ladybird988
09-15-2005, 02:26 AM
After over a year of being numb, at nearly 14 months post op for a herniation causing nerve damage and drop foot, the first four toes are trying to come back it seems.
I was laying in bed the night before last reading and felt my foot bathed in electricity (not painful kind, just soft electrical charge)and then could feel what felt like a blockage breaking free and BAM feeling in my big toe! It has done this before where I could feel it again for 3 seconds but then went numb again. Only this time, it held! I laid there praying "please hold! please hold!"
I could feel all 4 of my toes become unblocked and started screaming with joy waking my husband, rubbing my toes, putting them on the floor - what a feeling to FEEL the floor again! WAlking is easier now because I can feel where I am putting my foot again, though foot is still weak so still limping and using a cane when leg goes weak.
So, the big toe is still somewhat numb, but not as bad as it was,and I keep touching it which causes it to hurt. Neuropathy. Still sensitive to touch. Strange how it can be numb and yet get shooting pains when lightly touched. I was hoping this meant I could go off the neurontin, but alas, the pain is still there. Anyways, it's less numb!
Like the other times I've gotten increased strength in my leg, there was about 3 days increased pain in that foot prior to this numbness letting up. Also of note, for me anyways, I go t hrough cycles: 3 weeks of lighter pain followed by 3 weeks or so of increased pain. Pain doesn't always signal an improvement, but sometimes it has. I told the doctor that and he said that was normal. Just FYI.
Anyways, thought I'd post to give others hope. this is one of those improvements that occurs overnight, after months of little to no improvement. They keep me going.
I think it's the 2 1/2 months of nearly daily deep water aerobics that have brought some sensation back asthe doctor said exercise was critical to regaining use of that foot. I don't feel any increase in strength,but to get some sensation back is fantastic. It's hard to walk whenyou can't feel your foot.
I recently sprained the ankle on that foot, so was very bummed and depressed wondering how I'm supposed to exercise - water is the only way now.
So keep hoping and keep exercising! Doctor said those who exercise are those who heal! Good luck to all of you dealing with drop foot. Anyone else experienced this?
I was laying in bed the night before last reading and felt my foot bathed in electricity (not painful kind, just soft electrical charge)and then could feel what felt like a blockage breaking free and BAM feeling in my big toe! It has done this before where I could feel it again for 3 seconds but then went numb again. Only this time, it held! I laid there praying "please hold! please hold!"
I could feel all 4 of my toes become unblocked and started screaming with joy waking my husband, rubbing my toes, putting them on the floor - what a feeling to FEEL the floor again! WAlking is easier now because I can feel where I am putting my foot again, though foot is still weak so still limping and using a cane when leg goes weak.
So, the big toe is still somewhat numb, but not as bad as it was,and I keep touching it which causes it to hurt. Neuropathy. Still sensitive to touch. Strange how it can be numb and yet get shooting pains when lightly touched. I was hoping this meant I could go off the neurontin, but alas, the pain is still there. Anyways, it's less numb!
Like the other times I've gotten increased strength in my leg, there was about 3 days increased pain in that foot prior to this numbness letting up. Also of note, for me anyways, I go t hrough cycles: 3 weeks of lighter pain followed by 3 weeks or so of increased pain. Pain doesn't always signal an improvement, but sometimes it has. I told the doctor that and he said that was normal. Just FYI.
Anyways, thought I'd post to give others hope. this is one of those improvements that occurs overnight, after months of little to no improvement. They keep me going.
I think it's the 2 1/2 months of nearly daily deep water aerobics that have brought some sensation back asthe doctor said exercise was critical to regaining use of that foot. I don't feel any increase in strength,but to get some sensation back is fantastic. It's hard to walk whenyou can't feel your foot.
I recently sprained the ankle on that foot, so was very bummed and depressed wondering how I'm supposed to exercise - water is the only way now.
So keep hoping and keep exercising! Doctor said those who exercise are those who heal! Good luck to all of you dealing with drop foot. Anyone else experienced this?