sudden onset foot drop

[LolaLouise]

As a nurse i should know the answer to this, but i dont, i hold my hands up.

About 10 hours ago i developed foot drop, my lower leg and foot is completely numb and tingley, i cant lift my foot properly whilst walking, walking feels clunky and off balance, i cant flex my foot upwards more than a cm or downwards all the way, i cant spread my toes at all, theres no pain in my lower leg/foot, however my thigh feels fairly achey. There was no injury etc, no prolonged time of being immobile or sitting with my legs crossed or anything, i was at work, throughout my shift i did 18k steps, but one minute ot was fine, the next it wasnt, but it got more pronounced as the shit went on.

Im going to contact my GP, but im not going to lie it concerned me from the persepective of walking was difficult, my job relies on me being mobile and active, and that it was so sudden, not a gradual feeling.

I know some of the causes of foot drop, but not many, and the ones i know are life altering long term conditions. Can anyone offer any reassurance of temporary conditions that start with a sudden onset foot drop problem.

Thank you.

Just read this.

my son has foot drop due to hereditary spastic paraplegia - although it’s more a lack of any movement and he has no feeling in that foot. But it’s developed over years. (Also has a lot of similarities to MS and is a cousin to MND).

I’m glad you’re being seen fairly quickly as you know yourself the sudden onset is more of a worry.

He wears an AFO on the foot would that be an option for you in the meantime to keep it at 90° and aid walking?

Hi all.

I dont really have any updates. My foot and leg are still pretty much the same, i have about 30% movement in my foot, when comparing it to the other myself i can get about 1/3 the movement i have in the other. Its still numb feeling, completely numb to sensation on the top. Still tingles/numb up into my thing, and some of my arm and hand, though that inconsistent. Still off work. I have an OH appointment soon to discuss the longer term plan for going back. I have an MRI next week and then a nerve conduction test at the end of the month. No scheduled appointment with neurology at the moment, waiting to see what the MRI next week says.

Thank you for thinking of me, but i just dont have any resolution or diagnosis at the minute, so not had anything to update with.

Hi @LolaLouise… Sorry you have to wait such a long time. Sending warm & fuzzies from Aus. If you need to vent we’re still here.

Keeping everything crossed that you get some answers and a treatment plan soon

So i've pretty much given up hope of returning to my job. Its been 6, 7 weeks, and its not really improving. the most i have done in the past month is about 20 minutes very slow walk around the supermarket then back home with my foot up. Its soul destroying, I cant do it any longer.

So last week i gave in an applied for some other jobs, not jobs i want to do, not really, but jobs i can do from home, or hybrid but even hybrid its desk based. Its doable, ive researched the job heavily and it has a lot of negative reports (pip assessor) but i cant stay on sick leave in the hope a miracle happens and im suddenly able to stand for 13 hours running around doing 20k steps again. Its not realistic. Ive spoken to some who have done the job long term. I think i can do it short term. Alongside maybe doing the certification in OH nursing which is also work from home, but at the moment im not qualified to do. At this point though, i need a job, not only for the money, but for my own sanity.

Im devasted i have to give up my dream job, but if i do recover, i can always look at going back in the future. But for the time being, i need to be realistic and do something that isnt physically demanding at all.

Please dont judge the job, theres literally no alternatives i can find to apply for currently. I also know leaving the NHS isnt the best of ideas, but theres no nursing jobs availble, the job market is dire at the moment. But im going crazy, i need something to do, and i need to earn more money than sick leave pays.

This must be just awful for you. Do you know when you will receive your MRI results?

I wouldn’t entertain any judgement about your job, you have to look after your own finances and mental health.

Absolutely no judgement from me. It sounds like you’re moving forward and making decisions. Even although it’s not a position you expected or want to be in, being proactive will hopefully help you feel like you’re in charge of your direction.

Im sorry to hear that your foot hasn’t improved but fingers crossed your test results will shed some light on what’s been happening and give you a plan.

I‘m so sorry that things haven’t improved much. That must be so tough for you.

Is there anything through work that they could offer you in the short term that would be home working? Audit? Research? Might be worth a conversation until you get the full results prognosis treatment etc

It won’t be the work you want but if it can keep you in the nhs and potentially an option to return if things change? Can HR advise you on options or your department manager?

