Hi has anyone had foot drop/nerve damage after an induced coma? I was placed in a coma for 10 days due to pneumonia & respiratory failure. I suffered really bad hallucinations that required antipsychotics to help get me back to reality- another story! However I couldn’t move nor feel my left foot, nerve conduction test showed significant sciatic nerve injury/lesion proximal to the fibres subserving semimembranous muscle and likely to be at the pelvis. MRI clear apart from a cyst but that’s something else. I’m at a a loss. It’s been 3 months now and i am in the dark still very confused. Can anyone shed any light or have you been through a similar nerve problem after a coma?
Thank you xx
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Alishajay26
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Yes to much of what you experience, I have also spoken to many ex ICU patients that often complain of different levels of neuropathy & myopathy.
I struggled to use my hands & fingers, I still cannot create a true fist with my right hand, I frequently forget I am holding something & drop it. I had no feeling on the top of my feet in places for along time but it returned after 2yrs. I still cannot bend several toes.
My husband has the same mystery nerve damage to his left foot after a 10 day induced coma. Feel like the foot is asleep always. Pins and needles when it’s touched
Hi, I have/had similar issue. Think it came from swelling in ankle pushing on nerve & lying in bed in icu for a long time. GP gave me nerve blocking medication, but didn't seem to make a difference for me but you could try it. Mine was/is like carpel tunnel but in foot! Also osteopath said do warm/hot & cold water in 2 different bowls & dip feet in for minute each to increase circulation & healing! I can move my foot OK but the pins & needles & numbness is very irritating and painful sometimes! Just give it time for nerves to heal and settle? I've been out of hospital 2 months and it's eased off a bit!
I had neuropathy in my hands and feet before ICU, but it's worse since. I have a particular problem with my left hand which I think is due to damage at the elbow as I can feel a nerve 'buzz' sensation along the arm. When I get out of bed my left hand is almost useless, but gradually recovers during the day.
I had the same in legs, hips and my right arm. I'm 5 month out from a similar situation as you. The arm pain was nerve in elbow and was a month after being released and the legs and hip started 3 months. I was baffled as I felt worse than I had after waking from the coma. This past week is the first week I have almost no pain when moving and walking. And the arm ended a couple weeks sooner. You will get there, and will be worth the wait. The worse part of healing sometimes is the delay in recovery speeds between your mind and body. One day your mind is sharp and want to be active but your body says no way, then the opposite another day. Your better days now are probably when the days match up for both. Once they sync permanently, it will be a beautiful time for you. Your probably sick of people telling you to give it time, as I was, but in fact it turned out to be true...
I can also relate to the dreams, I was very close to needing help. My alternative reality that never happened, haha Even 5 months out I still can remember them as if they were true. We all heal differently and each individual situation may be similar, but remember you will get better at your pace. I recommend being active every day. Shopping is actually a great way to be mobile as you can use a cart for support when walked. I had weekly a routine that would allow me to visit a store each day of the week to get things I needed. Plan out your meals and shopping lists, may sound weird, but you excersise without the focus on your pain.
Good luck, as more time passes you will think clearer, and your body will catch up! Be glad to be alive, cheers (excuse grammar, typing on my phone)
Yes I had both after being in induce coma for about 2 months from pneumonia and ards and to this day I still can't feel my foot all the way I only can move my toes a little except big toe not at all I can't move my ankle I'm on nerve meds got a foot brace and everything they say eventually it will come back by its on and its been over a year but it doesn't hurt as bad as it did at first you just got to keep working with it and as far as the dreams I still remember some of them like it just happen yesterday the crazy part when I did finally woke up I thought it was the next day but to find out it had been almost 2 months sucked everything's so different now but the only thing you can do is keep moving forward and pray I hope everything gets better for you
Yes I too have a brace - a turbomed was using a plastic AFO brace before tho, I’m also on nerve pain tablets pregablin. Have they told you why it’s happened?
