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June 16, 2011 - 4:15pm
Hitchhiker's toe, anyone ???
I was wondering if anyone else has experienced hitchhiker's toe (striatal toe). My big toe is stretched upwards, causing the tendon to really protrude. I have had cramping in the top of my foot that has caused the big toe to draw up, but now it is like it all the time, unless I am standing on my foot, when it looks normal.
I have cord compression in my neck and my neurological symptoms are getting worse.
I have been getting spasms in the whole of my leg and lower abdomen in the mornings especially, but also when getting up after sitting for a long time.
I am seeing a neurosurgeon next week, but am wondering if anyone else has had this symptom, and if so, did surgery get rid of it?
_____________
Grade 2 spondylolisthesis causing severe stenosis + DDD
L4/L5 decompression (laminectomy) and PLIF 19th March 2010
Herniations at T12/L1, T9/T10 and T8/T9 (mildly indenting cord)
Significant cervical spondylosis from C3-C7
C3/C4 and C4/C5 are compressing the cord (mild to moderate)
Been referred to a neurologist to rule out MS
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I have foot issues due to lower back problems and my foot would cramp up walking too much and my toe will go up during the spasm. Are you taking a muscle relaxant? Is your toe sore at all? I've had an x-ray and bone scan done on my foot with these issues but don't have anything except the lower back contributing to this. I hope you can make untti until Monday or see your Primary Dr. for an assessment. Thinking of you. Charry
Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only. DDD of lumbar spine with sciatica to left hip,leg and foot. L4-L5 posterior disc bulge with prominent facets, L5-S1 prominent facets with a posterior osteocartilaginous bar. Mild bilateral foraminal narrowing Neck-reverse Lordosis of c-spine C6-C7 with impingement, numb hand and sore outer elbow. Keep the faith.
thanks for answering me. I had began to think I was a freak!! Lol!
I have been getting a lot of cramping in my feet. Cramping over the top of my foot often causes the big toe and/or the second and/or third toes to stick up. When I get cramp in the instep/sole of my foot, it causes the toes to curl tightly downwards.
I am assuming that whatever has been causing these cramps and spasms is now affecting my feet permanently. Today, I was trying to stretch my big toe downward again and get rid of the protruding tendon. I had to curl the big toe downwards. The next thing was my toe was stuck tightly curled down and I couldn't uncurl it without using my hands!
There are definately very strange things happening to my body!!!
I can see the funny side of it, and if only I had the time, I would love to write a poem about it! I used to have a lift in my shoe that my chiropractor gave me because one leg was longer than the other. Now my big toe is hitchhiking for a lift!!
I am not taking a muscle relaxant, and my toe isn't painful at all.
I try to be thankful that despite all the very strange symptoms that I am having, I am not having anything like the awful pain that I had before my lumbar fusion. I am still alive and walking, so that must be a positive!!
Hope that you are having a good day Charry.
Grade 2 spondylolisthesis causing severe stenosis + DDD
L4/L5 decompression (laminectomy) and PLIF 19th March 2010
Herniations at T12/L1, T9/T10 and T8/T9 (mildly indenting cord)
Significant cervical spondylosis from C3-C7
C3/C4 and C4/C5 are compressing the cord (mild to moderate)
Been referred to a neurologist to rule out MS
That is hilarious! Hitchhikers toe! But indeed I have suffered with this and it is NOT FUNNY. I do not have any insurance and cannot go to the doctor w/o paying an arm and a leg; So I tend to self analyze any situation and see if I can help myself. I just want to say, that I am in no way saying that this will help you. And I am not even sure this is the same core issue, however...I decided that there must be some problem with my tendon because of the way it protrudes whenever my toe sticks up like that (very painful). So I read about vitamins for tendons and learned that mucopolysaccharides might be helpful if ingested. I bought some Bovine Cartilage supplement and my problem went away.
I have never heard of that before!!
I hate any kind of muscle cramps or spasms!! My left calf cramps on the side and draws my foot upwards and out to the side of my ankle. My three middle toes are always numb.
