Foot drop after a stroke: I was told I was expected... - Headway

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Foot drop after a stroke

CyanbuttercupMum profile image

I was told I was expected to make s full recovery when I had my stroke I am only 33. But I'm 12 weeks on Monday and physio don't think my ankle or toes will ever come back.. and I miss wearing boots and walking around my house bare footed anyone else go any drop foot tips

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CyanbuttercupMum profile image
CyanbuttercupMum
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12 Replies
cat3 profile image
cat3

I've no direct experience of this, but 12 weeks seems too soon to have written off further improvement. I'm guessing the physio has tried you on all available treatments such as electro stimulation, massage etc.

There's surgery of course but I don't know how complex it is or risks involved. Sorry I can't help, but maybe the Headway helpline team will have useful information on the subject. Their tel.no. is (freephone) 0808 800 2244 during office hours.

Best wishes, Cat x

CyanbuttercupMum profile image
CyanbuttercupMum in reply to cat3

We did the electric stim in rehab but I then got DVT so had to stop that. Then. The home physio tried it. But kept getting an inversion and no big toe movement so they said some people it just doesn't work. I'm going to re speak to them about that though. Cause my toes move when I stretch my leg after being in a position. Or when we do sensation therapy with cold objects

RecoveringH profile image
RecoveringH in reply to CyanbuttercupMum

You may benefit from discussing your B vitamins with your medical practitioners. B1 Benfothiamine will facilitate nerve recovery. Ask to get your vitamin levels checked : Vitamins

Folate

B6

B12

Vit D

Zinc

Selenium

Magnesium

Tyrosine

Essential Fats

As you are at the beginning of your recovery at 12 weeks, given the right support, regular exercise to support lymph movement, keeping diet light and sugar free which supports detox pathways staying open and flowing clearly, you have everything to hope for. You may need to consider digging deeper into your health history to address prior conditions present at the time of the stroke - with a functional medicine practitioner or a homeopath ie someone who considers you as a whole picture and not just pill popper to maintain where you are.

Search for "vitamin deficiency and stroke links" to see if anything rings true for you given your health history.

Search for "vitamins nerve regrowth".

Search for "vitamin deficiency and DVT links"

Progress may be seen after 12 weeks of replenishing vitamin deficiencies. Holland and Barrett do a good multi B supplement. Do check first before starting on a course so you know you are on the right track.

If you get no support from health practitioners on taking the vitamin deficiency approach, you can always arrange to have your own private blood test and vitamin deficiency analysis from home. You buy online, they direct you to your nearest blood taking facility which forwards it on to their labs and you get emailed the results. Having a practitioner go through the results will be more insightful and get better results but if you need to, you can go it alone.

I understand you when you express frustration about a limb loss. Until you have had it, you can't fully understand. You will do anything to get the limb back because its your body and you only have one body and you have to look after it and I was like you, at a young age, your ability to heal has the best prospects. Leave it another 10 years and the body heals at a slower rate. I got my right arm (loss of use then left with weak muscle) and right foot (turned out with weak ankle) back to almost normal, its been a long slog but I have got there using B vitamins and others.

Best wishes.

cat3 profile image
cat3 in reply to CyanbuttercupMum

Keep the pressure on for what feels right for you . It's such early days so don't be afraid to (metaphorically) put your foot down for every available therapy whilst you still have access to the facilities.

Good luck m'love, and keep us updated on how you're getting on. x

AndrewT profile image
AndrewT in reply to cat3

Too right Cat, if it was TWELVE YEARS, then maybe!

AndrewT

RogerCMerriman profile image
RogerCMerriman

What sort of physio? I saw a number of physios as they do differ greatly. The more generic ones where generally baffled by me, but once I say the physio at the vestibular clinic apparently it was very obvious!

CyanbuttercupMum profile image
CyanbuttercupMum in reply to RogerCMerriman

Neuro physio is what I got from one a neuro rehab than an early stroke discharge team...

RogerCMerriman profile image
RogerCMerriman in reply to CyanbuttercupMum

I saw Neuro Physios as the GP had referred me as I was falling, at times. They didn’t really get to the bottom of it, as it was mostly the Vestibular which is a specialty, I got the feeling that they where generally used to older frailer folks.

Does it get worse if tired?Iused to drag my foot/leg and “zombie walk!” In particular when tired as I had to think when walking, I have got better over the years. Doesn’t sound like it’s the same thing though.

My mobility has improved greatly over the years, via various physios even if at the time some of the weird and strange things they do to you! Plus being driven, ie I’ve worked at it. Does that mean that would work for you? No idea sorry.

Pairofboots profile image
Pairofboots

12wks is still early days, you will hear that at 6mnths. Drop foot does take a long time to recover from. The reactions you are currently getting from stretching is the effect of tendons, and the response to ice is via pain receptors.

I used to teach physical skills to staff in the NHS. One of the questions I used to ask was, how many brains does the human body have? No it wasn't a trick question.

You have experienced a massive short circuit, or probably more correct, blown a fuse. The ankle has it's own brain that does the fine adjustment when you walk. The ankle is so far from the brain fine adjustment would take a long time to do the fine movement needed for balance.

Unfortunately all the brains do need to communicate, at the moment the head is not communicating with the ankle. This link is only regained by repetitive movement. This means correcting the placement of the foot, again and again. In the early days, where you are, this means someone regularly, three or four times a day, manually placing the foot in the correct position. Very tedious, but any physio is tedious and blooming hard work.

Someone I knew some time back took probably nine months to see any real progress. He started out with a frame, then two multi foot sticks, then onto standard sticks, to one stick. When the initial improvement started, it was fairly rapid progress.

Another exercise you can try is to use,if you have someone to support you is similar to what they use with horses, laying low poles, starting with something like a broom handle, walking over the handle (you will need more than one obstacle) only having the obstacles on the side you have the drop foot, so you have a steady base with the other foot (best done with parallel hand rails for support).

Remember it is a marathon, not a sprint, and only attempt these with someone there to correct the movement and to support you. Good luck, keep the belief.

I've had foot drop n half leg paralysis since 94 n I was alot younger than u.Mine happened during a roll over accident I was in n I had a stroke n etc damage to brain during it.I also miss the same things as u plus more... n it is frustrating.

For me..the brace I wear really helps me n orthotics have come a long way.

Bottomline.. it does suck,but at least we can walk.

sashaming1 profile image
sashaming1

I have foot drop from MS. Exercise your front-foot-raising muscles. A foot AFO (ie. a brace that straps onto your calf and has a flat portion that goes under your foot) will mechanically prevent foot drop and allow better walking. Walk slow while concentrating on keeping the ball of your foot raised but landing on your heel and then bringing the front of your foot down. FYI

spideyman profile image
spideyman

I’m sorry but you haven’t got the flu. 12 weeks is nothing

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