weak great R toe, cold top of foot, instability in ankle & knee, pain upper butt to inner buttock

by andrew
(gorham, me, USA)

Have you ever gone into an

Have you ever gone into an "antalgic" posture like this?



» » Weak great R toe, cold top of foot, instability in ankle & knee, pain upper butt to inner buttock.

I have had two l4 l5 surgeries...Aug 2014, then Jun 2015.
Im 33, great health & a former triathlete, I had a car accident October 2011 and things have gone down hill...constantly. I was told "off the bat" that I definitely needed surgery but basically fought off the invasions for 3 years; things did get really freaky when my R ankle got a bad pinching feeling and developed numbness & weakness. Based on what I know now wish I fought longer to avoid the knife, but all advice said nerve was getting clobbered in a major way.

I now have substantial odd numb feeling in R major toe, inability to lift with any strength, pinching in Achilles tendon, ankle & knee instability, knee pain, ankle pain, "back" pain (although not really back...,more in upper buttock running down inner R buttock.

I'm now on gabbapentin, oxy (sparingly)& aleve. I struggle constantly to get medical care as MRI shows relatively clean from S1 - L4. No one understands this...seemingly at least! I just want to get back to exercise & health but don't know how. Maybe it's living in Maine that's giving me challenge? Any help I would greatly appreciate it.

ps. I can send any number of MRI, myelogram or xrays...if this site & an actual response is possible.
Andrew H

Hello Andrew,
You're between a rock and hard place; fundamentally you have what is known in the literature as "Failed Back Surgery".

There are many possible reasons, which I will recount, since it may have a bearing on the future. Sometimes it's simply that both chiropractic and surgery are an art, and perhaps your surgeons just didn't have the dexterity and skills needed. Or, it could be that you acquired a hospital infection. Perhaps you are a smoker, but that's unlikely if you're a triathlete. Sometimes it's that patients start sitting and bending too soon, return to work before it was advisable, have a slip or stumble, or do something plain stupid like lifting a box of books.

For the future, think about these things, and others; apply you mind to getting better. Writing this letter is the first step, and it's very healthy. At the end of the day each of us is responsible for our own health.

From today onwards, I recommend you begin a simple exercise program, done in bed, every morning before arising, for the rest of your life. Do them faithfully whether you hurt or not. You'll find a link below to lower back exercises.

There is no one size fits all, so think about which of these exercises is helping, and which may perhaps be hindering your progress. Perhaps get advice from an exercise therapist. Start slowly and the rule is that you may "feel" it, but they shouldn't cause pain. As an athlete you'll find them frustratingly simple; accept it.

Lie down for short periods during the day, and do the exercises. They take less than two minutes.

Accept that for a time there are some things you shouldn't do and possibly should never again do; lifting the deep freeze and moving the grand piano, the vacuum cleaner, and sitting in a bad chair. In fact sit less.

You make no mention of having seen a chiropractor; perhaps consider making an appointment for an examination and report of findings with no treatment at all; you then go and weigh was has been said.

Finding a good chiropractor is not always the easiest, same as finding a good surgeon. Start talking to friends and family and your doctor until you hear a name that comes up highly recommended again and again.

Lastly, accept that you have an incurable, but probably treatable condition. Like diabetes. Don't expect your chiropractor to fix the problem, cure you, because it's probably not going to happen. You may need to go for an occasional regular treatment for the rest of your life. You have what are known as "hard" neurological findings; weakness and numbness.

Think about swimming and or walking daily. Ask if you have a short leg because that may impede walking. Then a simple inexpensive insert in your shoe may be indicated.

It's complex, Andrew, and I'm afraid there isn't a simple solution. Keeping fit is vital, a healthy non inflammatory diet and being careful are all part of the future.

Inversion traction sometimes helps in chronic cases like yours.

Do two little tests for me.

1. Bend slowly and carefully forwards, backwards and sideways and tell me exactly, specifically what you feel.

2. Sitting in a kitchen chair raise first the good leg, and then the naughty leg parallel to the ground. Precisely what do you feel?

Let me know; I hope this contributes.

Dr B


» » Weak great R toe, cold top of foot, instability in ankle & knee, pain upper butt to inner buttock.

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Chiropractic help Questions (Low back pain).





Did you find this page useful? Then perhaps forward it to a suffering friend. Better still, Tweet or Face Book it.

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Then forward it to a friend. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.