As a highly-trained neurosurgeon, Dr. John D. Lipani specializes in the treatment of brain and spine conditions that may result in sudden or gradual foot drop. Foot drop, also called drop foot, is the inability to lift the front part of your foot. This causes your toes to drag on the ground when you walk and results in various accommodations while walking including lifting your knees higher or swinging your leg with each step. Foot drop can occur at any age and is a symptom of a temporary or permanent neurological, muscular or anatomical complication.
There are several foot drop causes including nerve damage, brain or spinal disorders and muscle disorders. Some foot drop causes include peroneal nerve injury, which causes pain or a numb sensation on your shin or foot, lumbar disc herniation, which results when a disc herniation in the lower back pinches the nerve that controls foot dorsiflexion, and a brain tumor that presses on the area of the brain that controls the foot. Foot drop symptoms include uncontrolled slapping of your toes against the ground, dragging your foot while walking, an overemphasized swinging hip movement, a limp foot, tingling, numbness or pain in your foot, and muscle weakening in the leg.
Any patient with a foot drop should be evaluated by a neurosurgeon or neurologist immediately to determine the cause of the foot drop. In cases of sudden foot drop, immediate surgical attention may be recommended in an effort to avoid permanent dysfunction. After surgery, foot drop recovery treatment may include foot drop braces, physical therapy and foot drop exercises. A foot drop exercise program should be developed by your physical therapist in order to avoid exercises that will increase your foot drop symptoms.
As a foot drop expert, Dr. Lipani specializes in foot drop surgery if patients are experiencing acute or abrupt foot drop. For more information on foot drop treatment, contact the office of Dr. John D. Lipani at (609)-890-3400 today!
