One of my most annoying MS symptoms, other than the random tingling and numbness and fatigue & etc., is foot drop. I don’t have it bad every day, but usually, my right leg and foot are slower and heavier than my left. My right foot sort of drags and flops when I walk–you can’t really notice it by watching me, but I am very aware of the extra effort it takes to lift my right foot with each step.
Step … flop. Step … flop. Step … flop.
On Multiple Sclerosis Central, Merely Me gives a video demonstration of what foot drop looks like for her. Her gait is a bit more exaggerated than what I experience, but what it looks like on her is definitely what it feels like for me. All heavy and floppy and clompy, like a lame cartoon horse. Or like I’ve got a leg made out of wood, but a foot made out of a wet bean bag. Charming.
Anyway, watch as Merely Me does her thing and you’ll get the idea:
I commute to and from work via foot and bus, so foot drop is really not helpful when I’m rushing to catch a bus, which is often. I hope to get some good rest tonight so perhaps it won’t be as bad tomorrow. Fingers crossed….
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Great post! There are days when I feel like this happens to me but it’s not constant and I didn’t realise it had a name! Thanks for that and I hope you get some good rest! The massage actually helped me, I got a good night’s sleep last night and what a difference that makes!!
Take care
Amelia XxXxX
Aaah, I’ve been dreaming of a massage all week, but I keep forgetting to schedule one! Glad you got one and some sleep and are feeling better.
I’d never heard of foot drop either until my sister told me a few weeks ago that she’s been experiencing it a lot more lately. And then I didn’t really realize that I experience it, too, until I saw Merely Me’s article and video demonstrating the symptom. So, now we both know!
xo
tinglyfeeling
You’ve probably seen this video from the Today Show about the Bioness but in case you haven’t check this out http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/28872531#28872531
melizzard – thanks for the link! i hadn’t seen the video, but i’d heard of that (expensive!) contraption. that was pretty freaking amazing. i hope that technology becomes more affordable so we can all have bionic legs if/when we need them. that was really cool to see. thanks again for sharing.
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