input - Neuropathy Message Board

Tanya8 · 04-24-2008, 05:40 PM

Hi I need more input

Tanya8 · 04-30-2008, 01:34 PM

Hi gmac1975...

I know that long recoveries such as yours are a real bore, but just realize that you're going in the right direction...it took my broken leg 4 months to heal, and I was told this was really fast...yeah, right...

I'm just curious about the extent of your foot drop, since all these cases are so different...I know you couldn't lift or dorsiflex your foot, but could you press your foot downward or inward? I can do both of these things, but can only lift the foot up about an inch...not enough to walk normally or drive...my right foot is the affected foot as well. Although I may eventually have to have your type of surgery, I've just found out that I'm a candidate for nerve release surgery...we're just waiting to see if I make any more improvement on my own, but I think this is it...

Hang in there and let me know how you are doing...

Tanya

gmac1975 · 04-30-2008, 04:24 PM

Hi Tanya

Thanks for the well wishes. After 13 years, 4 weeks has been nothing! That's how long ago I severed my sciatic nerve, falling thru a plate glass door. A nerve graft was only a partial success at the time hence the drop foot, countless AFOs, foot problems, chiropodists etc. It was all these things that prompted me to search for an alternative and stumbled upon tendon transfer surgery. Just cant believe noone in the NHS (national health service in the UK) thought to mention it to me before, I could have had this done a decade ago..... I'm generally a positive person but last time around I was 90 percent positive, 10 percent negative that everything would heal up. When it didnt happen I was really low, it was a lot to take as an 18 yo kid. Now I'm the opposite, quite cynical that it wont work but secretly hoping it will.

I cant lift my foot at all but can push down a bit, even more so if someone holds it up. So there's a chance it might work. Fingers crossed....

Nerve release surgery is a new one on me, what does it involve? Good luck to you anyway, how you coping with it all? Keep your chin up anyway and keep posting, it's good to hear how others are getting on.

Graeme

Tanya8 · 05-01-2008, 10:17 AM

Hi Gmac1975...Although it took I while to isolate where my problem was coming from...the spine, hip, or knee...in my case, the problem is at the knee and the peroneal nerve. After an injury, if full function is not restored by natural healing after 4-6 months, nerve release surgery is performed in the hope that the nerve is kinked or trapped in scar tissue. The plan of this surgery is to restore normal function...if the nerve is more severely damaged or crushed, then the release surgery will at least permit the nerve to heal as best as it can, although there are no guarantees about full function returning. If you don't perform the surgery and the nerve stays trapped, then you'll stay with dropped foot...
How am I coping with all of this...to tell you the truth, not too well...I live in the country and having to depend on others for driving, etc is really starting to get to me. In the beginning when this whole thing happened, I was more optimistic about a favorable outcome, but as time drags on the reality of my situation is starting to sink in...I guess I'm in a similar place as you...quite cynical that it won't work, but secretly hoping that it will. In the event that no further healing takes place even with the release surgery, the tendon transfer surgery has also been mentioned as one of my options...I was just wondering if your doctors have given you any indication if you'll be able to drive if your surgery is a complete success...as you can see, I have a one-track mind about driving lately because it's something I can't do...

By the way, I think your surgery is going to work...from reading other message boards, people who have had this surgery seemed to be very pleased, even if the results took quite a while to realize...since you mention the NHS, I assume to live in Great Britain...I live in New York...
Take care ... and keep posting...

Best,
Tanya

gmac1975 · 05-01-2008, 03:58 PM

Hi Tanya,

Regarding driving, I've been driving an automatic car with my left foot for about 5 years now and it works fine. It feels a bit weird at first and you have to shuffle over in the seat a bit to get your right foot out of the way but after a while it's just like normal. Plus, if you're not happy with that there is this device you can get that fits over the accelerator to hide it and flips up a new accelerator where the clutch would be on a manual car ie to the left of the brake instead of the right. I probably haven't explained this very well but if you do an online search with key words like modified car disability accelerator etc then something should come up.

Let me know what you think.

Graeme