Long shot: experience with drop foot

[Stingyshark]

I managed to end up with some nerve damage after Paisley's delivery.

Everyone I saw at the hospital (besides the OB who blamed the anesthesiologist) said that it's drop foot caused my a compressed nerve somewhere.. Either my hip or the peroneal nerve, which is around your knee area.

I can't dorsi flex my right foot, meaning if the dr pushes against the top of my foot I can't push back.

My gait is off because I can't roll my foot in a natural step. So my foot just kind of slaps. Super frustrating.

Anyhow.. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Deleted]

That sounds awful! I'm so sorry. Do they think it will alleviate over time?

[Stingyshark]

Dec 28, 2013 12:08:12 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

That sounds awful! I'm so sorry. Do they think it will alleviate over time?

The general consensus is that , yes it will get better... But no real time frame & no one can say if it will be 100% better ever or if I'll always have some kind of impairment.

Very frustrating. Definitely not what I thought I'd be worrying about.

[grk2012]

My FIL has that, as a diabetes complication. Sorry no "fix" that I know of, though. Hopefully yours heals itself soon.

[grk2012]

Oh--minor help maybe, but he's found that wearing a simple Velcro-closure ankle brace helps a bit with stability if he has to be on his feet a long time.

[Deleted]

My mom had it. She had to use a brace that went under her foot, behind her ankle, and behind her calf a bit.

[hungrycaterpillar]

What you can do for the time being is visit a physical therapist to see about getting an AFO. It's really the only thing to help you until the nerve heals which may take a long time.

Sorry that happened - it's actually a relatively common thing and I've seen several patients with it already (and I'm still a PT student).

Congratulations again on your new little one!

[Stingyshark]

Dec 28, 2013 13:20:08 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

What you can do for the time being is visit a physical therapist to see about getting an AFO. It's really the only thing to help you until the nerve heals which may take a long time.

Sorry that happened - it's actually a relatively common thing and I've seen several patients with it already (and I'm still a PT student).

Congratulations again on your new little one!

Everyone in the hospital says it's rare after a delivery.. But Google tells me otherwise. Definitely not a complication I thought I would have.

I'm planning on calling a neuro on minday for a f/u & a script to PT.

[hungrycaterpillar]

Dec 28, 2013 13:28:06 GMT -5 Stingyshark said:

Dec 28, 2013 13:20:08 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

What you can do for the time being is visit a physical therapist to see about getting an AFO. It's really the only thing to help you until the nerve heals which may take a long time.

Sorry that happened - it's actually a relatively common thing and I've seen several patients with it already (and I'm still a PT student).

Congratulations again on your new little one!

Everyone in the hospital says it's rare after a delivery.. But Google tells me otherwise. Definitely not a complication I thought I would have.

I'm planning on calling a neuro on minday for a f/u & a script to PT.

Good. I'm really sorry that this happened to you again just because I know of your running passions. PT will be really important right now. You want to prevent atrophy in that leg and you definitely want the PT to teach you some compensatory strategies until your brace gets here. Falling is a big concern of mine for you at this point. Be extra careful when walking with the baby.

The good news is though that you were strong before, you're not overweight, and other than that you didn't have any complications with the delivery (right?). It also seems like you're not having any pain associated with it like some others I've seen complain of. Hang in there - it will get better soon.

[hungrycaterpillar]

Stingyshark - just out of curiosity, do you remember where your hands where for the majority of the time when you were doing your pushing?

I've never been pregnant, so forgive me if this is a crazy thing for you to have to remember.

[Stingyshark]

Dec 28, 2013 13:44:25 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

Stingyshark - just out of curiosity, do you remember where your hands where for the majority of the time when you were doing your pushing?

I've never been pregnant, so forgive me if this is a crazy thing for you to have to remember.

I was holding my legs up every time I had to push (2.5hrs).

My balance is pretty good, I've stumbled a few times but I'm very deliberate in my stepping and extra cautious.

[arch01]

my stepmom had it as a complication to her first delivery. she wore a brace for about 6 weeks, went to PT a couple times a week and was fine about 3 months out. she was extremely active and it killed her to not be able to run-but she recovered 100% with some patience and PT. hers was more severe than yours sounds like-she had no ability to control her foot without a brace.

good luck!!!

[Stingyshark]

Dec 28, 2013 16:02:06 GMT -5 arch01 said:

my stepmom had it as a complication to her first delivery. she wore a brace for about 6 weeks, went to PT a couple times a week and was fine about 3 months out. she was extremely active and it killed her to not be able to run-but she recovered 100% with some patience and PT. hers was more severe than yours sounds like-she had no ability to control her foot without a brace.

good luck!!!

This is good news! 

[hannahb]

Definately see the neuro and get a PT evaluation. They can do electrical stimulation to prevent atrophy. Also there are PT's who specialize in nerve mobilization and this may help. I don't do it and it seems sort of voodoo but a PT in our practice does and I've seen it work.

[Stheneboea]

My colleague at work had this and ultimately had back surgery which solved the problem (recovery was weeks)but he didn't get better from PT and the brace.

[Brie]

Did you have an epidural? I had this for about 6-8 weeks post-delivery but it worked itself out, no treatment needed. I pushed for 3.5 hours with my feet up.

Also, paging fortmyersbride, who is GBCN's resident anesthesiologist.

[Stingyshark]

Dec 28, 2013 18:21:11 GMT -5 Brie said:

Did you have an epidural? I had this for about 6-8 weeks post-delivery but it worked itself out, no treatment needed. I pushed for 3.5 hours with my feet up.

Also, paging fortmyersbride, who is GBCN's resident anesthesiologist.

Yes, I had an epi- but I could move my feet normally up until after I delivered. .. The anesthesiologist came in the next day and said it is likely from pushing (2.5hrs) not from the epi.

I'm glad to hear you recovered! I can handle 6-8wjs... I guess. Not driving is kind of a problem, but can be dealt with.

[fortmyersbride]

Compression of the common peroneal nerve at the fibular head isn't all that uncommon with long positioning in stirrups or holding one's legs in a stirrup-like fashion for prolonged pushing. Common peroneal nerve compression symptoms would be loss of sensation on your lateral calf, sensory changes between your 1st and 2nd toes, and foot drop. Sounds like you have a good plan in place to follow up with a neurologist and PT/OT as needed. You may know that foot drop can also be indicative of a herniated disc, which can present or exacerbate post-L&D.

Unfortunately compression injuries to peripheral nerves can take several months to heal, I hope you experience improvement soon but don't be discouraged if it is a several month process.