Foot drop symptoms & treatment

Foot drop is a condition where you can’t raise the front part of your foot normally. You may notice you often stub your toes on rugs or when going up stairs. Your foot may make a slapping noise when you walk because the toes touch the ground before the heel. Foot drop is commonly caused by problems with nerves in the spine or knee.

Why choose Aurora spine services?

People seek treatment from us because we offer exceptional multidisciplinary care that focuses on getting you back to the things you enjoy doing.

• Care that’s focused on you: We work hard to find the treatment solution that works best for you. You may benefit from a customized physical therapy plan or you may need a minimally invasive surgical procedure. We consider your health goals, personal preferences and lifestyle when creating a care plan. Together, we’ll help you get back to enjoying your life.
• Collaborative orthopedic and neurosurgery care: Our multidisciplinary teams include both orthopedic and neurosurgery experts. We’re one of the only centers in Wisconsin that offers this kind of integrated care. Working together, we provide comprehensive, coordinated care that treats your pain and other symptoms while protecting the health of your spine.
• Minimally invasive techniques: If you need spine surgery, our orthopedic and neurosurgery experts use minimally invasive techniques, including utilizing a miniature robotic camera that’s more powerful than a microscope. Such methods deliver more precise surgery, with less damage to healthy tissue than conventional open surgeries. Patients usually have a more comfortable, faster recovery and better long-term results.

Symptoms and causes of foot drop

Symptoms of foot drop are numbness, pain and weakness similar to those experienced with radiculopathy. The front of the foot hangs down when you lift it during walking or other activities, which can lead to stubbing your toes a lot.

There are two main causes for foot drop. It may be caused by a pinched nerve in the L4 or L5 nerve root.

The other common cause is compression of the peroneal nerve, which passes around the outside part of the knee. The nerve is subject to injury or being compressed because it’s close to the surface of the skin.

Foot drop may be caused by general wear and tear on the body or by an injury to the knee or the spine. It may come on gradually or appear suddenly. No matter the cause or timing, it’s important to seek treatment promptly because the longer you have it, the less likely you are to recover.

Diagnosis of foot drop

When you see one of our doctors for foot drop, they will take a complete medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. MRI or other imaging tests will be done to determine the potential cause. Another common test would be a nerve conduction study to help determine the location of nerve compression or damage.

Treatment for foot drop

To ensure the best chance of recovery, surgery is often the first recommendation for foot drop. Waiting too long might cause the condition to become permanent.

Your doctor may perform a discectomy to remove a damaged disc. Or they may perform a laminectomy to remove part of the vertebra and create more space for the affected nerves. Fusion of the bones may be needed after either of these surgeries.

When surgery is performed on the knee, it is done to create more room for the peroneal nerve. Surgery might remove connective tissue bands that compress the nerve tissue in that area.

Nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy, chiropractic care or injections for pain are more likely to be recommended after surgery. These supportive therapies are intended to help ease symptoms while your body heals naturally.

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