Cant stand on tip toes and calf muscle atrophy

[Blackfire]

Cant stand on tip toes and calf muscle atrophy

I'm numb from my crotch down the back of my leg to my foot, but noticed in the past 2 weeks or so my right calf muscle was feeling very tight, never paid much attention but over the past few days I noticed I cant tippy toe on that foot and it scares the hell outta me!!

I had severe sciatica last feb (08) lasted for about 10 weeks. Was on Naproxen, Co-Codamol 30-500's and Tramadol for the pain, one day my back went and couldnt walk for about 8 hours, after that it got gradually better (as in pain was less) but developed the numbness now the wasting calf muscle!!

Can anyone help me on this, what I need to do, exercises etc to rebuild the muscle or lessen the numbness.

Does anyone know if the numbness has replaced my severe sciatic pain?
Jon

[Shoosh1]

I have the same thing from a sciatic nerve injury 15 yrs ago that I ignored after having injections, PT, chiropractic you name it. I walked fine with numbness down my right leg to the back of my foot up to my toes. Recently, I began to walk with a limp and finally figured out I couldn't stand on my toes on the right side. My right calf has atrophied and my CPK levels are climbing. My neurologist did a muscle biopsy which was negative. The neurosurgeon said he did se a slight bulge at L5 S1 and maybe the nerve is compressed. Nothing stands out significantly wrong but he'll do a lamenectomy to hopefully relieve the pressure on the nerve, if that's what's going on. Meanwhile the neurologist said maybe we'll do genetic testing that I have to pay $2500 for!  So Im doing PT and I'll do steroid injection to see if that helps as Im now taking care of myself. This is the first so heard others have had the same problem as me. Why couldn't a neurosurgeon at a top hospital tell me this is common or happens to some? I'm going to try the anti inflammatory diet too! Anything to avoid surgery. I'm limping but I'm walking and getting stronger on the right side but it's fragile. I too had that fire dagger go down my leg after standing up from a hard surface. That pain is a killer! I ducked down Motrin and carried on entertaining my company and did not have treatment for about 10 days. Never got a definitive answer as what Happened from my physiatrist. If anyone has more positive outcomes let me know. Anyone ever stand up on their toes again with or without surgery??
Thanks!

[Jstjude]

I did get an inversion table and it was very helpful. I also take Curamin it helps with inflammation. Works great. I'm totally going to try the clean diet. Thanks everyone.

[DavidGordon]

AndGil are you still here? How are you doing now?

[Pinkies75]

This has been really useful. I had a microdiscectomy in 2008 on my L5 disc then April 2015 I had a bulging disc on L4/L5 with which I has numbness on lower left calf and afoot, following surgery the numbness is still there on leg with freezing cold foot and muscles don't work in foot, my calf and thigh are now weakening as I walk with a limp. Physic isn't improving it either and I had nerve conduction studies done which showed the reduced feeling in my left foot and calf. From reading some of the comments above it seems I need to see a neurologist as I still feel the nerve is pinched somewhere causing this, although back pain has gone my life has changed drastically, balance has gone, pain is constant and feel 20 yrs older than I should. Can anyone else advise? I've been referred to pain management and physio, seems spinal surgeons are done with me....

[williamsroth]

I have a similar story.  I had S1-L5 surgery in 2003.  I had lived with a herniated disc from 1992.  I lived with a medrol dosepak when it would become very agitated.  Somehow in 2003, my herniated disc had ruptured and the disc fluid was spilling out onto my nerves.  I had to have emergency surgery.  They said I'd lose my left leg if I did't act quickly.  Within 2 months after surgery I felt like a new person.  Everything was back in order.  I followed the PT regiment carefully and tried to stay to the course as much as possible.  Sometime around 2010 I noticed my left foot cramping often when I slept and over the course of the next 6-12 months, I watched my left calf muscle atrophy just like everyone here is talking about.  I returned to my doctor/neurosurgeon and after an MRI, they concluded that it is likely that scar tissue from the surgery was surpressing the left calf.  They'd seen it before.  The recommendation to me was to wait though as long as I had my mobility.  My left calf is a good 3-4 inches smaller than my right.  So it is embarrassing and unsightly, but if this is what I have do deal with so be it.  Since it's been 5 years now that my calf is atrophied I will say that I wish I had focused continued workouts on my legs.  I favor my right leg for most things and eventually there are ripple effects into the knee, quad and hip.  So I highly recommend staying active in the gym.  I have seen chiropractors, myofascial release therapists, etc trying to break up the scar tissue. I will try the EMG/NCS mentioned above - that is something I hadn't heard of.  I am also going to buy one of those inversion tables in hope of relieving pressure on the nerve (if that is indeed the case).  I hope this is helpful to others and if anybody learns of other options, I'm all ears.  Oh - and this was a good video overview of the spine and this issue I just found.  Cheers http://www.spine-health.com/video/spine-anatomy-interactive-video

[Oliadal]

Hello, I've exactly the same issues. Do you know how many percent disability this is? Please send me an email ***@****