Floppy feet and eventually drop foot

[MajorHart]

I am a 70 year old man that has worked out and walked/run for over 50 years.

In about 1991 - I started developing floppy feet and eventually drop foot in both feet.

I had a small stroke in 1994 but don't think that was involved because it was the result of a hot political argument on my computer bbs and there were no clots - just a spasm of a small artery in my cerebellum. I am a type II diabetic and probably have been for years but my recent fasting glucose without medication is within the acceptable range and they tell me to work on losing more weight and not take meds.

I had several pretty severe back injuries in about 1988 and I think I have a disk injury and that is the cause of my foot drop.

I have exercised the shin muscles very hard (shin isolator) and toe pull-ups and calf raises, leg presses on my 30 station machine, and stepper exercises.for many years, and don't feel I have deteriorated - they do tighten up for about a day.

I can only raise my toes about 1".

I have an EMS with 4 electrodes but never got it to work because I don't know where to place the electrodes and the book doesn't say - nor does the place I bought it.

I tried placing the electrodes on my leg just below the knee and got a very small stimulation with no muscle movement so haven't used it at all lately.

I don't understand "bipolar placement" at all but would like to see if this machine can help.

I even use self hypnosis and can tighten the shin muscles with that but not enough.

I have been very careful and have not fallen for 3 years (and my ankles are weak too and I can't walk well on grass or any not perfectly flat surface)

I am hoping I can get some benefit from my ems if I can just figure out how to use it.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

John Hansen [email protected] Page Title

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[jerryhesch]

Hi,
I will let someone more knowledgeable than I answer your question re e-stim, which I have not used for some time.
However, your post sure sounds like you may have severe central or lateral spinal stenosis and a CT scan with canal measurement and appropriate interpretation may be helpful. MRI may also augment it.
At the tender age of 45 I had 3rd surery, this time to clean bone for severe stenosis and it was a life saver. Previous diagnosis in spite of my best effort were incompetent.
I wish you the best.
jerry Hesch MHS
PS, yes, not all stenoisis is amenable to PT flexion exercise, etc, severe stenosis by definition is NOT.

[MajorHart]

Hi,
I will let someone more knowledgeable than I answer your question re e-stim, which I have not used for some time.
However, your post sure sounds like you may have severe central or lateral spinal stenosis and a CT scan with canal measurement and appropriate interpretation may be helpful. MRI may also augment it.
At the tender age of 45 I had 3rd surery, this time to clean bone for severe stenosis and it was a life saver. Previous diagnosis in spite of my best effort were incompetent.
I wish you the best.
jerry Hesch MHS
PS, yes, not all stenoisis is amenable to PT flexion exercise, etc, severe stenosis by definition is NOT.

Thanks much for the reply. In november of last year I had an aortic valve replacement - they said my heart was strong and my coronary arteries were clear - they said I just wore out the valve but they gave me a bovine valve. They also said to continue the heavy exercise and I will - I guess most older people don't exercise so they thought the bovine valve would be better. This is finally over - I'm lifting weights again and walking at least a mile a day and using the stairstepper too. My cbc last week had cholesterol at 167. All my numbers were in the normal range and they said there was nothing wrong with me at all. I feel great and strong - much better than before my operation.

I'm going to see if the VA will do those tests as soon as I see the doctor again. I did have aortic stenosis. As a long time exerciser I would think spinal stenosis would be out of the question - but I know nothing about that. I'm also thinking I might have a compressed nerve in there somewhere. I can run if I didn't have to worry about my toes dragging -I do stationary jogging at home too.

Thanks for the response.

MajorHart

Thanks again.

[jerryhesch]

It does not sound like typical stenosis in which weakness is progressive as one walks with spine upright, wheras an exercise bike is tolerated better because the spine is in relative flexion. These tests though may have false +, false -, like all others. These tests probably do not hold up when it is beyond severe-or is atypical. Whatever the cause, it appears that it has not yet been identified. Be cautious with weights, some advice from a good physio re technique, amount of weight and range may be in order. wish I were closer!
jerry hesch

[neurospast]

[QUOTE=MajorHart;19237]I am a 70 year old man that has worked out and walked/run for over 50 years.

In about 1991 - I started developing floppy feet and eventually drop foot in both feet.

I had a small stroke in 1994 but don't think that was involved because it was the result of a hot political argument on my computer bbs and there were no clots - just a spasm of a small artery in my cerebellum. I am a type II diabetic and probably have been for years but my recent fasting glucose without medication is within the acceptable range and they tell me to work on losing more weight and not take meds.

I had several pretty severe back injuries in about 1988 and I think I have a disk injury and that is the cause of my foot drop.

I have exercised the shin muscles very hard (shin isolator) and toe pull-ups and calf raises, leg presses on my 30 station machine, and stepper exercises.for many years, and don't feel I have deteriorated - they do tighten up for about a day.

I can only raise my toes about 1".

