Trouble walking

I totally agree with the people saying go to neurologist. I wasted 10 years with orthopedic doctors who just wanted to operate inject yada yada they never got to the bottom of it. Meanwhile, my nerve loss of feeling has gotten much worse, and I finally been connected to neurologist. It’s a world of difference you need nerve conduction studies. That’s the only way they can pinpoint what’s wrong. Stay away from the orthopedic doctors until you consult with the neurologist.

My ortho ordered lumbar spine MRI and nerve testing in legs and feet EMG. Extremely useful, as I learned that I have normal nerves and muscles in the legs and feet, not neuropathy. Lots of arthritis in the spine and feet, but real Celebrex (not generic) helps the most with both (had to petition insurance to cover the real Celebrex brand, which the insurance covers, albeit at a higher copay, but worth it). Also, ortho recommended much softer shoes and a different orthotic once the arthritis in the feet (and spine) was identified as the issue. Foot Scientific insoles, which are OTC, but the OS fitted me with both a different style and size than I would have chosen if I had ordered them online.
Walking outside for a mile (slow speed, but moderate exertion) most days and deep-water walking/jogging/running in a pool most days helps the most.
I wear a wide topoathletic.com shoe with a wide, anatomically correct forefoot, to walk outside. In the pool, I wear Teva hurricane sandals, which have arch support and don't restrict the toes (even suspended in deep water, there is a lot of resistance from the water on my feet, and these make it safer to get in and out of the pool.

What were your symptoms to see ortho?

Hi, I had pain in the feet and intermittent numbness of toes, as well as changes in the bunions, especially in cool/damp weather. When these made even a slow walk painful, I saw my regular ortho, who had done my partial knee replacements, my rotator cuff repair, and my right foot tendon (anterior tibial) repair. He thought the spinal stenosis in the winter weather (thank god it is very brief here), aggravated the sciatica, causing the occasional numbness. But he didn't recommend bunion surgery for the right foot, as he said it would be too much trauma and might undo the successful tendon repair. But he was about to retire, so he referred me to the ortho in the nearby larger city who is a specialist in "complicated foot injuries and surgery." That ortho did x-rays which showed extensive/worsening arthritis in the feet , and ordered the nerve tests and the MRI. He also said my feet and ankles and lower legs were weak, so while I was getting the tests, he sent me for PT, which really helped improve my feet. After the back MRI, he added back PT, and that really helped also. He also recommended that due to the arthritis pain, I should wear a much softer/neutral shoe and fit me for very comfortable OTC Foot Scientific insoles (a different style and size than I would have picked out). Previously, I had been wearing rather hard motion control shoes with hard insoles (custom $$$$) from a podiatrist. My biggest issue now is that the bunions (genetic, not cosmetic) keep pushing my toes, so I need a wider and wider toe box, while the rest of my foot is normal, so I have wide HOKA Bondi 8s with the covering over the right baby toe cut out (sigh), and wide TopoAthletic, which have an anatomical shape to the toes, which is wider. The bunion surgery on either foot requires non-weight bearing for 3 months, which I had to do for the right foot tendon repair, and am trying to avoid, as it made me very weak. I may try Altra shoes next, which have a realistic shape to the forefoot also. Happily, though, I am once again able to walk a mile 6 or 7 days a week, and also do about 40 minutes of walking/jogging in deep water (pool) most days. My regular MD sent me to a back surgeon after seeing my MRI, but as I don't have back pain (thank God), he said he would not recommend any surgery, and instead, should continue to treat the spinal (and foot, etc) arthritis with Celebrex and exercise, which has helped me with the back stiffness. Just the relief of knowing my nerves and muscles in the legs and feet weren't damaged (no neuropathy). was worth having the EMG tests done--not a difficult test, BTW; basically, you lie down and they prick the nerves with teeny, tiny needles and you have a reflex jump which they measure with electrodes. I hope this helps.

Thanks for that info! It seems to have provided you with some tools to help your symptoms, which is promising. What about your numbness now?

I have that feeling in both feet, but actually have full sensation. Feel like they are going to sleep if I wear closed toe shoes. had EMG tests that said no neuropathy, but the paresthesia continues. Idk. I’m wondering if it could be spine related.

I wear supportive shoes to ward off plantar fasciitis flares, otherwise no foot pain. No bunions or arthritis. I do have high arches. I had neurological evaluations, but no mri or scan of spine. (Disgnosed with B12 deficiency that has been treated.) I’m not sure why.

I have seen several orthopedic podiatrists who told me it wasn’t neuropathy, but they didn’t know what caused it. So, you can imagine my frustration.