Ruth’s Foot Drop Experience

It all started when…

When I went into the hospital for a right knee replacement, I had no fear. After all, I had the left knee replaced two years previous with no ill effects. As it turned out, I was in for the shock of my life. i had been active all my life, hiking, swimming, riding horses, and was now retired from teaching. This was not in my game plan , I can tell you that!
I woke up with intense burning sensation in my right foot. I knew this wasn’t right, but waited two long days and sleepless nights for the physical therapist to see me. She told me I had drop foot. Having never heard of this , I didn’t really know what all to ask. My surgeon, a very competent and nice man, had little to say on the subject, other than this had never happened before. It was January 18, 2019.

I was sent home with pain pills and promise of home physical therapy for six weeks. Then I was to come into the therapy facility for further physical therapy. Although the knee was the main focus, I was told that the foot drop would be addressed as well. My physical therapy on my knee went as to be expected. It was the foot drop that was not showing any progress.
January 25th, I went to see my surgeon, and told him my physician recommended a EMG test done, and in fact she scheduled it for me. My surgeon thought this was a good idea, although he said he would have waited a little longer. The reason given was the peroneal nerve can change over time, and that is the nerve that is damaged. This caused me to be unable to lift my toes even a small distant off the ground. Even after physical therapy, exercises and a machine that shot electrical pulses through my foot had been going since January 30th. Through this time, I saw slight movement in my toes. One day we would see a small movement of toes wanting to lift up, but then the next day nothing. Naturally, I was becoming very depressed at this point. I began go to a warm water pool on days I didn’t have physical therapy and walk in the pool. I was attempting to retrain my muscles to listen to my brain sending messages to recall how to walk .
I then began physical therapy outpatient, which continued until mid March. During this time I received the EMG report, which measures any production of the peroneal nerve. It seemed to confirm what I already knew. There was no change in my condition, and the nerve appeared to not be working at all. This was bad news, but since I already had verified this for myself, I kept on with my own plan to walk in the warm water pool, and begin to swim laps.
One sweet day in physical therapy, my foot began to move on its own, toes coming up as I laid on the table. Toes to the nose was the cry, and much clapping from all in the therapy room ensued.
From that point on my dorsiflexion, or ability to move my toes off the floor, continued to improve. My last day of physical therapy was May 8,2019. In June I was able to hike on a mountain trail in Colorado.

I know my recovery is unusual, but I want others to know it can happen. I had many depressed days, but I kept on working towards recovery. I don’t think anyone can truly understand the despair this condition causes its victims. I encourage anyone with recently developed foot drop to keep working and believe in yourself. Dreams can come true.

Thank you Ruth for sharing your story with us.