You do not mention anything about changes in sensitivity like pain. Is the dropfoot an isolated problem? If so it is unlike to be related to being diabetic or having a backproblem. It is though almost certain a nerve conduction problem which means that all sorts of problems could be the cause.
So before saying anything, you have to give more information:
-Isolated problem or not
-changes in sensitivity (feelings) of the legs and/or back since or around 1991
-what about the strength of other muscles like calfs and thighs.
-how did it started, sudden onset or gradually.
-they tighten up for a day, who are they.
-when you had your stroke would was the effect straigth after. You say you had a spasm of a small artery in your cerebellum. How do you know. Did you had something alike (TIA) before this incident. Which migth be an episode of a minute or so when you paased out or alike.
-what does your gp say, have you seen a neurologist.
Hope hearing from you

[MajorHart]

[QUOTE=neurospast;19626]

I am a 70 year old man that has worked out and walked/run for over 50 years.

In about 1991 - I started developing floppy feet and eventually drop foot in both feet.

I had a small stroke in 1994 but don't think that was involved because it was the result of a hot political argument on my computer bbs and there were no clots - just a spasm of a small artery in my cerebellum. I am a type II diabetic and probably have been for years but my recent fasting glucose without medication is within the acceptable range and they tell me to work on losing more weight and not take meds.

I had several pretty severe back injuries in about 1988 and I think I have a disk injury and that is the cause of my foot drop.

I have exercised the shin muscles very hard (shin isolator) and toe pull-ups and calf raises, leg presses on my 30 station machine, and stepper exercises.for many years, and don't feel I have deteriorated - they do tighten up for about a day.

I can only raise my toes about 1".

You do not mention anything about changes in sensitivity like pain. Is the dropfoot an isolated problem?

Pretty much isolated - although I have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (I thought my original neuropathy was from long term drinking) I have had the occasional shooting pains of neuropathy even 1986) - recently I discovered that if I worked out the muscles in that area (when they were not painful) I reduced the incidence of the pain a lot - I have them very rarely. My left calf muscle is very weak but strengthens fast if I do calf raises (for about a day too) I have a hard time maintaining balance on grass or uneven ground. I can do the stationary jog anywhere including some forward, backward and sideways motion.

If so it is unlike to be related to being diabetic or having a backproblem. It is though almost certain a nerve conduction problem which means that all sorts of problems could be the cause.
So before saying anything, you have to give more information:
-Isolated problem or not
-changes in sensitivity (feelings) of the legs and/or back since or around 1991 Yes

-what about the strength of other muscles like calfs and thighs. Before my operation for the heart valve I could do leg presses with 365 pound on our machine - I'm working back up again after a 4 month layoff - can do about 170 pounds now. I can do 100 reps on our stair stepper machine at 25 a set.

-how did it started, sudden onset or gradually. Gradually and before the stroke.

-they tighten up for a day, who are they. ankle muscles, calf muscles - I have a stretch belt from sky-king and I can do 300 calf raises and for a day or so my calves are much stronger and I walk better. I have to balance that by doing foot raises too. (usually about 200 a day)

-when you had your stroke would was the effect straigth after. *Disoriented but no muscle was especially weak. I lost perception while walking in the hospital room and fell. I had been walking back and forth pretty much normally and I turned my head and totally lost balance. A few days later they had me walking around the hospital and it was very difficult but I didn't fall. I was in the hospital 4 days - 4 days after I got home - my wife and I went jogging slowly and I did that okay - two weeks after that we were up to a mile and everything was fine. Since then I have run many miles and could continue except for the risk of the toe drop and possible tripping. I can run on pavement or even uneven ground or inside and my foot and leg muscles all tighten up and my foot floppyness goes away (for about a day) SInce I had my stroke while arguing with someone on my computer bbs - I found I couldn't get near the computer for a few days without getting extremely tense. That effect worked itself out but it took at least 2 months to get rid of. I was sometimes afraid of having another stroke and I have my wife let me out of the car and I would run 1/4 to 1/2 mile or so to get more relaxed. Since my stroke as not caused by hemmorage or a clot - it was just fear because of knowing how many people die of strokes.


You say you had a spasm of a small artery in your cerebellum. How do you know.
*The doctor and a neurologist told me that's all it was - no clots - not other reason. He said my arteries in the head and elsewhere were completely clear. He said I was too excited and angry - by the debate I was in.

Did you had something alike (TIA) before this incident. Which migth be an episode of a minute or so when you paased out or alike. I had a tia a few years before - I was close to losing a job and for a split second I saw double and then it was gone.

-what does your gp say, have you seen a neurologist. I've seen several neurologists but none recently - I haven't consulted my VA doctors about it yet - too busy recovering from the heartvalve operation - which they say is going great - all my signs were good (liver, iron, glucose, kidneys, cholesterol) The doctor (in this case a cardiologist) said there was nothing wrong at all.

I think I'm somewhat of a refreshing change for them - most of them say I'm a most unusual patient and understand what they are telling me better than most. The surgeon said they picked me as a success story because of my background (I guess he means a 69 year old man that walks or runs at least a mile almost everyday and lifts weights - and has for many years) or maybe optimism which I almost lost as I waited for the operation - I didnt know if they were going to do it and the 3 year survival rate for advanced aortic stenosis and regurgitation is only 50%.

Now I plan to write an ebook on the whole operation because I've been counseling several who are preparing for this operation and are very scared (as I was)

I'm writing one on Blood Pressure too - because I've been way up there and way down and know what the mechanism is (mines not been very high for a long time now) and that's mostly losing weight and not eating salt and fat.

Hope hearing from you

Thanks

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