Read Liv’s Story

“I am turning 20 this year, I will have had foot drop for ten years. I am still on my journey with foot drop and still struggle every day. The surgery has helped but it isn’t a full fix.  Over the past year my foot has dropped a small amount, but I can still walk without a leg brace. I have a new physiotherapist and I stretch and strengthen my leg at boot camp every week, so I have hope!”

I was diagnosed with foot drop when I was 10 or 11 years old, I was on holiday in Disneyland when my mum noticed I was walking funny. I was wearing flip flops and lifting my leg high and flicking it out and smacking the floor. I remember mum taking me to the doctors when we returned home, they sent me for an MRI and I was diagnosed with foot drop.

There was no specific injury or accident that happened, we still do not know the reason it occurred. The doctors found that my peroneal nerve was trapped behind my knee and the muscle was wasting away.

Over the years I have seen more than eight physiotherapists and tried around five different orthotic braces, some that went under my foot and some that wrapped around my knee, but every single one gave me blisters and my leg ached even more. Eventually I was given a small leg brace which slotted into my shoelaces and wrapped around my ankle pulling my foot up. This one was my favourite as it was discreet and helped me feel more normal and stopped my foot dragging.

I then got referred to Oxford hospital which may have possibly been the best thing to happen to me. Immediately they said I should have had a nerve decompression surgery, ideally this would have been done within the first year of my foot drop diagnosis. I decided to have the nerve decompression surgery as I and the doctors, still had hope, but sadly it didn’t work as the muscle was too weak.

When I turned 18, a doctor called Henk Giele told me he could do a tendon transfer on my leg, I immediately agreed and was ready to try anything to be able to lift my foot again. We were amazed when the cast was taken off and my foot was up, I didn’t know how to react, it was very tender and sore but up! For a month or two following the surgery, I stayed on crutches and wore my leg brace to keep it in a good position. Eventually, I was able to go shoe shopping! For the last six years I had only been able to wear one style of trainer that I could comfortably walk in with my leg brace. I immediately bought three new pairs of shoes, some Crocs, Nike Air Jordan’s and some Converse All Stars, it was amazing!

I am turning 20 this year, I will have had foot drop for ten years. I am still on my journey with foot drop and still struggle every day. The surgery has helped but it isn’t a full fix.  Over the past year my foot has dropped a small amount, but I can still walk without a leg brace. I have a new physiotherapist and I stretch and strengthen my leg at boot camp every week, so I have hope!