Foot Drop
About 4 years ago, I began to experience a feeling of numbness in the 2nd & 3rd toes on each foot. I saw 3 specialists, none could figure it out, one suggested it was “in my mind”. Well, I’m not crazy and the feeling never went away. Two months ago the feeling of numbness increased and I lost mobility in my left foot, couldn’t bend it upward, like I had no muscle, now when I walk my foot kinda just lands flat. There is no pain. A week ago the little finger in my right hand along the outside edge began to feel numb, what’s going on? Needless to say, I’m getting very nervous.

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Dr. Joshua’s Answer:

From your description, it sounds like you have peroneal palsy (foot drop). Possible reasons for foot drop include:
-nerve entrapment at the level of the head of fibula (just under the knee, on the outside of your calf)
-post-operative (knee arthroplasty etc)
-neuropathy (due to diabetes, alcohol, etc.)
-compression of the L5 lumbar spinal nerve (disc herniation, neurinoma, other tumor)
-other peripheral or central nervous system diseases?

..but are not limited to the above. A clinical examination should reveal some clues as to what’s causing the foor drop. Further investigations may include ENMG (a test to check the electric signal currents in the nerves and muscles) and possibly MRI of the lumbar spine.

As for the little finger acting up, it’s probably unrelated, but of course, I can’t say for sure without examining you.