Good luck and take care of yourself

No, nothing. I have been through OH and escalated to the dept matron and there no alternative work they can offer me currently. Work have pretty much said they dont think its suitable for me to return. There were discussions around redeployment, however, thats only if i get diagnosed with a condition thats protected under the equality act, and i dont know how long a diagnosis will take. Plus, it wil lbe reployment to a clinic/admin type role, which will be days only, which i cant afford to do as i depend on enhancements from doing (before) all nights and weekends.

Every which way i have tried to look at it, is impossible. I cant see another solution and think my only option is to leave, hopefully temporarily, and either reapply back should i regain enough mobility to do the role, or, look for alternatives and career progression outside of the hospital that pay enough for me to live. At the minute though, nursing recruitment is almost none-existent. So this role is all thats suitable and im qualified for. Im hoping the experince of remote work, report writing, and im looking at training courses, will mean in 6-12 months i can apply for OH nursing, and then do the full qualification in the role. Assuming my mobility doesnt fully recover.

Just accidentally deleted my post!

It sounds like you’ve explored lots of options but don’t be afraid to hold out for as long as your sick leave is covered if there might be legal responsibilities from your employer under the EA. Also ask about skills/training available to you - from report writing / cv. NHS Elect has some free courses you might be interested in in your nursing bodies. Can RCN advise on your situation?

Can you chase your MRI and explain delayed diagnosis is impacting on your employment- maybe they can give you a cancellation? I know you know the NHS but asking won’t hurt.

You sound totally switched on and pragmatic so I’m sure you’ll make a good decision for your circumstances. Whatever you end up doing next may open up new opportunities for your future. Or it might be a stop gap if this is just a blip (albeit a long painful one). Just explore all options before resigning IF that is financially possible and won’t impact your well being. Health comes first.

No judgement here. Good on you for facing this tough decision head on.

My son receives PIP and we had a great assessor who really got his condition.

Don’t forget you will be entitled to make your own claim after it’s been like this a few months ands it’s expected to last.

Most importantly I hope being back to work helps you mentally and you get some answers for what physically is going on.

Sorry to hear you're not feeling better OP. Before leaving the NHS please look in to ill health retirement - you could be doing yourself out of a decent pension if you leave or reduce your hours.

I'm really sorry to hear that there's been no progress 😞
I'd echo the last couple of posters though, I think 6/7 weeks in is quite early to be making drastic decisions about resigning completely, especially when you don't have a diagnosis yet. Not sure what your length of service is but a lot of public sector work has a reasonable sick leave policy so don't be afraid to use it all if you need it. I had foot drop from a disc herniation and 6 months on I still have it a bit but it has improved enough to weight bear, walk, cycle, yoga etc. It definitely hadn't resolved by 6 weeks.

My problem is i just cannot survive on sick pay. Im loosing some £400 a month, and im a single parent, no finicial support of the father. My kids are also older, 16 and 18, about to start school and uni, so both have already finished. I now need to feed them all summer, and buy clothes etc, increased bills as we are all home all the time. We had just gotten 2 kitten when i went off, who need neuturing and jabs etc, never mind feeding. I also have a 22 year old, who still lives at home, he works, but he is AuDHD, works part time, needs a lot of support still. My 18 year old has got him self a part time job too, but hasnt started yet, my 16 year old is trying but yet to find anything just has paper rounds still. so none have enough to contribute anything towrads house costs, it all falls on me. I know it rash, and it could well resolve, but i cant afford to just sit andwait, i have to be realistic. If it doesnt recover, it just seems sensible to plan for that now. These jobs are remote, more money than i was on before, and if i get the employment prior to diagnosis, ill be better protected there too.

I dont know, it seems like the right decision, but i do fully understand its a quick decision based off the unknown, and not the best idea to leave the NHS. Ive worked in the NHS for 10 years, but some as a HCA whilst training. But at the minute im going crazy, and stressed about money and my health. Money atleast seems like a fixable problem for now, even if the job is temporary.

As you work for the NHS, aren't you on full pay for the first six months of sickness and then half-pay for the next six months? Or are you on a different contract for some reason?

