Foot drop

[Whatsinadrop]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has experience of foot drop?

I had a bad bout of cramp in my right calf muscle a couple of weeks ago, followed by the usual aching, tightness etc. I didn't think much of it, but then realised my right foot is slapping when I walk. It's only really noticeable to me, but definitely a different gait.

I googled and came across foot drop, and I think that's what I've got. I do have the ability to lift the front of my foot, but not as much as my left foot, and my calf feels really tight when I do. I can do some of the tests (I can jump, run up the stairs, walk backwards etc), but I cannot walk on my heel on that side.

I've made a GP appointment (phone) tomorrow.

Has anyone had (mild) foot drop and cramps? What caused it? I am trying not to worry too much.

Hi -

I am glad you’ve got that GP appointment.

DH had this. It ‘s probably not what you want to hear, but it’s not too bad so keep reading! He was diagnosed with an autoimmune neurological condition. Not MS. It isn’t curable but it is highly treatable on the NHS. I won’t name it , because no one has ever heard of it besides our family and friends.

Treatment took care of the foot drop and other weakness and he has barely any symptoms. He has had only one acute episode of weakness during a serious illness in 20 years and otherwise lives a completely normal, fairly athletic life subject to periodic hospital appointments for his treatment. No one would ever guess to look at him.

You could have any of a number of issues. I researched many of them when DH was undergoing diagnosis and was highly reassured by how treatable the very large majority of them are. Very best wishes

Feel free to PM me

Reassuring news: I just did a search on ‘foot drop’. The most common cause seems to be a compressed nerve. This can be caused by something as innocent as crossing your legs too much, or kneeling too much (eg, laying tile). It can also be a consequence of surgery.

So do try not to worry - I know this is much easier said than done.

Thanks for your reply @easilyintimidated, and I'm glad your DH is doing well.

I saw the GP today. He suspects L5/S1 nerve compression, but could be a range of different things. Waiting for blood results and have referral to neurology.

Very difficult not to catastrophise!

Glad you've seen the GP! Neurologist appointment will be great.

I know it's not easy not to catastrophe!

Just wanted to say that even if it's.something like MS it really isn't the end of the world. Treatment for MS has really come a long way from being wheelchair bound (although for some unfortunate few it can be very bad).

Just wait until you have seen the neuro. Could be as simple as a trapped nerve. Any other weird symptoms you have had over the years? You will need to let the neuro know so write them down.

I have foot drop after strokes a splint toes to knee made a massive difference Wishing you all the best with neuro appointment

I do have MS and foot drop was my first indication. I just thought it was my shoes or lack of concentration. Obviously it wasn't.
When I walk, my left foot doesn't pick up at the front and I trip over my toes. It doesn't slap down because the front doesn't come up. I cannot bring my foot to horizontal by itself.
If your calves are tight stand with the balls of your feet on the bottom stair, hold on to bannister and let your heels drop for as long as you can bear it.

I had foot drop with cauda equina/herniated disc at l5/s1

so mom had foot drop. Wore braces and took meds for awile.. Then started having issues moving her legs. Not to alarm you but she ended up diagnosed with als.

Hey @CheeseTopping, thank you

Do you have experience of foot drop as a symptom of MS?

@PastMyBestBeforeDate Thank you for sharing. How are you doing now? Did you have any other early signs?

@jennyofthenorth I'm really sorry to hear of your mums diagnosis. Sending good vibes

Hi OP -

I’m glad you have the neuro referral. I also want to say that my friend with MS has been essentially stable for many years. She is quite athletic. That is pretty typical now with some good luck. Not that there is any reason to think you have MS, but in case you do it will be caught early, which is a big piece of good luck. I know how difficult it is to stay calm!

@jennyofthenorth I am also very sorry to hear about your mum.

Same with my SIL 🙁

Took ages to get her diagnosis and wasted a whole year which she would have lived very differently had she known she would soon end up wheelchair bound.

