Peroneal Nerve Damage ~ Dropped Foot! - Neuropathy Message Board

brentlinton · 03-22-2005, 06:17 AM

Hello all,

I visited my surgeon yesterday for follow-up. I was hit by a car while riding my motorcycle in September '04. It was a broadside hit on my left side, fracturing my Femur, Pelvis & Wrist. The surgeon said all of the ortho work on my fractures were healing well. However, it has left me with nerve damage, that includes a "dropped foot" and lack of sensitivity in my lower leg. He sent me to get an EMG performed yesterday also. Keep in mind that I have been told for the past 6 months that the nerve will regenerate and within a year or so, have full use of my foot again.

After the EMG (which wasn't as bad as I had envisioned), the doctor immediately told me, "The news is not very good. Your Peroneal Nerve is damaged beyond repair. Your current condition is permanent, barring a miracle". I almost cried. The nerve damage has left me with an ankle contracture that makes my foot like a "ballerina" - constantly pressing down. When I stand, I stand on the ball of my foot and the ankle will not allow my foot to rest in the neutral position. In addition, the loss of sensitivity makes my foot like that of a diabetic. In fact, last week I developed an ingrown toenail that became severly infected. This is dangerous when you have poor bloodflow. I am seeing a Podiatrist this morning to have the nail cut out (great!).

I have a MOFO (brace) that I can't wear due to the contracture. So, they have prescribed for me a modified brace that will support the contracture. It is basically two rods that are built into the shoe and go up each side of my leg with a strap around the top of my calf. I will have to wear this for some time. Eventually, they plan to lengthen the "heal cord" to put my foot in more of a neutral position. I have no idea when they plan on that. In short, I will have to wear a brace for the rest of my life - boooooo!

This has beeen such an ordeal. An afternoon ride to get some videos at Blockbuster, two miles from my house, results in a life-long disability. Anyway, I am sure there are others dealing with this same disability and were wondering if you could share your stories and give me advice on any new surgical techniques, suggestions, or just your own thoughts.

Thank you in advance - we all need each other in times like this!

BrentLinton

shambbles · 03-23-2005, 01:06 PM

Hi Brent.
I'm so very sorry to hear of your injury. Did they suspect the foot drop at the time of your injury? Were you in a foot brace from the beginning? My foot drop was diagnosed a few days after my injury in Oct 03.. I was told I had to wear a foot brace 24 hours a day 7 days a week or my foot would do the "ballerina point" and it would be permanent. That news alone made me a faithfull brace wearer. Last July I stopped wearing the brace at night (have to wear it during the day just to walk) and have recently notice my foot starting to "point". I am starting back with the night brace. I had 2 EMG's and was told the nerve wasn't regenerating. The surgical option I was given was a "posterier tibial tendon transfer" that would take place approx 18 months from the date of injury. The surgery would lock the foot in a 90 degree angle hopefully allowing me to not have to wear the brace. I was in PT for 4-4 1/2 months 3 days a week. I was told to do heal stretches every day several times a day just to keep the achilles tendon from shrinking.
Do you have nerve pain from the foot drop? It took several months of trying different meds to find the one that would help me. Finally finding the pain relief in Elavil.
In my attempt to find answers, i've chatted to several people on this board who share our type of injury. Hopefully you hear from more of them.

Best of luck.
Cindy

bigdog13 · 03-23-2005, 04:53 PM

Hello Brent,
I also have drop foot as of april 22nd, 2004. It happened at work as a fellow employee fell of a scafling and landed on my back. I had an MRI done and I tore my ACL, LCL, Biceps femoris(hamstring) and the worst thing of all, my peroneal nerve is out! I can't move my right foot up and it is all numb on top of the foot up to almost my knee. The doctor told me I would need nerve graph surgery which I had on june 9th, 2004. He said it would take 6-12 months to regenerate. They took 10 inches of nerve from my right calf and put it in my right thigh where the herve was out. It got stretched like a rubberband as the doc tells me. I have this afo brace and I can't stand it. The doc says It is 70% chance of regenerating but its been 9 1/2 months and nothing has changed in my foot. I am praying every night that it comes back. Jason[/B][/I]

brentlinton · 03-24-2005, 06:08 PM

Thank you both for your stories. Sometimes I feel like I am totally alone with this condition. Everyone (including some of my doctors) ask me, "Why aren't you walking yet?".....well, duh!

I found more info on the web about Nerve Grafting and Nerve Transfer, but as i understand (and from BigDog's testimony) that is isn't 100% guranteed. I too have a MOFO that I can't wear. I have the ankle contracture that doesn't allow me to wear it. I hate it anyway - very uncomfortable.

I am supposed to get a new brace made next week that is built into a shoe, I will let you know how that goes. Yeah, I messed up by not wearing my brace for the first month or so. I wore it now and then, but now wear it 24/7 as I can't stand for the foot to be in a dropped position. The "soft boot" I wear doesn't give much support, but it is better than nothing. What type of night splint do you wear?

I am 39 years old and feel like my life has partially ended. We have a trip to Disneyworld in May and I had hoped to be able to walk. Not a chance. As time goes on, I become more and more discouraged. Please share ANY experiences you have!

Brent

shambbles · 03-25-2005, 01:47 PM

What's a MOFO? I wear a custom hinged foot drop brace during the day. Just recently got a "Toe On" brace but I can't seem to get used to it. For the night I have a "A Force Dorsal" brace. I remember early on how wearing the braces would cause so much pain where the straps came over the ankle but that pain has subsided. Because I've never had surgery to fix the ACL/LCL/PCL I must walk with extreme caution at every step.
Also noted earlier this week that I'm having more electrical shocks in DIFFERENT areas of my foot then I've had before. Not sure what that's about.??