No its still a mystery to them and me I just think its kinda odd that before all of this wasn't nothing wrong with my foot why all of sudden this happens its unfortunately this happened but at least I know I'm not the only one going through it cause because of the pneumonia respiratory failure and A.R.D.S I'm now on oxygen 24/7 so I walk on a walker and before never had any of these issues and sometimes its hard cause I feel like I'm only 32 with all this going on taking a lot meds everyday 2 and 3 times a day it sucks but I just keep faith and keep going and pray that I'm still here but hopefully one day they will figure out to why this happens to people who has been a coma GOD BLESS you and continue to do everything in your power to keep going forward
I have a little feeling when I rub my foot. But I still have drop foot and can't move my ankle or my toes. The only good thing is that it's not constantly causing pain. I'm also still on a lot of meds and oxygen also. I still have a lot going on I have pulmonary stenosis, pulmonary hypertension,iron deficient even though I'm on iron supplements, I have a mass in my chest and nodules in my esophagus. But I'm still living so that's always a blessing in it self. And did you get any better?
I spent two weeks in ICU, sepsis, coma, multiple organ failure etc....7 months on I have muscle weakness all over, but numbness and walking difficulty due to sensitive feet and ankles. I think I there is gradual improvement and be careful not to read, look into to many posts support groups for neuropathy as causes vary and also outcomes. My tip keep using it or lose it. Keep up the exercise and each day some improvement. Sometimes noticeable sometimes not. Doc says I have critical care neuropathy and it is recoverable. Thanks and good luck.
Sorry for long delay, critical care neuropathy is a mix of the toxins, immobilty of ICU (muscle wastage) and anti biotics. As explained to me. This combination results in nerve and muscle damage. I’m still slowly healing day by day. Hope you are too.
I have foot drop in my left leg too. Mine came from rhabdomyolysis caused by blood clots during sepsis. The foot drop is severe so I wear an afo brace. I can’t really walk without it. The swelling crushed my perineal nerve. Sometimes the pain is unbearable, but I haven’t found anything that can make it better.
Alishajay26 - yes it ruined my day as well. After 5 weeks in the night garden, waking up and finding a tube in my throat, on a vent for another 2 months and on one the longest trips known to mankind the sudden pain of the neuropathy onset in both feet was unwelcome. 3 years on and the sensation loss has got worse and has been the main barrier to physical recovery I have faced.
I can't dress it up too much except to pass on where I think I might have missed a trick or two. First of all opiates are not, in my humble opinion, the answer to this kind of pain. At the start I was on Fentanyl because of extreme burning but once it turned to blunt glass and drawing pins then Pregabalin/Lyrica was most effective combined with Naproxen (still is). Its a long term thing so you'll only get into trouble going down the opiate route.
Neurologists told me that if there was no improvement after 24 months then either the nerves were not coming back or would re-wire in the wrong way. I got both and sulked for too long instead of strengthening like crazy. Now that I have re-built my leg muscles it is a condition that is manageable but please do not leave it too long. I payed the price in the first 12 months and suffered stress fractures in both feet, clawing in the toes and a lot of falling over. In the end I had 2 x triple athrodesis ops (pinning ankle to heel to strengthen plus other metal work) plus de-clawing of all toes. Long recovery and more set back. It is certainly worth seeing an orthopod early if you have bone/structural pain but as I say, I sulked for too long and didn't do the strengthening early enough. Please let me know how you get on. Good luck - its only feet!!
Aug 2018 i was put into a medically induced coma with nerve blocking meds so all my body had to do was keep my blood oxygenated. My lungs were full of yellow slim from God knows where and they had to give me a trak. (Hole in the throat). I too lived through a wild alternative reality during my 3 weeks in coma. Once they woke me up I was clear headed in just a cpl days. I tested out highest ever with my speech therapy aka to see how well the brain is after, I lost nothing mentally. BUT my hands and partly up to my elbows, my feet and half way up to my knees are suffering severe neuropathy. I can barely walk, hardly hold anything firmly in my hands. I have been forced to retire from trucking and sit at home watching the world go by. Are days I wish I could go back to my com life. My hands are such I have had to install a bidet. Have been told to expect this ti be permanent. Was told it comes from using the nerve blocking meds during the coma. Its a hit or miss risk, am told over and over again should be happy i have no brian trauma from it...
