Have you noticed that it’s become a little more difficult to pick up the front of your foot when you’re walking? Is one foot almost dragging a bit as you attempt to walk? If so, you may be dealing with a condition known as foot drop, and it could be the result of a few different issues. Figuring out exactly why foot drop has developed is key to helping the patient find the right course of treatment. Below, we explore the causes, symptoms and treatment options for foot drop.

Causes And Symptoms Of Foot Drop

Foot drop is a condition in which an issue makes it difficult for a person to lift the front of their foot, which can lead to a dragging foot while walking. It can develop in both feet simultaneously, or it can affect only one leg, and the condition can be temporary or permanent. As we mentioned above, foot drop can have a few different underlying causes, so it’s important to connect with an orthopedic specialist in order to understand your condition and get set up with the right type of treatment. The most common causes of foot drop are:

• Nerve Injury – Acute damage to the nerve in the leg that controls the muscle that helps to lift up our foot is the most common cause of foot drop. Trauma to the knee, hip or leg can lead to nerve damage and the onset of foot drop.
• Effects Of Diabetes – Diabetes and unregulated glucose levels in the body can damage key nerve pathways, including those in the legs and feet. Diabetics are more likely to develop foot drop than the average individual because of how the condition can impact the health of their nerves.
• Certain Nerve/Muscle Disorders – Patients with underlying nervous system or muscle disorders could be affected by foot drop. Patients with muscular dystrophy or Charcot Marie-Tooth disease may be forced to overcome the onset of foot drop.
• Pinched Nerve – Sometimes a pinched nerve in the spine can interrupt nerve relays from areas in our lower body, and if the branch that connects to the muscle in our leg that controls our foot is damaged, a problem in your spine can lead to foot drop development.

Foot drop symptoms include:

• Difficulty picking up the front of the foot when walking.
• Raising your thigh higher when stepping in order to gain ground clearance with the foot.
• Visibility abnormal gait.
• Toe/Top of foot numbness.

Diagnosing And Treating Foot Drop

If you or someone you know is finding it more challenging to walk and is exhibiting some or all the above symptoms, be sure to connect with a physician. Although foot drop can be temporary, it doesn’t typically resolve on its own, and delayed treatment can lead to inhibited healing. Foot drop can be diagnosed rather quickly through a physical examination. Your doctor will examine your foot and leg before having you stand and perform some basic movements. While this will likely give them a good idea that foot drop is the issue, they may have you undergo some imaging testing in order to learn more about the nerve compression so that the right course of treatment can be pursued. An X-ray, MRI, CT scan and ultrasound are all viable options.

Your specific course of treatment will depend on your individual issue, but oftentimes conservative care is the first line of defense, which may involve a combination of techniques including physical therapy, orthotic inserts, bracing and splinting/night splinting. Before addressing the issue with surgery, your orthopedic specialist may look into some more hands-on conservative options, like electrical nerve stimulation or certain medications with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.

If those options don’t work, surgery may be your best course of treatment. The most common procedure to address foot drop is a tendon transfer, where a tendon from a stronger area of your leg may be transferred to the affected area to help pull up the foot when walking. You’ll pursue many of the previously listed conservative care techniques during your recovery period following a tendon transfer, and full healing can take upwards of a year following this procedure. Although the surgery typically has great results, doctors will try to exhaust all conservative options before moving forward with a tendon transfer for foot drop, due in part to the extended recovery. However, for the right patient, surgery can be the best way to help restore their natural gait.

For more information about foot drop or other maladies of the foot, pick up the phone and connect with Dr. McDonald and his team today at (860) 244-8889.