UKH

Has anyone suffered from sudden foot drop? I installed loft installation last weekend, which took an unpleasant few hours crawling around in the loft in all sorts of uncomfortable positions balanced on the joists trying not to fall through the ceiling below. Both lower legs were a little sore the next day so I definitely stretched or damaged them a little. Now I can't dorsiflex my left foot if there's any load on it. For example:

- Stand upright normally. With my heel on the ground I can lift the ball of my right foot 5-10cm off the ground as normal. When I try the same with my left foot I can just about manage 1cm, if that. No pain.

- When walking my left foot is very flat-footed and the toes slap down on the ground. Ok for the first 100m perhaps and then just flops around.

- Occasionally tripping over steps if I forget I need to lift my left foot a little higher!

- I've got a constant dull ache down the side of the my left lower leg. No tingling toes or anything like that. If I plantar flex my foot while sitting, it feels tight down the outside of my left.

- I can feel the muscle on the outside of my leg (tibialis anterior?) contracting similar to the other leg when I try to dorsiflex my left foot, but it doesn't actually do anything. I can't feel any bulges along the length of it to suggest it's actually torn, and it doesn't hurt. Foam rolling the outside of my left leg does hurt.

- Sitting down, I can dorsiflex both feet almost the same, but the left has zero strength.

A trip to the doctor or physio is on the cards, but I'm wondering if anyone can suggest whether it's something like a pinched nerve or more likely a damaged muscle? It doesn't feel sore like an overused muscle normally would. It's been 8 days now and only a slight improvement. Yes, I'll see a medical professional if it doesn't improve soon but UKC is brilliant for getting a bit more information! Especially in this case as I don't actually know who to go and see. I'm hoping it's not the nerve and rest/stretches/roller will fix it... Any recommendations would be much appreciated! Thank you.

Hi Rich

From what you describe, this sounds like a compression neuropraxis to me.

Hopefully this will resolve with some help.

You possibly have inflammation in the tobislis anterior compartment which will prevent the nerve and muscle from working properly.

Dont foam roller it as this will exacerbate the problem, it’s too harsh.

If you can take NSAIDS, then take some.

Ice the area regularly via a barrier.

GENTLY massarge the area up towards the knee.

Continie to try and actively move your foot and ankle through its fulll range while lying down.

As it gets easier do this in sitting.

Limit activity, walking, to function only for a week or so.

If not improving I’ve the next two to three weeks then perhaps see the GP.

Go to A and E if you start to lose sensation in your foot or the area swells a lot👍

Having had some foot problems 2022 after a minor (so I thought) sprain, which developed into more serious problems, ie barely able to walk. Waited around for doctors appointments xrays etc with no way forward, I ended going to a running specialist (Podplus) local to me. They sorted me out with wedged insoles and a bit of rehab, which has just about got me properly mobile again. 

Thank you! I really appreciate the advice!

This definitely sounds possible...

I'll stop that then!

Yes, I'll do that.

Yep, it's up towards the knee (5-10cm below it) that is the most tender. I'll work on that bit.

Thanks. I've been doing short walks each day to try to keep it moving. I'll reduce that.

That's really helpful as I had no idea whether I should have gone days ago, or to just rest it and let it get better. The timescale helps a lot. And I wasn't sure to go to a GP or physio either. Thanks again.

Thanks for the warning. At the moment it is either staying the same or slightly improving (not sure, but not getting worse) so I'll monitor it for now. Good tip for a running specialist though, I hadn't thought about that. It's a really strange feeling that I can feel the muscle being told to move, it's making the right sort of tightening movements, but not actually doing anything useful.

No worries Rich.

Let us know how you’re getting on👍

If it worsens, especially sensation below it, then A and E