In patients with untreated advanced herniated disc, loss of upward movement in the ankle, which we call drop foot, and urinary incontinence problems may occur. Drop foot can also be seen in lumbar stenosis disease.
What is Drop Foot?
The question of what a drop foot means can be answered as a physical reflection of muscle weakness or nerve palsy that makes it difficult to lift the front of the feet and toes. . foot drop; nerve damage, brain or spinal cord injury, an anatomical problem in the foot and leg, or as a result of muscle weakness. This condition, which can develop in people of all ages, is usually seen in only one foot, but can affect both feet depending on the underlying cause. Foot drop, which can cause walking difficulties and irregular walking posture, is usually treated with orthopedic supports, physical therapy, electrical nerve stimulation, or surgery. Although there is usually no full recovery, treatments can significantly reduce the symptoms and make walking easier.
What Causes Drop Foot?
Drop foot, which can develop due to many medical problems or diseases that affect the nerves or muscles, negatively affects the quality of life. effects. It is not a disease itself, on the contrary, it is a symptom that develops due to another disease. Causes of foot drop include:
- Peroneal Nerve Damage: The peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve and is located in the lower leg. Peroneal nerve; It provides movement and sensation to the lower legs, feet and toes. The most common cause of drop foot syndrome is injury to this nerve due to various reasons.
- Peripheral Neuropathy: The nerves that exit the brain and spinal cord and stimulate tissues and organs are called Peripheral nerves. Damage to these nerves is called peripheral neuropathy. The most important cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes.
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: It is an inherited disease that affects peripheral nerves.
- Muscular Dystrophy: A group of genetic muscle diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue.
- Polio: A disease caused by the polio virus that can cause muscle weakness and paralysis. illness. Occurrence rate thanks to vaccination today
- Multiple sclerosis (MS): Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
- Amniotic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A disease of motor neurons that control voluntary muscle movements and located in the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord.
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA): Loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain stem A group of genetic disorders in which muscle movements cannot be controlled due to the lack of control.
- Alzheimer's disease: A progressive neurological disorder that causes the brain to shrink and die of brain cells.
- Parkinson's disease: It is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects a person's ability to move.
- Cerebral Palsy: It is a group of disorders that affect mobility, muscle tone or posture. It develops due to damage to the brain that has not yet completed its development in infancy and early childhood. It is a serious medical condition.
- Myositis: Inflammation of the muscles. Inflammation in the muscle responsible for raising the foot may predispose to foot development temporarily. Usually, complete recovery occurs after treatment.
- Spinal stenosis: It is a narrowing of the spinal canal. This causes symptoms by pressing on the spinal cord and peripheral nerves coming out of the spinal cord. Herniated structure can cause nerve compression and cause drop foot.
- Tendom injuries.
- As a result of cut or rupture of the muscle tendons responsible for lifting the foot
What are the Symptoms of Drop Foot?
Symptoms of drop foot can occur gradually or suddenly, depending on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. In some cases, some early symptoms and signs may be experienced before the development of drop foot. For example, one shoe feels wider than the other, which can make it difficult or uncomfortable to lift the foot. Drop foot syndrome makes it difficult to stand, walk, or lift the affected foot. When a person takes a step n may raise their foot higher than normal, and one foot may be weaker or lethargic than the other. If foot drop is left untreated, it can damage the nerves that control certain muscles. Therefore, people with the condition may develop weakness, thinning or paralysis of the muscles on the upper part of the foot.
Drop foot While the symptoms remain constant in some cases, they go away completely in others. In some patients, it continues intermittently with periods when the symptoms disappear.
How is the Treatment of Drop Foot?
The treatment of drop foot syndrome is planned by the orthopedic and traumatology specialist according to the underlying cause. With early treatment, the disease can be prevented from becoming permanent. knows. Also, if the disease causing the drop foot is treated successfully, the symptoms can be alleviated and sometimes completely eliminated. However, if the underlying cause is not treated, foot drop can become permanent. The preferred methods for the treatment of foot drop can be listed as follows:
- Orthopedic supports and splints: An orthopedic support attached to the ankle and foot or a splint applied to the shoe can help keep the foot in a normal position.
- Physical Therapy: Exercises that strengthen leg muscles and help maintain range of motion in the knee and ankle can improve walking problems. Especially stretching exercises are important to prevent stiffness that can develop in the heel.
- Nerve stimulation: In some cases, stimulating the nerve that lifts the foot improves foot drop.
- Surgery: Neurosurgery, depending on the cause and if foot drop is relatively recent might help. However, if the foot drop continues for a long time, an operation to fuse the ankle or foot bones may be recommended. .
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