By Pierce Blitch & Will Dasher
Foot Drop Injury: A Frightening Challenge
Foot drop, also known as “drop foot,” results from nerve damage in the back, hip, or legs. This condition leads to muscle weakness or paralysis, making it difficult to lift the front part of the foot. Consequently, the foot might drag on the floor while walking, can prompt a compensatory movement where one lifts the thigh excessively (steppage gait) to clear the foot. This can cause the foot to slap the ground with each step, complicating activities like running, sports, or even routine work.
Causes of Foot Drop: Beyond the Surface
The most common cause of foot drop is compression of the peroneal nerve, which controls foot-lifting muscles. Traumatic injuries like tibial plateau fractures, patellar dislocations, ankle inversions, sciatic neuropathy from hip injuries, surgeries, and lumbosacral injuries can all lead to foot drop. The peroneal nerve, a branch of the sciatic nerve, wraps from the knee to the shin and is easily damaged due to its proximity to the surface.
Common Causes Include:
· Car and truck accidents
· Brain and spinal cord disorders (ALS, multiple sclerosis, stroke)
· Muscle or nerve disorders (muscular dystrophy, polio, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)
· Prolonged leg crossing, kneeling, or squatting
· Wearing a leg cast
· Complications from hip or knee replacement surgery
· Abdominal or pelvic surgery or radiation treatments
Treatment Options: Finding Relief
Treating foot drop can vary based on the underlying cause:
· Surgery: Relieves nerve compression and, in some cases, restores function
· Physical Therapy: Strengthens or stretches leg and foot muscles.
· Braces, Splints, Shoe Inserts: Help hold the foot in position.
· Electrical Nerve Stimulation: Assists nerve function.
If foot drop persists, it may be classified as a permanent impairment under the American Medical Association Guides to Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 6th Edition.
Foot drop is a significant challenge, but with the right treatment, many can regain their mobility and return to their normal activities. If you or a loved one has suffered a foot drop injury due to someone else’s negligence, take action today.
CALL THE Blitch Law Firm ATTORNEYS AT LAW TODAY TO DISCUSS YOUR PERSONAL INJURY CASE
We fight for you, and we don’t back down. Every personal injury case has potentially life-altering consequences. We don’t hold back on providing our clients the best possible representation. At The Blitch Law Firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a personal injury case can take. If you, a family member, or a close friend has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact The Blitch Law Firm today at 706-434-8770 or visit us at 7004 Evans Town Center Blvd., Third Floor, Evans, Georgia 30809 to discuss your unique case and our dedicated personal injury strategies with one of our compassionate and experienced attorneys.
DISCLAIMER: The content on this site is offered solely for informational purposes and might not represent the current law in your jurisdiction. None of the details provided here should be interpreted as legal advice from The Blitch Law Firm or from the individual writer. Additionally, it is not meant to replace professional legal advice. Readers should not base their actions or decisions to abstain from actions solely on the information found in or available through this site. Instead, they should seek tailored legal or other expert counsel regarding their specific situation from an attorney or other professional authorized to practice in the reader’s state, nation, or other relevant licensing are