Sign in

or Register now

MultipleSclerosisCentral.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Tuesday, November, 24, 2009
  • Font size
Receive a FREE Osteoarthritis of the knee pamphlet. Start here.

MS Symptoms: Foot Drop

Merely Me
Merely Me
Close
I am a mother, a writer, and now an MS patient

I just got diagnosed with MS in October of 2007 although my very...

Merely Me

Monday, December 15, 2008
View All of Merely Me's Posts
The following video shows how my gait has been affected by an MS symptom called "foot drop."  The phrase means just what it sounds like.  Foot drop is when the front of the foot falls behind and tends to drag on the ground. Since I have relapsing remitting MS, this particular symptom c...
  1. This, wasn't a drag at all. :)
    Paul
    Monday, December 15, 2008 at 11:32 AM

    I appreciate your willing to demonstrate and explain this symptom. I remember still, when a very small boy, seeing a man walking like that and no one could tell me why. It's an image that has stayed for a long time.

     

    The more  people are made aware of what is behind what they are seeing, even past just understanding, even past defeating ignorance, is an interest in seeing something done about it. That applies to so many things and I think, videos like this can help build empathy, not sympathy, and ultimately have a role in beating MS, or, in a way seemingly unique to you, help explain what it is doing, what people are seeing.

    Reply
    re: This, wasn't a drag at all. :)
    Merely Me
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 09:53 PM

    Really?  You saw someone who walked like me?  In all my years I don't think I have seen someone walking like me.  It was kinda hard for me to view myself as in "Oh lordy...do I really look like that?"  But it was good for me too...to accept that yes this is just a part of things and so what if I have a silly walk.  I like what you say about empathy as opposed to sympathy.  Exactly.  I wanted to give people a chance to see what this symptom may look like.  Prior to my diagnosis I scoured the internet to find something like this but couldn't find anything.  I wanted to see what MS looks like. 

     

    Anyways...I have written a novel here.  Thank you so much for your comment...it is very appreciated.

    Reply
  2. LOL
    Lisa Emrich
    Monday, December 15, 2008 at 01:30 PM

    Although my footdrop looks different than your footdrop, they are both still "a drag."  I like that phrase, very funny.  Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    re: LOL
    FrisbieMA
    Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 01:08 AM

    Yeah I got the FootDrop right now. You did a great job on the film describing what a 'drag' it is. Mine is alot like like one of the ones you were demonstrating & it is the same leg too. Mine has pain from spasticity in it. It goes all through my right leg and foot. My doctor is a Migraine specialist as well and has started me on botox shots in my leg but not in my foot. It is working in my leg but oh man do I need it in my foot. I guess that is what its all about taking responsibility as a patient for your care. I can only get botox every 3 months but at least I can tell her where it still needs it. I notice that it gets more pronounced when I get tired or fatigued.

    Reply
    re: re: LOL
    Merely Me
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 09:55 PM

    You get botox for this?  wow.  I didn't know that was an option or that it helped.  Could you share more about this?  I am most intrigued.  Thank you so much for stopping by to comment!

    Reply
    re: re: re: LOL
    PamFrisbie
    Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 03:39 AM

    Sure....I have been having a residual from an exacerbation that seemed to include spme residual spazticity when it cleared up. It seemed to  last more than a year probably closer to two. I kept taking Baclofen for the spazticity but it was becoming ineffective.  In desparation for some relief from the constant pain so I asked my doctor if there was ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE COULD DO ABOUT THIS AT ALL?! She agreed and told me that there was no documented evidence of it working for MS patients but it had been done before. In other words the findings were never published in a professional journal because I don't think that they could get enough evidence.

    Part of the treatment for severe migraines is using botox to relax the muscles associated with any triggers that cause them. I did a search on it and found out that it had medical applications. I also did alot of question asking to my doc and her nurse practitioner.  I chose to take the risk of taking the botox intramuscular shots to see if that would begin to help with the constant pain that I was experiencing and had been experiencing in my right leg and foot. I got the Botox in my leg but still need it in my foot. I have only done one treatment and cannot do another until February. I was very surprized that the process of the shots kind of felt like accupuncture. As long as I did not watch what she was doing, I was OK Wink Well it worked for me. It took about a week for it to  really start to become noticable but it did have an extremely helpful result for me and my doc. It can help pinpoint where she needs to focus the next tme.

     

    Reply
  3. Untitled Comment
    Anonymous
    Monday, December 15, 2008 at 04:29 PM

    Very effective for folks like me (a caregiver) to reconize the symptom.  The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words just goes ten fold for video and your descriptions help one to understand how foot drop feels as well.   Thanks for sharing.  Yeah,  all those green leaves make me wish for warm summer days again.  Merry Christmas to you.

    Reply
    re: Untitled Comment
    Merely Me
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 09:57 PM

    And Merry Christmas to you!

     

    Yeah...it is kinda hard to describe in words...you gotta see it for yourself.  Although MS is mostly an invisible disease...most of the symptoms you can't see...foot drop is something which is pretty noticeable.  Least mine is.  Smile

     

    I do thank you for coming by to read and comment.  I hope you come back again.

    Reply
  4. Foot Drop
    momdukes
    Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 05:54 PM

    Yep Foot Drop is what I got also.  It is hell on the toes of my shoes.  I have got to call the Bio people to go get my brace, and I hope that it helps.  But it will not look cool this summer, but I will figure that out to do when summer time comes.  Foot drop is a drag, literaly Laughing  But it's all right.  Maybe a long skirt, or a cute pair of capri pants will hide the brace.  Hey a girl has got to do, what a girl has got to do.Kiss

    Reply
    re: Foot Drop
    Jughead
    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 08:42 PM

    The AFO brace that I wear works wonderfully!  I wear a short sock on the one leg, and then a knee high sock on the brace leg.  The first summer, I had an older woman ask me if it was a fashion statement wearing the different height socks. 