Hey! Oh I’m so sorry to here this! Honestly, if had an incredible recovery with the FD. I’m now walking without a brace the pain has stopped! Haven’t got the feeling back yet but I’m not too bothered about that!
I'm so glad to hear that! I've spent the whole summer in hospital and got released on August 28th. Since then I'm hardly walking with braces and the help of a crutch. I'm only 21 and I'm terrified to live my whole life depending on medical aids! For someone who's always been healthy is a very awful thing to deal with.
Not sure it's the exact thing as yours, my last EMG shows a demage at the common peroneal nerve.
It took a while! At first I couldn’t even twitch my toes but baby movements. The pain is awful but what really helped me was moving as much as possible. Even with a crutch! I also moved from a plastic AFO to a turbomed - that was a game changer! But honestly walking around the house as much as possible helped me as I didn’t get pyshio xx
I'm using plastic AFO as well and doing physio, I guess my physiotherapist will tell me when to change braces. Thanks for sharing your experience. On a percentage, how much do you think your foot improved? And may I ask you your age?
It is very common to get nerve damage after a coma stay. I was told that the medication they use to keep you in a coma causes the nerve damage. I was in a medically induced coma for a month. When I awoke I couldn't move anything. I had to learn to walk, write, brush my hair, do everything. I was in hospital for almost a year to the point where I could walk. I do have drop foot in my right foot. I was told it could take years for nerves to regenerate. It's been eight years since I've been out of the hospital and still have neuropathy in my hands and feet. My right side got it worse. I still have drop foot and I just know I will always have it.
Hi there since I was put into a induced coma last October due to COVID my legs and feet are so dam painful all the time and I have so many flash backs with the terrible nightmares whilst in the coma , but trying to deal with these painful legs and feet is awful , just not been right since the coma .😪
hi I was put into and induced coma due to toxins in my body from gabapentin and dehydration back in November 2018 I was in a coma for 16 days, when I woke I was very weak but I had a lumbar puncture and the day after that my whole left leg went completely numb. It’s been nearly 4 years I did have physiotherapy for a while was told I had neuropathy and drop foot, that was it. I’m still struggling to come to terms with this as I have had no tests. I don’t know why this is happened or what has caused it. My foot is completely numb/dead like feeling feels heavy. It’s cold most of the time, I do have feeling from the top of my ankle to my knee then the rest of my leg is numb. That doesn’t bother me, it’s my foot that’s the main cause. I thought I was alone until I read some of your stories. I use a stick for short distance but I need a wheelchair for longer distances. Has anyone else had it so long. Do anyone know if the feeling will come back or am I stuck like this. I can move my big toe if I concentrate but my 4 other toes do not move at all. My GP is of no help I don’t know who else to turn to. I was fit and didn’t have this problem before the coma. So I’m very confused. If anyone could help I would be so grateful.
absolutely. I was in an induced coma for a week, and stayed another week at the hospital. I felt nothing wrong with my feet or legs while I was there expect that if I got up id fall flat on my face. I had to be walked and I slowly started to take a few steps while being held. however, I experienced no pain in my foot. right after leaving the hospital is when the pain started and it was quite unbearable. it felt like pins and needle sensation on my foot, it would also burn. I couldn't sleep for a few weeks because of the pain, it was especially painful putting my feet under the blanket. I was shocked they hadn't prescribed me any medication for the pain, I suspect they had no idea I had any. I saw my neurologist again and explained everything, they ran a test which showed that I did have a significant amount of nerve damage on my foot extending to my legs. Thats when I was prescribed some meds im not sure what they were right now but it did nothing. I think I switched a few other times until we landed on neurontin im on 1800 mg which is a high dosage but for now im just so glad Im not in pain like I was before. physiotherapy also helped so much
I’ve had physiotherapist, that didn’t help much,I’m not wanting to take any tablets as that’s how I ended up in the coma. In the first place. I can’t get to see a neurologist I’m on a waiting list. I’m nearly 4 years in. Still the same mine is no where near the pins and needles stage. It’s the numbness and heavy feeling. Like constantly there. I also can only move my big toe, my other toes don’t move. It’s so frustrating and it’s cold the majority of the time. So even worse in winter. I’m convinced it’s nerve damage also. How is your foot now??
