Thigh weakness/foot drop after spine surgery

About 10 years ago I was having a Spinal Tap. The tech TWICE missed and hit a nerve. Terrible pain. Next Sciatica, it lasted several days, I believe the foot drop came next. I wear a brace now I don't trip. I should mention that I also have Neuropathy in both feet.

I had L4/L5 spinal fusion October, 2022. I had severe right foot drop and right leg weakness immediately after surgery. After several months of no improvemnt, CT exams revealed the right pedicle screw damaged my spinal cord. The right pedicle screws have since been removed, but spinal damage and foot drop continues.

I woke up from lumbar surgery in September of 2022 with drop foot of my right foot. It's not from my back, but from the position I was placed in for the surgery that affected the Peroneal nerve. I had a nerve release on Nov 2, 2023, but so far no recovery . I would appreciate feedback from others who deal with this issue.
Thank you!

If the nerve was damaged at the compression site, recovery may take longer. The perineal nerve is sourced at L-4,
5 and travels down the sciatic nerve where it branches off. Damage at any place along that path can cause the foot to drop. If there were nerve conduction studies ( EMG) from the exit at L4-5 you could be confident that the release was at the causitive position. Damage to this nerve is not uncommon during low back surgery. I would redo the EMG, get ankle-foot orthotics and physical therapy.

A few months ago I was told by Neurologist that I had left foot drop. Does anyone have info on what it's all about and what type of treatment is available for it.

Hello,
I think treatment depends alot on what caused the drop foot. Mine is from damage to the Peroneal nerve, actually pressure on the nerve. Physical therapy will likely be recommended. It sounds like you need more details from your Doctor about the cause. Best to you and thank you for responding!

Thank you so much for your reply. The first EMG showed compression below the knee. I had another EMG about 7 weeks after the release and it showed some inervation below the release site. I was also told based on the test, that should my foot not recover, I am eligible for tendon transfer. Obviously, having it come back is what I'm hoping for. In the meantime, I have had a hip replacement on the oposire side and that has delayed the foot therapy. I have always had some slight movement in the foot, but it never goes beyond that movement. I guess I'm over anxious for improvement. Having the drop foot has changed my world and taken away life as I knew it.
Thank you so much for your reply!

I think the treatment would depend on the cause. Could you talk to your doctor about options/recommendations?

My father has foot drop related to a stroke (extremely common), so it's a neurological issue affecting his ability to control his muscles. Physical therapy for him is the #1 treatment because the foot drop is neurological. The therapy focuses on neuroplasticity--high repetitions of increasingly complex movement to help the brain and nerves re-learn how to do what he needs it to do. When he was completely unable to move his foot, passive exercise (either he or a helper would move his foot back and forth) and even visualization and doing right/left discrimination (looking at photos of a foot and identifying if it's left or right) were enough to trigger the neuroplasticity.

Some people use an AFO (ankle foot orthosis) to support the foot during recovery or if they don't have a full recovery.

I'm not sure if it would apply to your situation, but this website explains it a little better: https://www.flintrehab.com/how-to-fix-foot-drop/ My dad uses their product and it helps.

Once you find out more from your doctor, maybe that will help and you could ask for a referral to PT.

Sometimes, for people

Hello @beedom, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled "Thigh weakness/foot drop after spine surgery" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thigh-weaknessfoot-drop-after-spine-surgery/.

I did this so you could meet other members, like @dennymt, @maggie76, and @luamiller who have discussed their journey's with foot drop as well.

This conversation is helpful and informative. I just have a bit of this. I am recovering from spinal stenosis surgery. I've noticed that there are times my toes want to curl on my right foot. It sounds like if I keep walking my little dog Miah that it will help. Thanks again, for the conversation.