Re: Foot Drop getting worse?
- From: "Duchess" <me5@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:39:15 -0400
OG,
Well, I am 46 :) I have pretty pronounced numbness. It feels like I am
wearing like ten pairs of socks all the time. Kinda like getting shot with
novacaine a few times. Funny because my last EMG actually showed some
improvement. You sound like you have it just as bad as me...sorry for that
:(
Well, I told my doc about it today at my appt and of course he suggested I
get fitted for another AFO.(I kinda lost the one I had *cough*) and of
course the word cane did come out of his mouth. He said it kinda like you
did. Would I rather be on the floor, spread out in front of a crowd of
onlookers, or walking with a cane? I think I will choose the cane :)
Ok, another question. He also sent me home with a DVD about a SCS. He said
it was something he is thinking of for down the road. I haven't seen the
thing yet, but I have heard some pretty bad horror stories about these
things. The one he sent me home with is from a company called ANS.
Supposedly it's a St Jude medical company. What are your and others
opinions of these things? He did say I would have to see a therapist before
I could be approved for one. A mental health professional, not the other
kind :) Is that usual?
"OldGoat" <oldgoatmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:K0RGj.3918$t%6.329@xxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Duchey,
I don't know if every case follow the same pattern or not, so you can't
base what may happen to you on someone else's experience. Having said
that, my foot drop really didn't get worse, it was pretty bad to begin
with, but I did/have lost most of the feeling in my feet. I didn't even
realize how bad it was till my PCP used the spur like wheel to run up and
down my feet, while I was laying back with my eyes closed. I kept saying
"any time now", and he'd already gone up both feet past the ankle. I think
that was kind of a turning point since my wife was in the room and I saw
her sitting in the corner looking stunned. It also coincided with some
elevation in pain, though the follow up MRI showed no major changes.
I don't know your age, but I think I can safely say no matter your age,
you feel you are too young to walk around with a cane, and would feel self
conscious doing so. As with many things with chronic pain issues, forget
what anybody else thinks and do what you gotta do. Walk carefully and
deliberately and have that cane set up in front of you so you have
something to lean on when your hubby is not there to catch you.
If it helps your self esteem, consider it a fashion statement and don't
think of it as a cane so much as a 'walking stick". There's a billion
different types out there. Clear plastic with embedded flowers to a plain
old "natural stick" design. Find something that makes a personal statement
for you. They don't have to be "hospital ugly". The only thing you have to
really be concerned with is length. If too long or too short, it will not
only be close to useless when you lose your footing, but can also cause
pain in your upper back and shoulders. The tip is also pretty important.
They can be dangerous if it's going to slide out from under you when you
bring weight to bear on it.
It's a crappy solution, anybody using one wishes they didn't have to. But
after a half a dozen good hard falls, a broken wrist or two, it's a better
choice than a fracture. Don't be self conscious and remember anyone giving
out smart remarks about going around with a cane can be poked in the belly
with it.
I can't tell you where it goes from here, but not taking a spill for the
last couple years, has definitely been worth it.
You should also take a good look at your shoes. Be sure they're fitted
properly and the minute they begin to show any signs of wear, dump them.
Best of luck--og
--
Be Sure to Check Out the PAYNE HERTZ blog, for people with chronic pain,
by people with chronic pain.
join in at: http://paynehertz.blogspot.com
"Duchess" <me5@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2YCdnXXB6J4dV3banZ2dnUVZ_s2tnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have foot drop on my right let/foot from below the knee down. I cannot
and have not been able to lift that foot for going on 3 years because of
a nerve inpingement. The inpingement was taken care of by surgery and
what the neuro called "surgeon's elmer's glue" on the nerve where it was
severed.
My issue is. I have been having problems (well more pronounced) with
balance. I can be just standing somewhere and suddenly my ankle will
"give" and down I go. Now, is it possible for foot drop to get worse? I
don't feel any more numbness than usual. However I have noticed that the
toes which will usually "twitch" have now started to draw and cramp.
Mostly at night. Also my calf has started twitching also. I just don't
want this to get to the point that I need more than my foot brace to get
around. I don't know if it is possible for this condition to get worse
over time or not, but I don't know what else to do and I am getting
worried. I have come close to falling 3 times in the past week. If it
wasn't for hubby, I would have been on the ground.
Thanks for the opinions and advice everyone :)
.
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