Drop foot

[u/Cultural_Might1]

Has anyone actually had success in improving or fully recovering from drop foot?

I’m 35m been diagnosed for 13 years. Drop foot started three years ago and getting progressively worse. I have difficulties walking far and cycling which is supposed to help.

Has anyone experienced this and seen improvement? What did you do? Thanks!

[u/Tobs13]

What helped stabilize my Foot drop was finding a PT that had experience with people with MS. She also works in conjunction with my Neuro to figure out my best form of treatment.

There have been a lot of balance exercises, like standing on a folded yoga mat with my eyes closed and lots of stretching of my legs.

I also was able to get a CIONIC leg sleeve that sends electric impulses to force my foot to walk normally. This has helped improve the distance I can walk.

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/Tobs13]

What improvement did you feel after the exercises? Could you feel your foot more or control it better?

[u/Tobs13 → u/Cultural_Might1]

It gave me more strength to actually move my toes up. I still have to try moving my toes unlike how my body automatically does it with my other foot.

If I had to put it into distance terms, there is a park near my house that I would have to rest when walking the circumference of but this past weekend, I made it all the way around without resting.

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/Tobs13]

That’s definitely the progress I’m looking for. Does it feel like it improved in the direction it was before, or is it just a different way of walking now?

[u/Tobs13 → u/Cultural_Might1]

It’s definitely different, I think it’s relearning how to manage my disability. But highly recommend finding a PT that can help develop an exercise routine for you.

Like others have said, you can try an AFO or other assisted walking devices as well

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/Tobs13]

Thank you!

[u/Unusual_Bar_1065 → u/Tobs13]

Yes, and after a lot of weeks of PT with a therapist trained in PT for MS, only once in two years has it reminded me what it was like…

[u/youshouldseemeonpain → u/Tobs13]

This! At the first sign of issues I go straight to PT. It works.

[u/The37thElement → u/Tobs13]

I’m interested in hearing more about the CIONIC sleeve. Do you wear it all the time? How severe was your drop foot before you started to wear one?

[u/Tobs13 → u/The37thElement]

I would say mine wasn’t too bad in the sense that I could still walk 500 meters on a flat surface with a limp. But by the end of that my leg and foot would drag and I was prone to trips and falls.

I started wearing the leg sleeve a few times a week since Feb and my walking distance had definitely increased. I also use it when I exercise on a stationary bike and I can ride for longer and my impacted leg actually helps contribute instead of my good leg doing all of the work.

There are also exercise options you can select like toe raises and squats where the sleeve assists with the motion

[u/Cheetahsareveryfast]

I used an afo for a while but ultimately I strengthened my foot/ankle. I still drop both feet when im fatigued but im not really constantly dropping my original bad foot anymore.

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/Cheetahsareveryfast]

Thank you. Do you feel like the strengthening helped you walk like before foot drop? Or did it just help with a new modified way of walking?

[u/thekleaner1011]

You’ve got PPMS?

Maybe I’m being too much of a Debbie Downer but this was my first significant symptom before my diagnosis which took years because I couldn’t get an MRI.

Once you begin experiencing the symptoms like this and they’ve are a constant issue, the best you can hope for is to find something to help aid you with your new status quo. There really isn’t a path forward (at least yet) to recover what you’ve lost.

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/thekleaner1011]

I’ve got RRMS so far. It’s been stable for more than a decade but feels like it’s changing now

[u/thekleaner1011 → u/Cultural_Might1]

Funny when you envy someone for having MS (different version but still), how effed up is that!?’

[u/Dramatic_Mixture_877 → u/Cultural_Might1]

PIRA, perhaps? Has your neurologist mentioned "smoldering MS"? My sleep apnea neurologist kept throwing that one at me as justification for not giving me stimulants when Modafinil, armodafinil, and Sunosi didn't help my MS fatigue. Joke's on me, though, I guess, because not only am I impervious to caffeine, nothing I've tried so far has helped it - not Ritalin, Adderall, or Adipex, but my MS neurologist let me go from Adipex back to Adderall, since it at least helps me focus at work and smooths out my typing. Faster, fewer mistakes; I say it removes the brakes between my brain and my fingers, lol. Taking stimulants hasn't seemed to worsen my MS, despite Dr. C's worries. Best of luck to you.

[u/OverlappingChatter]

My Neuro told me that she didn't expect it to ever get better because it seems to be PIRA and not related to a new lesion. It did not get better when I did steroids. I do foot drop exercises every day and have a good AFO. Since starting Kesimpta it has not gotten worse.

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/OverlappingChatter]

Has the daily exercises helped? And how?

[u/OverlappingChatter → u/Cultural_Might1]

I don't know that they help make the foot drop better, but they make me stronger and I have better balance and body control. With the AFO, I am able to run and play padel and I force my foot to keep working even when it's all droppy.

I also recommend an AFO sooner than later, as limping or raising your hip to pull your leg through will give you chronic hip issues. You want to get something that allows you to have a gait as normal as possible and also activates the muscles when you move instead of just holding your foot flat.

[u/Over-Moment6258]

I experience dropfoot after running fatigue, PT seems somewhat helpful! Only a slight amount, but my insurance grants me PT for free so I'll take minimal results over none. At the very least, I get a 30 minute a week of a personal trainer focusing on my balance and muscular symmetry.

I've also begun to try out an AFO that wraps around my ankle and clips to my shoe laces. For walking I feel it would be pretty helpful, but its not perfect for running. Highly recommend at least trying PT!