I certainly wouldn't judge you for taking a job as a PIP assessor. I know it's not great because the assessment companies are pretty grim, but someone has to do it. As you say, you can always keep looking out for other job opportunities whilst working there.

When I became disabled with complete right foot drop and other neurological symptoms (massive L4/5 disc prolapse), I was a single mum aged 46, working a few hours a week with a view to taking on more hours the following year when my DS started at high school. My disability soon put an end to that idea. Life goes on, but you just have to take a different road to the one you had planned.

Yes, i am, but its full basic pay, and i do all nights which is 30-60% more depending on the night, so its a big cut to my usual take home pay.

Oh, that's a shame. I gather PIP assessors get quite a good salary, so that will definitely help. Please don't lose heart though. My DC were 13 and 10 at the time I became disabled. I was unable to go back to work, although I did do some part-time voluntary work for a few years, and I was awarded DLA. I also have a care package provided by adult social care, so that helps. I claim my state pension now.

Have you been referred to surgical appliances with a view to having a foot-up bandage? That would help you tremendously! Unfortunately, I can't tolerate one for various reasons, so I have to lug my right leg around which is just a dead weight. The foot-up bandage would give you a normal gait.

www.probrace.nl/p/ossur-foot-up-shoeless-accessoire/

Do you have rehabilitation medicine near you? That’s who my son sees and his consultant did all the referrals to orthotics, wheelchair services physio and OT.

I developed this due to weight loss. Nerves had lost cushioning. I'm paying for osteo which is helping relieve it 3 weeks in from 1st appt with osteo. Sorry to hear the impact on you. My job is office based so I'm coping.

Ive had my MRI results back, well, i had a GP apt and he gave me a very brief over view, the brain MRI is clear so its not MS. However, the spinal MRI showed what he said was "significant damage to L3 L4 and L5, and 2 discs are bulging" so ill need a follow up apt there. He started me on pregabalin. I had to take my daughter out yesterday, i was out for 45 minutes and the pain was so intense i cried, i dont think pain has ever made me cry before, it was horrific. Like my whole leg was on fire with waves of electric shocks. Whilst i was here he did some vitals obs too, as there were none on my GP record, now i knew my heart rate was higher than average from my watch, and i knew that it went quite fast quite quickly, however, when i stood up as he wanted a standing bp, my heart rate went up by over 70bpm in the space of 20 seconds, so i had to hang around have an ecg, then a second gp appointment when he could squeeze me in, and now im awaiting a 24 hour tape. And just because that all wasnt fun enough, when i stood my bp feel into my boots too. He started talking about some autoimmune conditions that could link all these symptoms but id been there over 2.5 hours at this point, and i kind of just stopped listening.

But, he was a fabulous (new) GP, i cannot fault him at all, i feel like he truly took on board everything i was saying about my foot and leg, the pain, and my nervousness around my future career. He has signed me off for 6 weeks, and advised i dont make any permanent decsions in that time, just sit on it, have the nerve study, have a follow up for the MRI results, and then go from there once i have more facts not just guesses.

Incidentally, does anyone know the process for "reviewing" a GP and sending a compliment of practice? I cant find anything on my surgery's website.

I wrote a letter to our practice manager praising a doctor who had sent my mum to an and e, saving her life, she thought she’d a chest infection, it was a blood clot.

Sorry you were in such pain @LolaLouise- that sounds awful. No wonder your heart and BP were all over the place. Your GP sounds fab though - it’s good he’s given you some meds and seems on it to help you get answers. Sounds like you’ve got a sensible plan around work too.

Did he advise physio or anything else that might help you manage the pain and mobility or to hold fire and rest up pending further tests?

No, i dont have a phsyio referral yet, i think they are waiting to be sure of the mechanism before that, i do have a refferal for orthotics though to get a support fitted for my foot which will hopefully make walking easier.

That makes sense. Hope orthotics help. Take care.

What a roller coaster, OP.

It’s good news it’s not MS. FWIW, my husband had 2 bulging discs that significantly affected one leg and his mobility. After 4 years of being shunted from pillar to post, he eventually had keyhole surgery performed by a neurosurgeon. It was instantly life changing.

I hope you get some concrete facts soon.