Hello. I’m going through a similar experience to you all having spent 4 weeks in ICU of which 2 in induced coma. I have foot drop in both feet and equivalent in one hand. I’ve only had it since jan23. However, I’m also a podiatrist so also see this from a slightly different perspective. I have altered sensation from thigh down and legs were definitely feeling really heavy initially. However, the more I have done the better that has got. I find if I don’t exercise I get more fluid build up in the legs/feet and that compresses nerves more causing the heavy/ altered sensation. I can move my little toes currently, not my big toes. From a walking perspective it would be a lot better if it was the other way around. But if you can move yours a little then you need to exercise it a lot - like hundreds of reps a day.
I’ve not used it myself but I know some people find capsaicin cream helpful for nerve pain - it’s chilli based.
I was in an enduced coma for a month and have neuropathy and foot drop on the right side. I wear an AFO as well. Neuropathy is very common with coma stays. It's been 8 years for me with very little movement still in my right foot. I have nerve issues in both hands and feet.
Hello, good to read these comments and realise that not I am not alone in having a post-coma dropped foot. Was in ITU in bed for 3 months because of coronavirus, one month of which was in an induced coma. At home now for the past 4 weeks, but living downstairs it is impossible to even consider tackling stairs. I can’t walk far at all, what with muscle loss, even with a plastic foot brace. I have had one fall outside, cutting face and smashing spectacles, as the immobile foot caused a trip.
Like others I have pins and needles, pain in big toe, and foot feels like rubber.
Is there a chance of recovering some movement in the toes/foot/ankle? And if so, what sort of time scale might it take? Thanks!
With good physio instruction you might get quite an improvement.
You are really really early days in recovery.
When I discharged from hospital - I had pin & needles in feet & toes, fairly limited use of my hands. I did extensive OT on my hands with brilliant physio & with a lot of work ( in my part too) I’ve regained mostly use of hands, my grip might not be as firm.
My feet took 9 months - I just realised one day I could feel my feet and there was no tingling.
My balance improved in time & the pain in my joints lessened.
Nerve damage ( neuropathy) takes 1mm a day to repair ( unless the nerves are absolutely frazzled).
We run a free induction ever Wednesday 10am BST - if you want ever to talk to a personal trainer about how best to approach your limitations.
The same thing happened to me! I was in my induced coma for about 6 days- I woke up unable to move my left leg. After a year I am now able to wiggle my toes again, and feeling is starting to come back. I had to relearn how to walk with the drop foot and had to use a walker and a cane for a while. I’m now using my brace when I have to stand for long periods and if I’m working out. Stay strong! It will get better!
I was in a coma for a month with COVID. My sensation is very slowly coming back. I was told that nerves recover at 1mm a month. This is 18 months and I am now getting the burning on the upper top sided of my feet. I had both big toes as drop and my right foot. All have come back to moving now. Don't stop exercising your legs and feet . The more you stimulate them the faster the results will be. Swimming has worked wonders for me. I still have good and bad days and stop laughing but you tubed how to crochet for my hands and that's really helping as well
Experience of similar, but it did get better. It took 3 months to be better but it’s getting there after feeling initially like it would not recover. It’s about 80% of what it was when healthy, but Getting back ti full strength for sure
Hi. I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through. I have been vented on 10 separate occasions over 7 years. Sadly, I have permanent peripheral neuropathy. I can’t feel anything in either of my legs/feet below my knees. After vent 7 I started having changed in sensation from the soles of my feet. It slowly crept upwards and for a while I struggled to feel much below my waist. It improved and settled down but it’s so scary. I don’t know how you’re feeling but I was very concerned. I also had various tests including a nerve conduction study. These confirmed it wasn’t MS or any other neurological condition. I’ve since needed physio and foot supports (orthotics) but you can live with nerve damage and still function. My only real issue was driving but my car is now adapted for hand controls and after 6 driving lessons, I have my freedom back. Please don’t worry. Some people get all their function back after a while so there is always hope. Take great care and know you’re not alone. All good wishes xPS. I also went psychotic for 2 weeks after vent 1. Ask for help if you need it. I still have post-ITU PTSD and although the psychosis resolved, I remain plagued by nightmares and flashbacks.
