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

[ladymeg]

A year and a half ago I ruptured my L6!-S1 disc and am still experienceing problems.  I also had minor ruptures L3-L5, but those are much better.  However I have experienced atrophy in my calf and foot.  My little toe has a mind of its own, and my big toe has lost at least half of its strength, but everything seems to have stabilized now.  The Nuerosurgeon told me that no surgery could help me, only time.  He did'nt want to cut into me, as I was not in severe constant pain.  Try to do walking daily, it's the only thing that helps. I'm okay with one foot being 2 shoe sizes smaller than the other, because when it first happened walking was agony for 6 months, so I'm grateful to be able to walk now with my little foot.  I had physical therapy and still do the methods I was taught whenever pain sets in, it helps a lot.  I took 6 pain pills in total, but everyone kept giving them to me, I could open a pharmacy with what I was given, but I did'nt want to get dependant on that stuff, so I just toughed it out, not fun. I know it could be several years before I feel better, so don't give up.  Most back surgery is barbaric, and leads to more problems.  Your spine is in a perfect vacuum, don't let anyone open it up.  Good Luck!! Don't give up...

[IndianaDude]

I read your response to blackfire.  Interesting.
I have been to 2 specialists ... neuro-surgeons and one was the head of medicine in his field for a well known hospital.

I have ... through tests ... lost muscle mass in my calf muscles.
I am unable to lift up and stand on my toes on either leg.
Even by holding onto a chair to balance or push down on ... legs can't lift my body.  Very frustrating.  Especially since I was an athlete who used to do calf raises with weights.

I have NO back or leg pain ... other than I am often prone to leg cramps.  I have also experienced deep, deep pain in my knee and shins.  It's like my leg just has a "deep pain" and it feels as if my leg is a piece of wood.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Just trying to find some answers.

Sincerely,

Indiana Dude

[IndianaDude]

I read your response to blackfire.  Interesting.
I have been to 2 specialists ... neuro-surgeons and one was the head of medicine in his field for a well known hospital.

I have ... through tests ... lost muscle mass in my calf muscles.
I am unable to lift up and stand on my toes on either leg.
Even by holding onto a chair to balance or push down on ... legs can't lift my body.  Very frustrating.  Especially since I was an athlete who used to do calf raises with weights.

I have NO back or leg pain ... other than I am often prone to leg cramps.  I have also experienced deep, deep pain in my knee and shins.  It's like my leg just has a "deep pain" and it feels as if my leg is a piece of wood.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Just trying to find some answers.

Sincerely,

Indiana Dude

[DM1906]

Hi Blackfire, I had the same exact symptoms as you.  It started as severe sciatica running down the back of my right leg all the way to my foot.  Turns out that I had a herniated L5 disc that was impinching my S1 nerve.  I went for about 5 months with that condition before opting for a discectomy.  I had a discectomy back in Dec 2008 and shortly thereafter I noticed right leg weakness and calf numbness and inability to stand on tippy toes.  I underwent 5 months of physical therapy and exercising on my own but didn't notice any improvement in my condition.  I am now 4 weeks post second surgery in less than a year.  I had nerve decompression surgery back in november.  The procedure was performed by a neuro surgeon but he did explain to me before the procedure that there were no guarantees I would see any improvements.  Now four weeks post surgery I am noticing a little improvement and starting to gain a little strength back in my leg and the calf is starting to get a little stronger as well, day-by-day.  The definition is finally starting to return to my calf.  However, some days are better than others.  Some days my leg feels strong while on other days it feels like it did before the second surgery.  I'm actually not sure what to conclude at this point and I'm not so sure the second surgery is going to be a permanent fix.  I recommend that you go see a neurosurgeon and explain your condition and ask for an MRI.  If you have a compressed nerve in your lower back, physical therapy or other non-invasive procedures won't work.  They will just irritate the nerve more and more.  On my MRI before the second surgery, the irritated nerve showed up clear as day as it was swollen and easiy recognizable.  I'm afraid if you do nothing your problems with your right leg and calf will only worsen and could end up becoming permanent.  There is a strong probability that based upon the symptoms you listed in your post you have nerve compression in the L5/S1 region as well.  But only a neurosurgeon will be able to diagnose and provide you with different options for treatment.  Oh, BTW, don't opt for the accupuncture either.  That non-invasive procedure was only an irritant and made my ears hurt after the doc put pins in my ear lobes. Made my lower back hurt as well after being shocked with 6000 volts of electricity on numerous occasions trying to make my condition better.  The only thing that treatmant made me want to do was whip the doctor's ***.  I was only scheduled for one of those appointment and that was my decision.  

If your symptoms are anything like mine, you have the problems with the right leg but no back pain.  I still don't have any back pain and thankfully I do see slight improvement with my leg.  We'll see what my condition is a few months from now.

Hope this helps. Let me know what you decide to do and how you're progressing.  Like you, I'm also concerned about long-term prognosis.

[Zak_Han]

how are you now? getting better?