Any Peroneal Nerve recovery stories?

[j_smi001]

mom,
My prayers are with you.
I had and still have hydrotherapy - not sure it particular helps with stopping muscle atrophy but did help with the circulation issues that also occur with peroneal palsy.  Not able to offer any alternatives though, sorry

with every blessing

[AmandaC]

Mom - How long ago was it now that your Daughter first developed foot drop?  I know how upsetting it is when you get bad news but dont give up.  My prayers are with your little girl.
I dont know were my nerologist got his research from regarding his comment up to 3 years for recovery?  I am not aware of any alternative treatements for the muscles but I will ask around for you.
Jackie - Glad you are back on track and sounds like you are making good progress now.

No news from me.
Keep up the hard work everyone.
Amanda

[klippr]

Hi to all. I'm new here and eading the stories how we all came to be and find myself in the same boat as Max Pwr.  I was a cop until I did a beutiful job of dislocating my knee, along with all the tendon that torn/ruptured/seperated I torn/stretched the nerve and now have foot drop.  I would like to see or find out about running again with the afo but everytime I try I end up with a bloody heel. Currently using a hidged plastic afo.  Should I just continue adjusting or does someone know of a better afo. 

[mom444]

Welcome klippr and good luck in your recovery!

Amanda, as for timeframes I just requested the latest article about peroneal nerve injuries and no new info in that.

However I found a few sites online that stated brachial plexus nerve injuries can continue recovering for up to four years.

So nerves in general may heal for longer than one year as many doctors sometimes say.

Meanwhile we are stepping up therapy here.  We are back in physical therapy and we do EMS stickers four times a day now...  no more slacking as we have been lately.  Also we do heating pads, massages, etc.  Also vitaman B therapy.

Ah...  It's upsetting but we keep at it.

Best to you all.  Thanks for the prayers too!  We are praying for you also.

[sil]

Hi everyone,

It took me a few days to read thru all the posts but I'm glad I found this thread.  You have all been through so much and for many still are.  I wish I had a magic wand to wave and make everyone one better. 

I didn't know whether I should post or not as I was told by my GP that I have peroneal nerve damage but I don't have foot drop.  Actually I have had a few different diagnosis.  Initially my knee only hurt at night if I slept on my left side and moved my knee down the mattress a bit I would get a real bad zinge feeling (pins and needles) or if I lifted my knee up and out more than a 90 degree angle when standing and putting on my jeans it would hurt. I went to the gym one day and rode the recumbant bike and noticed it was sore a bit doing this.  My knee starting hurting more so I saw a PT who thought it might be an irritation of the sonovial sac.  The next time she thought it was an irritation of the LCL.  I saw another PT who I think said it had something to do with the fat pad and the knee capsule.  Finally went to my GP who said it was the peroneal nerve at the head of the fibula.  When I last saw the PT he pressed up fairly hard with his fingers and it hurt somewhat (felt like pressure) on the outside of my left knee cap.  A few days later that area went numb and still is.  I think he made it worse.

Saw GP again 4 weeks after I first saw him and he said he wasn't concerned about the numbness and burning but was concerned that it still hurt.  Sometimes the area to the left of my knee cap burns, sometimes it aches, sometimes I get a zinge or short sharp pain.  But for a good portion it doesn't hurt at all.  But if I squat or lift knee above 90 degrees it hurts.  Sometimes get a very mild tingling sensation.  GP sent me for X-ray to rule out any cartilage damage or arthritis.  Talked about sending me to an OS and possibly having an MRI done. 

The only thing I can think of that started this was at one point I was balanced mostly on my left knee and the outside of my knee was pressed up against something hard and plastic for awhile.  Was told this was enough to damage the nerve as I am thin and therefore don't have a lot of fat to protect it.  I mentioned that I googled peroneal nerve damage and all the sites mentioned foot drop and could it still be peroneal nerve damage and was told yes and that I didn't have foot drop as the tibial nerve was not affected. 

Lots of people have mentioned the dragon and I am wondering where you feel it?  The foot, down the leg or at the knee.  Does anyone have numbness at the knee or just the foot?  Does it sound like I have peroneal nerve damage?

Will talk to doctor this week to see what showed up on the x-ray.  I hope you all don't mind me telling my story as I know it is nothing compared to others but Mom444 (hi) mentioned she wanted to keep the thread alive.  Sending you all healing thoughts.

Rosa

[mom444]

Welcome Rosa!

Welcome to the thread and definitely keep posting with info on your treatment and progress.

There is not really a lot of information out there about peroneal nerve damage, especailly first hand accounts, so this thread is even more important.

My daughter's younger physical therapist says that he's not too horrified by the lack of nerve reinnervation in the past four months.  We have had nerve growth in the past four months, just not muscle reinnervatin.  The younger therapist said that healing, like all kinds of growth, may go in "spurts."

Who knows?  But these kinds of injuries are so mysterious and confusing.

We'll add Rosa and klippr to our prayer list.

[sil]

Thank you Mom444.  You are very kind.  I think about you and your daughter often and pray for her recovery.  She's a very brave little girl with a wonderful and vivid imagination.  I live on the West Coast of Canada and the dragon at times seems to have made an appearance here as well.

I do have a recovery story although it is a second hand one.  When I first saw my doctor he was telling me about a patient who had been up all night studying for exams.  He either had his legs crossed or the knee was pressed up against the wall.  By the morning he had developed foot drop.  It took either 6 or 9 months but my GP said he had a full recovery.

