Has anyone solved foot drop with physio/ time?

[Triflelife]

I’ve a badly herniated disc. A few weeks in and not getting much nerve pain now which is good as at first it was excruciating. The herniated disc has caused foot drop though and my foot is still numb and I can’t walk on my heel. I’m starting to get terrified concerned I’ll be stuck like this forever. I’m limping and walking is tiring and also makes my body ache due to having to walk so inefficiently. Has anybody had any luck solving this with physio and strict exercises?

Yes, my husband had this a few years ago. He is really sporty and he was determined to get it better. He followed all the physio advice religiously, took up yoga and swimming to strengthen his core and it got better, not immediately but he's back to running and cycling. Don't give up if it doesn't work as quickly as you'd like though, it does take perseverance.

@postitnot thanks so much that’s reassuring! I’m religiously following the advice and doing my exercises etc. Maybe three weeks isn’t long it just feels like an eternity waiting for something I so took to granted to maybe or maybe not return. It sounds like your husband was very determined and positive minded, I’m trying to stay positive but sometimes the worry creeps in.

Yes last summer it took me about 2 + 1/2 months to resolve.

Yes hubby completely resolved in about 8 weeks, never returned

I had it it when I broke my back.
It went away eventually after they braced me.

@TomatoSandwiches @Mumaway thanks so much for the reassurance. The physio did say 3-6 months but even three weeks of my foot not really working has scared me into thinking it might never come back so it’s lovely to read some positive outcomes.

@TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening that sounds awful but glad they found a way to get your movement back and hope you’re fully recovered

Hi @Triflelife. I have very similar - a limp (for a few weeks) caused by spinal nerve compression, after the awful pain has mostly gone. I have numbness too. It must be a different disc though as I don't have foot drop and it's tiptoes I can't do.

Glad to see some positive replies. I understand how you must be feeling. It's scary not being able to walk normally and having no idea when it might improve. I had an appointment this week and felt very discouraged afterwards. Hoping both of us can keep positive and see some improvement soon.

Yes, I had this with a herniated disc. It’s horrible to see your body lose functionality like that.

i saw a physio and stuck strictly to his advice. Core strengthening and glutes / posterior chain will be key. do take their advice seriously, you need to take action now to avoid it becoming permanent damage but it can be done.

@McOrange thanks for replying- uplifting to hear of people who have overcome this. You’re right when I tell my foot to lift and it doesn’t/ can’t it seems bizarre. I think at the moment the physio has just focused on exercises to help the disc retreat and also foot exercises/ things to ease off my hips? but hoping once I pass the 4 week mark I can move to the strengthening stage to avoid this happening again. It’s been awful.

@HelloMist gosh so sorry you are going through this too. I try and stay positive but then occasionally will get the bad thoughts creeping in thinking this could be it now. I think the pain was so horrific at the time there is a lot of fear still there too. I’ve a young child so feel like I’m not able to do much for them at the moment. Sorry you had a disappointing appointment- I think mostly my physio has been encouraging but he also said how important positivity is so I guess he wouldn’t want to discourage me!

How are you getting on. @Triflelife?

Hope you still managed to have a nice Christmas and new year.

i am 7 months in. Foot drop as a result of hip surgery. Consultant/physio not giving timescales and not guaranteeing recovery. However a friends husband was told at 18 months that was what would be permanent. I wear a foot brace but use crutches outside as people are so rough in crowds.

my New Year’s resolution is to get it better.

@HelloMist i was just yesterday wondering how you were getting on! I’m told by husband and family they can see I’ve improved, but it feels super slow going. My leg doesn’t feel like my own really, it has this slightly heavy feel to it still and gets achy if I overdo it. I still have the foot drop- maybe there are some glimmers I’d hope - I can raise my foot a little from my heel if I’m sitting. I have no idea if I could do that before though. Still can’t raise it when standing. I’m definitely a lot more active now than a few weeks ago but was a bit depressed starting 2024 like this. How are you getting on?

@EssexGurl that sounds tough as it’s been such a long time. I was told nerves can still heal for up to 2 years but it seems so slow. Totally know what you mean about the crowds. I ventured into town just after Christmas and just felt so vulnerable. Thought if someone pushes into me I could be back to square one. I think at least with crutches you’d hope people would be more careful.

I had a badly herniated disc with foot drop. I needed a microdiscectomy but my foot drop is 95% better 8 weeks post surgery

@Pushmepullyou oh great it has come back. You must be so relieved. How long did you wait after the disc herniated before going for surgery? It’s been suggested that the NHS may not offer me surgery for foot drop alone, as the nerve pain is mostly gone which is a worry.

@EssexGurl can I ask what hip surgery you had? Fear I may be in a similar situation.

My NHS surgeon said he wouldn’t operate for pain as there are lots of options for pain relief - only for function, specifically weakness and foot drop, so you might find that you can get surgery ok

I had total hip replacement. The surgeon told me about it as a possible complication but he’d only had it happen once in 20 years! So was not talked about in huge depth. My friends husband had spinal surgery and his was caused by scar tissue. He had further surgery to remove that and all feeling returned. With mine they think the nerve was either over stretched during surgery or irritated in some way. So nothing can be done to improve it. I had a nerve function test to see how the nerve was working. I will have another test soon to see if it has improved at all.

In the crowds before Christmas I had two men push past and take my shoe off completely. Stood in the street with my husband trying to put shoe back on in all the crowds. Always men who are too busy to wait one second!

I had a herniated disc and went on to develop footdrop. My issue was pain, numbness and I couldn't wiggle or raise my toes. I wasn't offered Physio, I went straight onto the urgent list and ended up having a hemilaminectomy, disc fenestration and nerve decompression surgery a few weeks later, my foot drop resolved completely.

I do have underlying spinal dysraphism though so I think they didn't want to wait and see.

I had foot drop after giving birth. It resolved after about 6-8 weeks. But it was a pita to look after a newborn with it and not be able to drive. It was also scary not knowing whether it would resolve. I needed physio afterwards to regain the full range of movement.