Foot Drop Causes and Treatment Explained by Milwaukee Foot Specialists
Milwaukee Foot Doctors Explain Foot Drop Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options
Foot Drop Is a Symptom, Not a Disease
Foot drop (also commonly referred to as “drop foot”) is a serious condition, but it is not a disease. Rather, it is a symptom of a serious problem – neurological, anatomical or muscular.
Foot drop is difficulty lifting the front of your foot. You may drag the front of your foot on the ground when you walk. When our Milwaukee foot doctors see patients with foot drop they often see them compensating or modifying their gait by raising the affected leg at the knee, almost like climbing stairs. This is called a steppage gait.
Foot drop usually only affects one leg but it can affect both. Foot drop can be temporary or permanent, depending on the source of the problem.
Foot Drop Causes
There can be many causes of foot drop, including:
Nerve Damage or Injury: The most common cause of foot drop related to nerve damage is nerve compression where the peroneal nerve in the spine is damaged during hip or knee replacement surgery.
Diabetes: There are many diabetic foot problems, including foot drop and foot nerve pain.
Disease: Foot drop can be caused by diseases like muscular dystrophy, polio, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and Charcot Marie Tooth Disease.
Brain or Spinal Cord Disorders: ALS, stroke and spinal cord damage can all contribute to foot drop.
Other foot drop causes may include muscle trauma, toxins, abnormal anatomy or deformity of the foot, heredity spastic paraplegia and Friedreich’s ataxia.
Foot Drop Treatment at Milwaukee and Brookfield Podiatry Clinics of SE WI
Great Midwest Foot and Ankle Centers provides advanced foot drop treatment at our Milwaukee and Brookfield podiatry clinics of Southeast Wisconsin. Treatment of foot drop depends on the underlying cause. Diagnosis by a Milwaukee foot specialist will include a comprehensive analysis of your symptoms, medical history, physical and neurological condition and imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Depending on the source of foot drop, our Milwaukee foot specialists may recommend custom orthotics, braces or splints, physical therapy and, in some cases, surgery.
In some cases, foot drop can be one of the first signs of a serious condition. If this underlying condition is caught in time, highly effective treatment options may be available!
See Our Milwaukee Foot Specialists at the First Sign of Foot Drop
If you notice that you or a loved one is dragging their foot or toes while walking, make an appointment as soon as possible to see a Milwaukee foot specialist at Great Midwest Foot and Ankle Centers. The dragging of toes is caused by weakness or paralysis of muscles. This prevents you from lifting the front of your foot. There can be many causes. Through advanced diagnostics our Milwaukee foot specialists will determine the source of foot drop and offer an effective treatment plan.