Re: New foot drop question

[Guest guest]

I am sure Gretchen can address this better, but my personal experience is I had

" beautiful " arches when I was a teenager, but still was starting with the foot

drop. As my CMT progressed, the arches collapsed, as my orthotist explained. I

beleive you can have foot drop and still have arches.

Do you find that you do any high stepping or stub your toes from time to time?

Before I was diagnosed, my friends used to say that one leg looked longer than

the other and that was due to my one foot starting to drop and I used to trip

over the littlest things. It used to be a big joke amongst my friends and I used

to make them laugh a lot with my antics!

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Hi Jackie,

Thanks for the info. Have not had too many issues except that I have

noticed that sometimes when I am walking it is like my right foot just stops.

It's not funny but I guess I look funny. My mother has done this for a few

years so maybe its the CMT or something I just do like her. She has not been

tested or had symptoms. So who knows what is what!! Although she does have

hammertoes.

Teri

[Guest guest]

A diagnosis of drop foot is determined by observing your gait. While for the

most part you may feel that you are walking normally, a clinician will notice

the flaws in your mechanics. I've always had arches, I've also always had

floppy feet. I'll walk without problems for months then come across deeper

pile carpet or misaligned sidewalk slabs and my drop foot makes itself

painfully known. I hate to say don't sweat it, but fixating on your symptoms

really accomplishes little, while fixating on retarding their progress does

lots.

Ed

[Guest guest]

Foot drop has nothing to do with having an arch. It is defined

as: " A condition of weakness in the muscles of the foot and ankle,

caused by poor nerve conduction, which interferes with a person's

ability to flex the ankle and walk with a normal heel-toe pattern.

The toes touch the ground before the heel, causing the person to

trip or lose balance. "

Don't be afraid to ask questions from your doctor. He should spend

time with you to explain things about your condition.

[Guest guest]

Teri:

Footdrop in this context means that your peroneal and gastroc muscles,

those that keep your foot at right angles to your leg are weakening

and your foot droops downward whether you like it or not.

The problem also includes the intrinsic muscles of your toes and they

also point downward.

With me a big issue is tripping over my big toe when walking barefoot

on carpeting. Not only do I feel foolish falling down, but my big toe

really hurts. Sometimes I bruise the toe so badly that the nail

eventually falls off.

Ugh!

Now, what can be done about the problem.

I went into an AFO 5 years ago that holds by foot fairly rigid at

right angles to my leg. The model I use now gives me about 10 degrees

of ankle flex that helps me on rough ground and stairs.

After I moved to Italy I started intensive physical therapy. The

therapist found that I have some strength in my lower leg and we have

been working to develop the muscles. She thinks I will be able to doff

the AFO and my crutch, but I am not so sure. I feel stronger walking

around the house sans AFO, but I still wear it outside.

I was never sent to a physical therapist during the first 4 years of

my treatment in the states. I asked my (incompetent) neurologist if he

would refer me to a physiatrist/rehabilitation specialist and she got

me working in deep water.

When I told la (my PT here) she was aghast that my neurologist

didn't send me earlier. If I had earlier therapy I may have avoided my

AFO completely.

So, bug your neurologist to see a physiatrist and start physical

therapy as soon as possible.

--Larry

[Guest guest]

Hi Ed,

Very well said!! Thank you!

Teri

[Guest guest]

I will add if you have drop foot you trip a lot. Cracks in a side walk, carpet,

uneven floors of all types. Drop foot keeps life interesting.

[Guest guest]

,

They are related. I studied this in college where I aced courses like Anatomy &

Physiology, Biomechanics and Neurology. If the foot develops wrong due to the

nerve that was never working, then the two can go hand in hand. Foot drop does

not HAVE to go with a high arch. Foot drop can develop later due to nerves that

are affected later in life. BTW, I was taught by professors with PhDs. So, I

guess you can tell them they're wrong!

Dawn from Buffalo originally