My right foot extends out while walking

[sandythegeek2]

For a few months people have noticed my foot extends outwards when I walk. Is that possible for ms to do that?

[kwarendorf]

Hi STG-

When you say extends out, do you mean your foot points outward rather than stragiht ahead? If you were standing on a clock normally your feet would point towards 12:00. Is your foor pointing to 9:00 (left foot) or 3:00 (right foot)?

Kyle

[SarahL2491]

Sandy
Good to see you back
I had this problem when my foot drop first started and went from there to swinging it outward

My foot therapist says you are compensating for something your foot is doing wrong? So try and focus on what is going on when you walk.

When I first started wearing the brace I did just what you are doing and he said I had to remember to turn it straight and retrain it.  They also put a wedge under my heel

Do you have a physical therapist?  They would be a good place to start.  I don't remember if you had any back problems or not

[debgen]

Hi Sandy,

You are describing  my gait exactly. I have left sided weakness so it is my left foot that extends outward  when I walk which also led to foot drop, making walking very difficult and tiring. I began using a WalkAide to help with the foot drop. Unfortunately the WalkAide did not work successfully for me because it actually made my foot over extend outward. I no longer wear the WalkAide but I am going to physical therapy where I am working on balance, gait, strength and stretches. This has greatly improved the left foot extension. It tends to get worse when my muscles are fatigued.

See if you can get a RX for PT and hopefully that will help you too.

Hugs,
Deb

[sandythegeek2]

It's my right foot and it is angled at the 2 o'clock position. I haven't spoken to any doctors about it yet and I'm still undiagnosed. I have a 2nd MRI scheduled for sometime in May. I wonder if I should wait until that time to say anything. If I don't have MS, I don't know what else could cause this. At least I know I don't have lupus.

[jensequitur]

I turn my right foot out when walking, and I know the reason why - I have knee weakness from a certain direction.  The natural action of bending my leg will cause the knee to give out.  I've found if I turn my foot outward, then different muscles go into play - ones that are more dependable and won't drop me.

I went to physical therapy, mainly so I could relearn some balance and walk a little better.  What the therapist told me was to lift my toe when I walk, so that the leg would naturally follow through.  I end up not lifting my toe (probably mild foot drop) and so my knee takes all the bending, and it can't take it.

[sandythegeek2]

I just twisted that ankle and fell on the ground outside. This foot keeps tripping on flat floors as well. :(

[PastorDan]

Wife recently commented that I have that 2:00 right foot thing going on, but I think I've had it for a long time.  Not sure, but I think I've seen the same pattern in my older brother's gait.

I also have a challenged right knee.  Nothing was mentioned about it when I went through my vestibular rehab PT a few years ago; they did all kinds of walking, standing, turning stuff.

I have noticed my foot seeming to slap against the ground as I place it down with each step.  Left one does it too, but less dramatically.

I did give the right ankle a dandy twist a few years back.  Nothing broke, but if the sky turned those colors, I'd run for cover.  I really don't recall now if there was any difference in my step before that.  Firstly, it's not something on which I've focused; secondly, I had so many other things going on at the time that I am surprised I remembered it now.

[essdipity]

My right foot sometimes goes outwards too, but it is a remnant of my serious ankle fracture more than 2 years ago. I think I got into the habit because it seemed to give me better balance, which is always an issue for me.

I find that I don't really need to do this now, and that I can walk normally if I try. Sometimes it feels a bit pigeon-toed when it is straight, but that too seems to be a result of habit.

A physical therapist told me that it actually is normal to walk with the feet slightly splayed, about 7 degrees. More than that  and your weight is not rolling normally from inside heel to ball of foot. That can cause foot problems.

ess

[kwarendorf]

Tripping *****! When I walk my feet used to be in the 10 minutes to 2:00 position. After I had my left hip replaced, it seems they 'straightened' my left leg and I'm now more like straight up 2:00 :-)

When I was mid relapse about a year and a half ago, walking was no longer "autonomic". If I did not make a conscious effort to pick my feet up I would stub my toes, and a couple of times tripped and hit the pavement. I'm not sure there is much they can do, other than try and get any inflammation, that may be causing the problem, under control.

Like PD, I sometimes have heavy foot fall issues. In my case it typically shows up after about 45 minutes of exercise. It's more likely to show up outside. In any case it seems to happen when my core temp is elevated. I just cool down and the heavy foot fall goes away.

Kyle

[summerluvr]

have you had your reflexes tested in that leg? Would you say you are dragging the toes of your shoe on the ground with that leg when you walk?  I don't have MS something else, but it affected my leg like I mentioned above. In my case it is  Peripheral Neuropathy, so not MS nerve damage but another kind of nerve damage.

Lucky with intense treatment (chemo) and a lot of excercise and strengthening my leg I have most recovered my leg, but I still scuff the toes of my shoes and trip on sidewalk cracks etc. Oh well ... just happy to be able to do stuff I like again like walking and riding a bike :)

[Jacksmom516]

here is my two cents!  Talk to your Doctors about the foot issue -  It sounds like my foot drop.  I use a Bioness similar to the walk aide -  and while my foot does turn out slightly - my toes clear the ground so I do not trip!  My friends used to look at the ground for what I tripped over and say -  hey I'll get that fixed right away!  When there was nothing there just the ground!