Sorry if this alarms you OP. From my SILs experience, if I ever experience foot drop I will immediately push for ALS testing.

However the usual cause is nerve related so no doubt it will be that. Good luck x

I am also very sorry for your SIL, @MrJollyLivesNextDoor .

But ALS (MND) is one of the least common causes of foot drop and the OP should keep that in mind. Naturally I was concerned about this when DH was slowly being diagnosed, but it turned out that t he neuros had excluded it early on without even mentioning it to us. I learnt this through reading up on the tests they did. I should have just asked.

OP, neurologists understand how scared people are. In my experience you need to respect their time but if you do that they are mostly quite happy to address any particular concern you have.

How worrying for you, you have done the right thing seeing GP and being referred for neurological assessment. Check the wait times at your local trust, I know in my city it is a very long wait, sadly.

I had private health insurance, so my dx was funded, I didn’t have foot drop, but other neuro symptoms, I was dx within a fortnight with Transverse Myelitis and told at the same time it was likely to be Multiple Sclerosis, it was. If you have the option to go private, it’s worth it. To get treatment ASAP.

Good luck OP,,I hope it turns out well for you.

Looking back I had long periods of being inexplicably tired over decades which were never really looked into further than checking my iron and thyroid. I'd feel fine for a few years until the next one. Then I had a strange 'burning' patch that stayed for months and then went. The tripping over my toes, I ignored. Then the burning came back and my hand started hurting. I was sent for an x-ray and some physio and the physio picked up abnormal reflexes and I was referred.
My mobility is affected now but I'm OK. Hopefully you've got a temporary issue that will be fixed.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to me. It's been an anxious week!

I had my neuro appointment today (private). He's not worried about MND/ALS (I asked directly) as I have no other flags. I do have some other things going on though apparently. MS is on the table, but so are some other things too.

He's writing me up for an MRI and nerve conduction studies. So, fingers crossed.

So glad you got in quickly. For the demyelinating diseases such as MS and DH’s disease, starting treatment early often makes a big difference. I imagine that is also true of other diseases.

I hope you’ve got something curable or highly treatable. With MND ruled out, although I am loathe to sound Pollyanna-ish I do think you’ve got a good chance of that. All the best, @Whatsinadrop

Pleased you have seen the Neurologist, MRI is fantastic for these symptoms, pick up the smallest areas of inflammation. I am guessing it’s head, cervical and whole spine that the Neurologist has requested. Being private, you will probably have the MRI and results in the same week.

I had MRI on the Monday morning, the scans were emailed straight over and I saw the neurologist at 7pm on the Weds and was told Transverse Myelitis, but MS is very likely but unable to confirm or prescribe a disease modifying drug, until a further inflammatory attack, which followed 2 years later, which were totally different symptoms to my first attack.

My initial MRI showed inflammation at c2 & c3, further inflammation in around the t3 area, and some small white matter lesions on my brain which is why the consultant thought it was MS.

I know what you are going through is the moment is scary, it may well not be MS, the MRI will show whether or not it is. But there are so many treatments available for MS these days.

Good luck OP, I hope everything works out ok for you.

Glad you went private OP, I did too.

Good luck with the results of the MRI.

Glad things are moving along. MND being ruled out is good. That was the option that made the MS diagnosis feel like a relief. Like Roselilly I initially had a TM diagnosis. That was based on a cervical MRI but it was changed to MS after a head MRI because I'd had 2 documented episodes.
Good luck.

@Whatsinadrop I'm having similar at the moment and have a suspected cause. I would rather not post in here but it might help you. Feel free to PM me. Genuine poster. I'm not trying to sell you anything. My situation is quite unique I think and don't want to publicly post specifics x

Hi, I have something similar to Foot drop, I have something called Dystonia in my left foot which makes my foot point down and turn inwards. Like you said I can’t walk on my heel and I can walk fine backwards but not forwards.

@Whatsinadrop how are you doing?