It had gotten to the point where I could walk at a decent pace 1.6 miles or 2.7 km with no pain whatsoever so I decided to try the stepping machine at the fitness centre.  I had done it the night before for 15 minutes with no problem and the next day it seemed like the numbness was better.  I used it for 10 minutes today and it didn't hurt but after that it started to hurt in the area where it is numb.  I only used it for another 3 minutes but then decided it was best if I stop.  Today sometimes walking hurt and and it feels red hot and burning sensation.  It think it is slightly swollen.  Even just sitting I'm getting sharp little pains.  I hope I didn't damage it more.  I want to be getting better not worse but I did read in one of the posts that it can take up to 6 weeks for the nerve to denervate.   Indeed it is very frustrating not knowing exactly what is going on and different people saying different things as you well know.  I feel all the poking and proding and making me squat and duck walk and lift leg this way and that to try and figure out what it is have just made things worse.  I will ask my GP for an MRI.  Do you know if nerve damage shows up on an MRI?

I told my doctor that I read that the peroneal nerve heals about 1 mm a day and he said probably slower as it is farther away from the blood supply than other nerves.  I am not mentioning this to discourage anyone but rather I bring it up so you don't get discouraged if you don't seem to be healing fast enough.

Amanda, Kippur, Max and others how are you making out?  Take Care everyone.

Rosa

[mom444]

Thank for your prayers and input Rosa 

As for the MRIs we have had conflicting results there.  We did NOT get my daughter's nerve injury to show up on an MRI and they weren't able to find the neuroma until they opened her up in surgery.  However, it's still good to have one in case there is a cyst or something else causing the problem.

I try not to overobsess anymore but I do still find a lot of research articles and things online.  I just found a posting about nerve regenerationa and the subsequent muscle reinnervation, albeit in rats!     But if I am deciphering the medical talk correctly it could be saying that reinnervation happens more slowly than you would think as well.

[sil]

Hi Mom444,

How are you and your daughter doing?  Has the dragon been around lately?  She is very lucky to have such a loving and concerned mom.  I saw my GP today.  He said there is nothing to be concerned about on the x-ray so that's good news.  He is referring me to a specialist as he doesn't know why I am still having pain.  Will phone back in a day or two with an appointment time but said it could be a 2 month wait.  Sigh!  I asked about having an MRI and he said wait until you see the knee specialist as he can speed up the wait time for an MRI.  I asked if nerve damage would show up on an MRI and he said "no".

I am still suffering from overdoing it at the gym.  I wish I had stopped doing the stepping stairs when it started hurting but I only did it for another 3 minutes but that was enough to really flair things up.  GP didn't really know why my knee should hurt doing that piece of equipment but said most likely I had irritated soft tissue there.  I am icing it and taking Advil in the hopes that it will settle down soon.

GP said is was the superficial peroneal nerve that was compressed up against the bone that it causing my symptoms. 

Hope all is well with your family.

Rosa

[Hamish9]

Hi to all. I'm new here and eading the stories how we all came to be and find myself in the same boat as Max Pwr.  I was a cop until I did a beutiful job of dislocating my knee, along with all the tendon that torn/ruptured/seperated I torn/stretched the nerve and now have foot drop.  I would like to see or find out about running again with the afo but everytime I try I end up with a bloody heel. Currently using a hidged plastic afo.  Should I just continue adjusting or does someone know of a better afo. 

Hey Klippr Welcome to our group. Have a look online at a support called a 'Foot-up'. I have the same problem with the AFO and find it really unsuitable for running. I still wear my AFO when I wear shoes but if I am wearing trainers I wear the Foot-up and it is far more comfortable and easier to run in. Be careful though and be sure you don't turn your ankle as it gives a little less support. Have a look at the link below.

Hamish

http://www.kneeandjointbraces.com/site/986957/page/454869?gclid=CLXSq6LLrI4CFSgVEAodqnXWRQ

[klippr]

Thanks Hamish I'll give it a look at.  I know I tried one similar, it basicaly was shoe laces with velcro ends and a wrap for the ankle.  It wasn't strong enough.  That one you sent looks pretty durable, do you notice your foot slapping down on heel contact?
My well wishes to all
Klippr

[Hamish9]

Klippr. The foot-up is pretty robust and I have no problem running with it.

How is everyone else doing, Max, Gordon, Jackie, Amanda, Mom and Rosa and those that I have missed.

Things are good with me and saw my surgeon last week. Everything seems to be OK but the pins in my fibula had moved and I see him in December and he will assess it then but at the moment they are not giving me any problems. I was running around the other day and my knee felt almost normal. Foot movement is frustrating but feel it is getting better. I strap an ankle weight around my foot and try and move it. Dorsiflexion is very weak but outward movement is much stronger.

Let us know how you are doing!!!

Hamish

[sil]

Hi Hamish and everyone else,

Hamish, I'm glad to hear that your knee is doing so well. 

I have to wait 6 months before I can see the knee specialist.  I still have numbness on the outside of my left knee.  I think it has gotten a bit better or maybe I am just getting more used to it.  I'm not so thin anymore (lol - gained about 10 pounds) as scared to really work out after I aggrevated my knee at the gym last time.

Andre or others did you find that as healing and movement came back i.e. foot or knee that the numbness went away?

It does my heart good to hear about people's progress so everyone keep us posted or if you're feeling down or frustrated and want to gripe that's fine too.

Rosa

[mom444]

Update:

We are now trying TES, that stands for either THRESHOLD ELECTRICAL STIMULATION or THERAPUTIC ELECTRICAL STUMULATION.

It's like a low level EMS unit that you wear overnight.

I discovered this through my own research, no doctors or therapists near us had heard of it.  We found a specialist an hour away and we started on the therapy.

NOTE:  The new therapist says that sometimes regular EMS does more harm than good!

Can't talk long now but I'll post more links soon...

You can do a web search on the treatment...

Stll praying for all of you.

[mom444]

Just checking in...

How is everyone doing?

The dragon came back for a visit tonight.

We are still prayer for all of you.