Read Hannah’s Story

I work full time, studying at university and have a young child. It’s not easy having foot drop (both feet) but we as a foot drop community always understand and support each other. We got this !

I was 18 when I had spinal surgery which unfortunately left me with foot drop (both feet). I do not regret the spinal surgery as it was the best option for me. Since 2005 I have gained strength in my legs and wear boxia splints which are NHS funded. I can’t afford the travel and turbo splints. Hoping that one day the NHS will fund for the turbo splints where I live.

I am lucky that my foot drop is manageable and that I will never give up, maybe one day I will walk the way I use too. I know this will not happen, however, it is how I like to feel.

 I had an offer for tendon transfer, however, this is a temporary fix. I also fracture my toe when I walk on one foot (long periods of time) which the foot and ankle specialist had offered to operate on this toe at the same time of the tendon transfer. There is a permeant fix although it would be an ankle fusion, which I’m not keen on. Im also not mentally ready for surgery, however, it is nice to know of the possibilities.

I work full time, studying at university and have a young child. It’s not easy having foot drop (both feet) but we as a foot drop community always understand and support each other. We got this !

Although the boxia splints looks like weights from members of the public. They are actually to help me walk. I have so many comments from the public that think I’m trying to lose weight by wearing weights around my ankle. When I explain that it is to help me walk, they often don’t know what to say and back track. I would like to spread awareness to the public that without these splints I could not walk without falling. It may make it look like that there is nothing wrong with my walking when wearing these splints but actually everyday is a struggle with balance, coordination and proactive cognitive processes towards walking in itself.