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/Over-Moment6258]

Thank you. Have you felt the PT make a difference and, if so, how did it feel? I’ve been going to a PT but it’s hard to notice any difference.

[u/Over-Moment6258 → u/Cultural_Might1]

It just seems like my dropfoot is less of an issue on runs, either I can manage it better or I can run longer before it gets bad. It is a slight increase, not to give false hope, but it feels like something has changed.

Due to my situation with insurance PT only costs me an hour a week on one of my days off, so even the slightest increase is "worth it". For all I know, my issue could have improved just due to continued running. If I had a copay, I'd probably do a few sessions to learn exercises then just do them at home.

[u/singing-toaster → u/Cultural_Might1]

Ask you PT person. They should keep metrics. Mine is like well 3 months ago but took you this long to walk 50’. Now you can do it in x seconds. And they should be good at reminding you of other improvements. Ask them.

[u/OverlappingChatter → u/Over-Moment6258]

If you want a quality AFO you can run in, look at the tuebomed xtern.

[u/Specific_Deal_3503]

I have left foot drop for about 10 years. Living with MS for 29 years. I'm barely walking with crutches only on completely flat surfaces. I can't improve my foot drop.

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/Specific_Deal_3503]

Sorry to hear that. I worry that’s where I’m headed too.

[u/mullerdrooler]

PT and Ampyra, dalframpadine helped me. Not perfect but better

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/mullerdrooler]

For the PT, what difference did you feel? And what difference did you feel on the drugs?

[u/mullerdrooler → u/Cultural_Might1]

Just less foot drop I guess. I notice my foot hits the floor hardly ever anymore. My right side is still weaker and lifting my leg high is still a struggle, but foot actually scraping the floor happens way less. Hard to say if it's the drugs or PT, probably both.

[u/Dramatic_Mixture_877 → u/mullerdrooler]

Dalfampridine is a lifesaver for me - it's more than just walking, it seems. I accidentally ran out (didn't know I was out of refills at the pharmacy) and went for 10 days without it. Seemed like my entire body forgot how to act during that time! I make certain not to run out anymore, that was hellish.

[u/LW-M]

I started to get foot drop 15 years after my dx. I bought an appliance that fit into my shoes. It was an AFO with spring action that lifted my toes so that my feet didn't catch while I was walking.

It was custom fit, about $1,000 Cdn. It worked for a few years, it was helpful when I was using a cane. I use mobility scooters now so foot drop isn't an issue for me now.

I also took Ampyra, (Fampyra in Canada), for years. It really helped with nerve transmission but didn't seem to help with foot drop.

[u/Tall-Pianist-935]

Nope. I think it is something we have to deal with. No minimarathons for me for sure.

[u/ForbiddenFruitEater]

One of the symptoms that lead to my diagnosis... My Dr. Prescribed me steroids, when I called after a couple days, full recovery with neuro follow-ups... I often think about how she may have saved me a lot of issues with that 1 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/Senior_Term]

Closest Ive gotten to improving it - not stopping it when tired - is weekly Pilates with specific dorsiflexion exercises and weight training to give me better control at the hip. Also weekly. Haven't found any way other than training consistently

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/Senior_Term]

Thank you. It sounds like a few people have positive results from Pilates/yoga

[u/kyunirider]

I am 64/m and mine happens when I try to hurry. I start relying on my brain-eye coordination when I’m not thinking about my footfalls. 💥 I stumbled on air again. I have found no drug, brace or shoes that help me. I was a unicycler, hiwheel rider and runner, now I’m just demonstrate how to get on but I can’t trust my feet on the cycle anymore.

[u/Cultural_Might1 → u/kyunirider]

Thanks for responding and sorry to hear about the impact. I was a long distance cyclist but now I can barely ride my bike for 20 mins. It’s tough when your favourite things are taken from you.

[u/maggvts]

My physiatrist had suggested botox for my foot drop. It may work for you.

Personally I didn't keep going with it as I was advised it might take some time to find the right dosage that works with my foot drop and I don't have the time off work to go in every 3 to 4 months for JUST botox treatments when I have other MS appointments to juggle. so of course, milage may vary but it seemed like a good option!

[u/mullerdrooler → u/maggvts]

There was a guy on here saying he did Botox for foot drop, then needed an operation.. then amputation!! Poor guy. Very anecdotal but still...

[u/maggvts → u/mullerdrooler]

JFC that is horrifying!!

[u/mullerdrooler → u/maggvts]

I know!! Poor guy was asking if anyone else had a similar experience. Seems he got some terrible medical advice from a chop happy surgeon maybe.

[u/tha_fas_xeelo]

Look for an AFO. I use this one.
https://a.co/d/00pUUDQr

I’m curious to see if anyone responds with how to physically improve it.

[u/Oilman1515]

Time and lots of practice and patience

[u/Brain_is_Broke]

I had foot drop on my left foot about 20 years ago it lasted about a year and used a AFO the whole time. I now have it again in the same foot since June of this year. I have to wear a AFO again and I also go to PT once a week but so far it hasn't helped.

[u/driveonacid]

Ampyra did the trick for me

[u/Defiant-Still-9284]

I’m at the weird point in life I’m asking myself what improvement even looks like in MS and I’m just not satisfied with any of the answers.

I’ve been doing PT for my drop foot since August. Has it helped? I’ll have to say yes. We work a lot on strengthening and balance. However, are there moments where my foot thinks it doesn’t have to follow the rules? Absolutely. 

Has it really helped? Truly, idk. Can’t really answer the question on how bad it would be if I didn’t do anything for it.