Many times, post-surgical problems, wherein the lower limbs are involved, can induce this syndrome. This includes operative mistakes wherein some of the nerves have been unintentionally damaged through wrongful dressing or bracing of the foot which constrict the muscle tissue and the nerves beyond their bearing capacity. This is why some physicians relate the drop-foot syndrome with double-crush syndrome, i.e. both these conditions are often stimulated by compression or suffocation of the nerves. Further, chronic diseases wherein neurological problems are observed can also cause drop-foot symptoms. This includes multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.



Diagnosing Drop Foot Syndrome



Most physicians would agree that it isn't difficult to recognize a person with drop-foot syndrome since their uncanny gait is easily recognizable. However, the real problem comes forth in the late reporting of such cases. Most patients are prone to spending years of living with this problem before reporting it. Such people often misinterpret the issue as a muscular problem or something to do with the aging process.

However, as the problem progresses, it becomes almost impossible to lift the feet off the ground when walking and the patient begins to literally drag his feet along, often with a hunched posture. Surprisingly, some patients have a history of having drop foot syndrome as a temporary condition wherein it surfaced for a few months and then, went away. Diagnosing this condition needs extensive testing that is done in the form of MRIs and tests to check the extent of neurological damage in the affected foot. An electromyography test may be ordered to check the muscular function in the foot.