Hi Alisha, yep also familiar to me. I was in a medical coma for 3.5 wks in all, and came around slowly, very confused having dreamed I'd been in some perjury scam via a BBC annexe using a fake covid hospital on some island in the philippines somewhere, all very odd, and that doesnt even touch the rest of the huge dream-tapestry I was going through whilst under on the drugs (I was convinced I'd won £8 billion (!) in a court case and demanded to be let go at once as I was a British citizen! : ) Poor nurses and doctors, must have been quite amused...)
Anyway I still have the top of both feet quite numb/odd sensation there. I actually went in and saw the nurses and doctors yesterday at Mount Vernon where my rehabilitation was located, took them a card and some biscuits to say thanks as they were fantastic and got me out of the ward relatively quickly.
I asked about the feet and the remaining myopathy and said the feet/toes are usually the last things to heal properly. Currently I'm rubbing the areas (not too harshly) but enough to provoke them to reknit whatever connection was interrupted nerve/muscle wise.
Other than that my knees, hips and shoulders are still a bit of a problem but I'm working on them too. Stairs are a pain still, but I am walking much better now and have been out almost 4 months, so not quite the length of time I was in, in all.
I guess keep doing the physio excercises like me and take your time . I'm thinking of booking a couple of chiro sessions soon to get an assessment of where i might be now, too.
I know what you mean about having to take anti-pyschotics! I had ICU Delirium after a two month induced coma. I never knew anything like that existed. In regard to your other problems, have you had a dexa scan for osteoporosis? Might not be related to your previous problem. It took a while but they found out I also had osteoporosis - rare for a male - but feels like the little bones on the bottom of my feet are weak and sort of moving around. Anyway just a thought. There are some interesting papers on ICU Delirium on the net, by the way. I see you’ve had quite a few replies - haven’t read them before writing this. Good luck to you.
I remember this very well, I used to run my fingers from my ankle to knees and all I could feel was tingling and nothing else, same with my toes…. My sister and mum used to massage my feet on a regular basis to hell with circulation and also had acupuncture (when I was well enough) every week and I’m sure this helped return my feeling, as well as using both hands to rub area every now and then to return blood flow! Unfortunately it all takes time, remember worrying and feeling frustrated as unfortunately I wasn’t in groups like this, wish I was at the time as it would of put my mind at ease… see if you can have a blood test, just to make sure your not lacking in B12. Good luck with your journey to full recovery!
Hi, yes, I suffered with my right leg after induced coma for six weeks. As soon as I raise my right leg, it starts shaking uncontrollably. I have been to see a neurology consultant who has prescribed a couple of different medications. I also had two herniated discs in my back, and this has given me bad sciatica from my right buttock right down to my right foot. It's strange, but I've also read that when you get put in an induced coma everything in your body gets shut down and when you come out of the coma not everything gets switched back on like it should. I hope your situation improves.
Similar experience here from over a month in the ICU (about half under sedation). I had damage to an optical nerve causing severe double vision for a few months, along with numbness in the upper half of my right leg - at first most of it was completely numb - couldn't feel a pin prick, hot/cold, etc. Both have mostly healed, but part of the numbness remains, and some eyesight issues return at times.
hi, I was in an induced coma for close to 3 months, nerve damage to my right foot (numb on top still to this day 10 years later) they put my feet in braces during the coma to avoid drop foot as much as possible.
Have the same nerve damage after a eight week induced coma.Several months on and I still have little feeling in my right leg and left foot, the pain is acute but gets a little better every day, they say it will take years but I stay posative, at least I'm still alive, on boxing day I was given hours to live.
Yes! They say I have icu induced neuropathy!! My left leg has been severely damaged due to sepsis, however my right leg has the ICU neuropathy and due to not being repositioned enough both ulnar nerves have wrapped around my elbow and need several operations to rectify the issue!!
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