accessory navicular and dead leg/foot drop

no - don't have this, but do you have a steppage gait on your left side (hoppy?) Has anyone considered checking peroneal nerve or sciatica? possibly piraformis syndrome? what has been checked post surgery?

I have experienced exactly what you are talking about. I first noticed it in high school in my left leg/foot and as I got better and tried to race longer races on the track, and steady long runs and tempo runs it got worse. I could be fine in a cross race even though it messed with my preperation. I had some needle and emg tests done that showed something was wrong below my knee. I had one unecessary operation for peroneal nerve entrappment. I had a second operation were the doctor said I had thick fascia and removed it from my compartments of my lower leg. He thought it was a rare from of comparment syndrome. I had some success on some long faster runs since my operation but am not 100% confident its fixed, I still have to get fitter and continue to test it. any other questions just ask. I have seen just about every kind of doctor over the last 4 years.

What exactly is a steppage gait?-- is this it?-- When the dead leg sensation starts on my left leg, I look like I'm limping, not out of pain, but because I don't have the motor control to stride out properly on my left side.

As far as nerve problems, not sure, so I had some x-rays done on my back which revealed scoliosis (double curve) and a severe hip misalignment. My right hip is 16 degrees higher than the left.

I have a habit of trying to "connect the dots" so my theory is as follows: Six years ago, my accessory navicular is removed from my RIGHT foot and pronation is corrected. The LEFT foot is not corrected and pronation continues. Over time and mileage, my RIGHT hip develops an external rotation and upslip because the arch in my RIGHT foot was raised. So, because my LEFT foot continues to pronate and turn in (toe-in/crush in on the arch when the accessory navicular still remains) my LEFT hip is significantly lower than my RIGHT. My scoliosis could actually be FUNCTIONAL rather than structural. Because of foot strike differences, my hips became unaligned which jacked up my back, jacked up some nerve, and the LEFT dead leg syndrome developed.

My LEFT foot is always sore and stiff when I try to walk after being seated for an extended period of time (driving, reading on the couch, etc). Looking down on it when I stand to walk, I notice I turn it in. Eventually it loosens up so I'm not stepping gingerly on it, but it still feels stiff compared to the RIGHT.

Brookwood, do/did you ever have pain with your dead leg syndrome? Like you, I am fine on uneven surfaces, like grass or trails. Cross country races don't bother me, but the track and the roads do.

Mary

I never had pain with this, just like you can't control my foot/leg after a while of faster running. its just pace and surface that contribute to this, I can be fit and be able to get it to happen while having a conversation. I don't think I really pronate all though theres a huge difference in my foot strike between legs. My left foot is pigeon toed almost.

Mary

did you ever have pain with your problem?

My right hip is high and rotated forward. It is causing problems with my lower back (lumbar and sacral vertebrae) and is affecting the nerve that goes to my right foot, causing me to periodically get dead leg or severe cramping in my right leg. I do have a functional scoliosis in a C shape (my right hip and left shoulder are high). I am currently getting it treated through ART (active release therapy), which is sort of a combination of chiropractic and deep tissue work. They can do a lot toward realigning you properly, though it's painful. Where are you located? This sounds similar to my problem, though I don't think I have an accessory nevicular.

Like Brookwood, no pain when the dead leg starts. However, I do have pain in my left foot that causes me to turn it inward until it loosens up. Then it still turns in a bit, but not so much. I'm in Indianapolis and am currently working with an athletic trainer and chiropractor. Interesting that you get dead leg on your right side, and your right hip is high. My right hip is high, but it's my left side that gets the dead leg problem. I don't think I have a true leg length discrepancy causing this extreme difference in hip heights. I really think it's because my left foot crushes in/pronates so badly compared to the corrected right foot that over time the hips have become misaligned and that like yours, my scoliosis is functional.

you can email me at runchip@aol.com if you have any questions, I might have some for you.

Help I'd like to run but can't. It's the most frustrating thing you can imagine!!!!! Any info or help would be greatly appreciated.