able to walk without crutches and go back to work or even what possible future operations/phisio she may need. Also what sort of specialist do I need to speak to? Neurologist?

Can any of you please advise on anything you think may help?

many thanks in advance

[MP807]

He may have blood circulation problems in his legs.  Peripherial artery disease.  This is diagnosed by a vascular surgeon.  Doppler test.

[midnightdoc]

No I just had x-ray. I got lucky with the fix. I also had bad back problems with previous surgery on L4-L5.  I have polyneuropathy now.

[vivi6121]

thanks for your post. That's promising :-) Do u know what caused it? Did u have EMG , MRI? My husband goes to phisio and wears the brace almost all the time, for about 3 weeks now. The phisio said he lost most of his muscles in the lower back and that's why he's limping :-(. Hope it's not ALS and can get the muscles stronger.

[midnightdoc]

I went to the doctor when I kept tripping and falling because my foot was not bending up like it is supposed to. i went to Doctor and he called an Orthapedic Surgeon that told him it was probably foot drop and to try the fracture boot since the x-ray didn't show anything. I wore it about 3 months and that fixed the problem.

[vivi6121]

How long did it take to find the cause? What tests did you have?

[vivi6121]

Already seen a neurologist, had EMG, MRI etc. but all was inconclusive. Started PT recently. At this stage limping is about the same, but the leg gets swollen sometimes. General exercises a bit better. Next neurologist appointment in 2 month. :-(  Long time for not knowing what's going on. I am worried about motor neuron, but I hope it's some sort of nerve damage and can be fixed.

[midnightdoc]

I had foot drop a few years back. They had me wear an ankle fracture boot and about 3 months later it was fine. I do have multiple nerve damage now. Tarsal,Carpal, and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Lower back nerve damage from 3 protruding disc and cervical nerve damage. Now I have severe burning on the front and side of my right thigh. You may want to go to a neurologist and have a nerve conduction study done. I guess I'm going to have to go back myself before I take too much nerve and pain meds. Good Luck.

[vivi6121]

Anyone had foot drop without having any injury or operation? I am worried.

[vivi6121]

hope u get better. It's so frustrating that no one can tell what it is, and have to wait for another 2 month for further tests. It's also very scary as MND / ALS is also a possibility, but I hope these symptoms, like strong pain in leg, not very common in it. We don't have unfortunately to many choices up here, the closest avalaible neurologist is 2 hrs flight from here.
I've read about a new technology: www.neurography.com, only available in the US. :-(

[revbuzz]

no rheumatoid--they checked me out for anything and everything and it all came up blank. this is the 3rd neuroligist i have seen and they say he is the best. after he did a bunch of tests he feels this is what is going on in my body and that the infusions should turn things around. he did say it will take time and not to get discouraged. otherwise he said i'am in good health.

[vivi6121]

thx for your reply. is not rheumatoid arthristis u've got? did it show in the blood test? My hasband had blood test as well, nothing was found in it.

[revbuzz]

have same--mine stareted from an epodrol{spelling} for and operation on my foot. ended up with footdrop and after all the test--i have had them all, and physical therapy, still doing they have found that my immune system is attacking my nerves. they have me on infusions that should stop this and give the nerves a chance to heal. over time it has effected both legs. with prayer and the doc's. we will beat it. hope this helps a little.
rev buzz