Foot Drop Correction

Foot Drop Correction

Foot drop in our Northwest Indiana podiatry patients is common. Foot drop (or drop foot) is weakness pulling the toes (and foot) up or difficulty raising the toes or raising the front of the foot. This foot weakness may occur while walking and/or at rest. The weakness to pull the toes and foot up may be only slight or could be severe. Some people may not be able to pull the foot up or toes up at all.

Our podiatrist, Dr. Nirenberg, is a Fellow of the Association Extremity Nerve Surgeons and has also trained with the renowned peripheral neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Dellon. Dr. Nirenberg enjoys puzzling out tough foot and ankle problems, particularly why foot drop is occurring or why someone has burning, numbness of tingling in their foot.

Our practice has been voted Best of the Region many times by readers of The Times and also awarded the Neighbor’s Choice award for podiatry many times by readers of the Post-Tribune. To read Dr. Nirenberg’s CV click here.

Nerve problems can cause other issues in the foot and ankle, such as nerve entrapment and burning, tingling, stabbing, shooting pain. It can cause odd feelings in the feet and legs or make the legs feel weak or restless or the feet feel swollen or heavy.

Foot Drop Problems

Foot drop can make walking and exercising difficult. Persons we see in our Northwest Indiana podiatry office with foot drop may have trouble keeping their balance while walking and standing. Persons with foot drop may need to wear a special brace on their foot to walk. Foot drop can be associated with numbness or pain in the foot or ankle.

People with foot drop may experience loss of sensation in their foot or abnormal sensation, or even the feeling of burning, tingling, shooting pain, stinging, a pins and needles sensation, or other types of pain or sensory issues.

Foot drop is often due to weakness of the muscles that lift up the front of the foot or raise the forefoot. Persons with foot drop (or drop foot) may feel unsteady when walking or at times, lose their balance.

Foot Drop Causes

Foot drop can be caused by many different problems. Foot drop can be caused by damage to nerves, either from trauma or during surgery. Persons who have knee surgery may develop foot drop if a nerve was injured during the knee surgery.

Foot drop can also be due to a person’s particular anatomy or diseases can cause it, such as Charcot Marie Tooth disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other diseases. Some people may develop foot drop or weakness in their foot after exposure to chemicals or toxins.

Persons coming to our Northwest Indiana podiatrist office with foot drop or weakness lifting up their foot often walk abnormally to compensate. Foot drop may cause the person to drag their toes on the ground or their toes may hit the ground at times while walking. To compensate some people with foot drop or weakness pulling up their toes may raise their thigh and knee higher to make sure their foot clears the ground.

Foot Drop Treatment

Foot drop treatment in our podiatrist office involves thoroughly determining the cause of the foot drop. Our podiatrists may prescribe a variety of treatments for foot drop. Foot drop treatment may include exercises, physical therapy, injections, foot orthotics, braces or bracing, or surgery. No one treatment works for everyone and our podiatrist will discuss the foot drop (drop foot) treatment options for you.