Can foot drop be healed? - recovery in foot drop

Recovery from foot drop depends on the cause and severity of the nerve or muscle damage. Some cases of foot drop may resolve within months, while others may be permanent. Mild nerve damage can heal more quickly while severe damage may never fully restore nerve and muscle function.  Chronic conditions leading to foot drop are unlikely to resolve. As the chronic condition progresses, so may the foot drop which leads to a permanent state of foot drop. The research experts at the Health Design Collective have developed an innovative shoe for people with foot drop. This shoe supports the foot in a neutral and elevated position, which improves the walking pattern. This footwear can be utilised while waiting for the foot drop to heal, or to manage the foot drop in people with permanent nerve and muscle damage. 

In this audio, explore if the foot drop is really healed by itself?!

Foot Drop Recovery

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What are the signs that foot drop is healing? 

Foot drop causes the toes to drag on the ground, so signs that foot drop is healing includes the toes dragging less. Other signs of healing include not having to raise the thigh to lift the leg and clear the toes from the ground. People may also experience reduced numbness and tingling in their toes. Chronic conditions causing foot drop such as MS are often conditions that are relapsing and remitting. This means that there will be periods of people experiencing symptoms (relapsing) and other times when there are no symptoms or symptoms are reduced (remitting). Chronic conditions typically progress over time and so episodes of symptoms remitting become less, and relapse becomes more common and sometimes a permanent state. If you are concerned that your foot drop is not healing, or that it is becoming worse you should speak to a qualified health professional. The health Design Collective has developed a new type of footwear to help prevent foot drop, and so this may be a useful strategy to manage your foot drop. For more information, then please use the contact us page.  

How to speed up foot drop recovery 

Your overall health will help you to recover partially, fully or to manage your foot drop more effectively. Eating a healthy diet, exercising and generally taking care of your health will help to improve outcomes. Regular exercise will help your recovery as it will help to strengthen muscles. Your age will also contribute to how you recover from foot drop. People who are younger and healthier may find that their recovery is quicker, as compared to older, less healthy people. Having good control of your blood sugar levels will also contribute to healing and preventing deterioration of nerve damage. Compliance to treatments and management strategies will also help to speed up recovery. Health care professionals like a physiotherapist will provide management options such as stretching exercises, and adherence to these management plans can influence recovery time.  

How long does it take for a nerve to heal from foot drop? 

Some nerves may heal within a few months. In other cases, the nerve will never heal, and the foot drop may be permanent.