Drop foot

[Coby Taylor]

Hi Everyone,


I’ve recently had new ceremic right hip resurfacing done . And also a left hip exploration. On 14/5/19 . My right side has developed drop foot . I have numbness from the back of outside right knee/ calf down to the foot. I can feel a little , no movement. Has anyone been through this? . I’m shitting myself that I won’t get movement back . Surgeon said should come back , may take 2 years or may not . He said nerve is intact but may have been irritated/ tethered . Clearly something has happened to it . Any help with this would be grateful and appreciated

Thanks

Coby Taylor

[Pat Walter]

Hi Coby
I am sorry to hear you are having problems.  I am not a doctor or medically trained, but I have read about people that had drop foot. Most recovered and some still had problems.

If you would do a SEARCH here, using the top main menu where HOME is, for drop foot you can read many of the old posts about the problem, recovery and continued problems.
Really, only your surgeon can give you the best advice, but it is nice to read about others with the same problems. It doesn't happen very often and I hope yours heals quickly.
Pat

[jimbone]

Coby,

Sorry to hear this, it must be a bit unnerving.  I had a similar episode 30 plus years ago from a ruptured disc.  Very painful and scary- it resolved itself.  I had a thought regarding this condition and HR.  The sciatic nerve- which if interfered with can cause drop foot- passes very near and in some people actually through the piriformis muscle.  This muscle is usually released during HR surgery.  It is complete speculation on my part but I wonder if that might be an avenue to research and discuss with your surgeon.  Might also inquire about PT to address this as well.  Best wishes.

[Coby Taylor]

Hey Guys,

Yeah the doctors believe it is the sciatic nerve but reopened wound and is intact at sight of operation. Getting an MRI scan tomorrow from head to toe . To see if spinal block or laying for long periods on my side may have caused it . It’s been 7 days now since operating and still have numbness down from back of knee/calf muscle down to ankle and under foot with no movement of toes or foot. So scary I hope it comes back .

Thanks Coby

[Pat Walter]

frigator
I am sorry to hear you are still having problems at 17 months.  I don't have any suggestions since I am not a doctor and know little about your specific problem.  I wish I did. But I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers hoping things get better for you soon.
Pat

[RickH4136]

Hi Coby,
I am sorry about your foot drop. My wife had hip resurfacing surgery by one of the leading surgeons in North America, and also has foot drop. (Btw she went back for the 2nd hip anyway and had no complications. Both hips are in great shape now.) After maybe 3 years now she has mostly recovered her flexion but still can't pull her foot up as well as the other, maybe 20 degrees difference. She also has some neuropathy that has substantially improved over time. A physical therapist that specializes in nerve problems should be consulted. Regarding recovery in general, you may eventually have spontaneous full recovery, partial recovery, or no recovery. There are nerve procedures such as decompression that can help within the first 6 months. My wife saw Dr. Susan Mackinnon at Washington University in St. Louis, MO in the U.S. - she is an internationally known pioneer in peripheral nerve surgery. If this doesn't help enough, an option is tendon transfer. One expert surgeon Dr. Jeff Johnson is at the same hospital. There is also a good group at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. I am including a number of web links. I pray for healing and blessings as you learn about the options. God bless. Do a web search with the words below to get the full links.
Nerve specialists
Dr. Susan Mackinnon
barnesjewish/Giving/Foundation-Publications/Giving-Magazine/Giving-Issue-1-2016/Finding-the-Nerve-to-Fight-and-Win
surgicaleducation.wustl/common-peroneal-nerve-release-at-the-fibular-head/
nerve.wustl/physician_mackinnon.php?np=our_physicians
nerve.wustl/appointment.php?np=patient_care
surgery.wustl/people/susan-mackinnon/
youtube/watch?v=PFhcchWfdKY
nervesurgery.wustl/so/NerveDecompression/Peroneal/Pages/default.aspx
-------------------------------------               
Dr. Allan Belzberg
hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/peripheral_nerve_surgery/conditions/peroneal-nerve-injury.html
---------------------------------------         

Tendon transfer to correct foot drop
Jeffrey E. Johnson, MD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chief, Foot and Ankle Service, Director, Foot and Ankle Fellowship
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8233-OC, St Louis, Missouri 63110, Phone: 314-514-3566, Fax: 314-514-3689;
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5257245/

[RickH4136]

Ps - one important thing I forgot to mention. A good nerve surgeon will be able to help you evaluate your present nerve activity and likelihood of spontaneous recovery or need for surgery. In the case of Dr. Mackinnon she is a conservative surgeon and will recommend only what makes sense, if anything. God bless.

[RickH4136]

Something else important - there are a number of foot/ankle braces that can help you by very productive while you are recovering. My wife likes this one (Step-Smart® Drop Foot Brace by Insightful Products: insightfulproducts.com/buy/step-smart-drop-foot-brace/   -google for complete link) it has built-springing materials to help replicate normal motion and may be more comfortable than others. Do see a physical therapist with nerve damage experience. Also if you have neuropathy pain one of the desensitization tricks (from a PT) is alternate plunging your foot into (reasonably, look it up) cold and hot water every couple(?) of minutes.

[Coby Taylor]

Hey Rick ,

Thanks for the relply . I’m 3 weeks post of on Wednesday. I’m able to slightly flex my calf , and Achilles’ tendon , and move toes about 2 mm , not much . I had nerve conductivity studies last week and will again in 5 weeks . I’ve been using a compex tens machine stimulating the leg , not sure if it’s doing anything or just time and nerve healing slowly. Do you remember how long post op your wife was with getting some movement? I’m still pretty numb down right side of leg .

Thanks
Coby