    Reply
    re: Foot Drop
    Merely Me
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 09:59 PM

    You are so delightful Momdukes!

     

    You are right...you gotta do what you gotta do and you might as well look pretty doing it. 

     

    Thank you so much for coming by to read and to comment.  I need to catch up with your posts.

    Reply
    re: re: Foot Drop
    momdukes
    Friday, December 19, 2008 at 08:36 AM

    You know, you have to look for the good in life.  Be ye well or sick.  Really there is good.  I try and focus on that.  Yes MS sucks, and has put a hitch in my get-a-long.  But I am going to contiinue to get-a-long.  God willing and the creek don't rise!  I write as an outlet, it helps a lot, so rather than swim around in self-pity I write about the good and funny things in life.

     

    Sherry

    Reply
  5. Untitled Comment
    Anonymous
    Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 08:24 PM

    They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words.  Whoever they are, ........ they are right!!!!

     

    It was very useful to see "foot drop"  rather than to just read about it.  Now I understand what this term really means and how it can effect someone.

    Reply
    re: Untitled Comment
    Merely Me
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 10:01 PM

    I do hope that this was helpful.  And you are so right...if I had just described it...you would not get the full flavor of things I don't think.

     

    I will be doing more of these videos so stay tuned!

    Reply
  6. Foot Drop
    Larry
    Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:33 PM

    Great idea to do this video for us to see and learn from. Those of us who have this symptom can relate but still we can learn how yours may be different or even similar to ours.

     

    Those who haven't experienced this yet can know what to expect from watching your video.

     

    Another great job and service you have done!

    Reply
    re: Foot Drop
    Merely Me
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 10:02 PM

    Hey Larry!

     

    Just curious...does mine look like yours?  I would imagine everyone's is different based on how you try to compensate.  I end up stomping around usually.  It is a bizarre feeling.

     

    So good to see you and I hope you come back to read more of me.

    Reply
  7. good video
    Julie
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 10:35 AM

    Thanks for the video. It is helpful to see this in action. I stub my toe fairly often and have tripped and fallen a couple of times because one leg drags a bit when I get tired. I never thought it was noticeable or had a name until a visit to my neurologist about a year ago when she said "It looks like your foot is dropping a little more." I never knew it was visible at all -- and when she said something, I couldn't even feel that I was walking any differently than normal.

    Now I'm aware that it's with me all the time and that even if I can't feel it, my foot drop is a little noticeable. The good thing is that now that I'm aware of it, I am more cautious about picking up my feet when stepping up onto a curb or up stairs so I won't trip.

    Reply
    re: good video
    Merely Me
    Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 10:05 PM

    Yeah this foot drop thing can definitely make you trip and fall down.  I have done it many a time.  And it does seem to happen more often when I am tired too.  It seems a never ending cycle...the MS makes you tired...and so then you have all these gait problems...which makes you more tired.  I hate MS. 

     

    It is very good to see you.  I will have to see if you have written anything lately.  I need to catch up with people's posts.  Thanks so much for coming to read and to comment.

    Reply
  8. Yep
    patti
    Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 11:26 AM

    I remember vividly when my mom had the ability to walk....I remember her foot dragging.  She was always holding onto my dad when she walked.  It was exactly like your video......It brought tears to my eyes.....I wish she could walk again.

    Reply
    re: Yep
    Merely Me
    Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 11:47 AM

    I am so sorry Patti.  How many years was it before she was not able to walk?  May I ask?  My heart goes out to you and your mom.  Thank you for coming by here...I know it must be so hard in some ways to be reminded of some things.

    Reply
  9. foot drop
    Token
    Monday, June 01, 2009 at 01:54 PM

    Thank you very much for the video of Foot Drop.  I've never seen this problem, but now that I have, I think I have Foot Drop in my Left Leg.  I also have balance problems and have been using a walker for years, but this Foot Drop thing just started in the last year.  Thanks again!

    Reply
  10. Untitled Comment
    Anonymous
    Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 06:31 PM

    My husband has severe foot drop from RRMS.  He received a Bioness L300 from the VA last year and it's helped so much.  Right now the Bioness is giving him problems, we have to go back to the tech again.  It's sure a noticeable difference without the Bioness.  He's really struggling to walk and it hurts his back like heck.

     

    Thanks for sharing your story. 

    Reply
  11. End of employment Foot Drop
    joe
    Monday, September 07, 2009 at 12:32 AM

    I appreciate the video, family always called me hoofa and didnt realize I had foot drop; until I started falling down at work; I was offered an early out shortly after it started; I have had auto accident nearly year after retiring, so I have given up driving for now; still exercising, but still having trouble and am now using walker; you guys please drop me an email with ideas; joe65o@aol.com or emrwhq@aol.com

    Reply
  12. Same walk
    Cheri
    Friday, September 11, 2009 at 07:04 AM

    Hi,

    I just had to respond. We have the same gait! Mine is my left foot, not all of the time but if I get too hot or really stressed out my left leg will drag. It seems to get worse if I have to keep walking and am trying to keep up with someone. My right leg tries to hop. LOL. But it doesn't hurt..just feels out of control. I told someone that it feels like wearing your dad's shoes when you were little

    Thanks for the video, It really helped me!

    Reply
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Thank you for your input
  • Save
  • RSS
  • Report Abuse

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

View all questions (1022) >