I feel bad for you, but I love your mention of writing a poem!! I guess we all have to just laugh about all the crap that goes on--if not, we would go crazy!
For every minute you spend being angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.
I call my foot the "claw". Every once in a while all my toes will contract downward and stick that way. If I try to pull one or all back up they immediately pop back and curl under.This can go on for about an hour.They are completely numb. Once all my toes were under and I was numb up to my knee. When I went to walk it felt like there was nothing hitting the ground as I could not feel my entire lower leg and foot. Very weird feeling.
It seems to be coming more frequently, and tell my family "oh oh here comes the claw to get ya" We laugh, but it actually freaks me out.
So Jelly, you are definately not alone
back injury May 2010
DDD,abutment both l5 nerve roots and s1 nerve root.herniated disc L5/S1 bulging discs L3-L5,osteophytes,degenerative facets,stenosis and coccydynia
discectomy/laminectomy L4/L5 L5/S1 July 2011- unsuccessful
ADR L5/S1 February 6 2012
So glad that I have you guys to chat too!
Grade 2 spondylolisthesis causing severe stenosis + DDD
L4/L5 decompression (laminectomy) and PLIF 19th March 2010
Herniations at T12/L1, T9/T10 and T8/T9 (mildly indenting cord)
Significant cervical spondylosis from C3-C7
C3/C4 and C4/C5 are compressing the cord (mild to moderate)
Been referred to a neurologist to rule out MS
Last week the big toe on my right foot was hit with a lightening bolt - it went straight up in the air - and with such force that I wondered if it had broken a bone in my leg. When I read an article on spinal stenosis it talked about a muscle that runs from the fibula across the foot to the big toe and about this problem as a symptom of the stenosis. This was what I needed to stop trying the conservative treatments that I have using for 30 years and to finally seek a surgical consult. I can't imagine what I would do if that happened while I was driving. But my massage therapist knows about the muscle in the leg and she has been working on it and that seems to help keep the big toe in check. Sorry for the long message. This is my first post.
Hi Jelly
my toes cramp and bend down woods when i try to twigle the and then stiffen, this is new and conected to my lower back i believe.
The stiffness of my legs i have had for about 2months before opps and is still on goin thanks for your messages and i hope u r haveing a good last week in school.
TINA
beans
Has your surgeon said if the morning stiffening spasms in your legs will go, or are you going to have it for life now?
I get the same stiffening and spasms around my abdomen now, which causes my back to arch up. The spasms in my legs seem to quite often turn into cramp now too.
I am hoping that the EMG and nerve conductions studies will give some answers as to what is causing all of this.
School is now out for summer!!
It has been a very busy week with events in the evenings, so I am tired and glad to start the holiday. We are off to visit a cousin this weekend, visiting my son at Oxford uni the following weekend and then off to Menorca (Spanish Island) for a rest, reading a book on a lounger by the pool or on the beach!!
Hope you are having a good day
Grade 2 spondylolisthesis causing severe stenosis + DDD
L4/L5 decompression (laminectomy) and PLIF 19th March 2010
Herniations at T12/L1, T9/T10 and T8/T9 (mildly indenting cord)
Significant cervical spondylosis from C3-C7
C3/C4 and C4/C5 are compressing the cord (mild to moderate)
Been referred to a neurologist to rule out MS
to answer your question the leg cramps and stiffness is for ever and may get worse in my case thats what the docs have told me.
you may of noticed i can not spell but i know you can make out what i am trying to say.
I really hope you have a nice hoilday and a good rest .
Happy Hoildays
beans
This happens to me very often. My right foot. My leg cramps up from the calf down into my foot. My big toe curls up my little toes curl under and my whole foot kinda curls in towards my arch. It is painful and irritating. One of the things that helps me is to lay on my side with pillows between my knees. The slightly embarrassing and definately personal thing is that this happens about 90% of the time that I try to straddle my husband during sex. I used to be SO self conscious about it that I wouldn't even try and I felt like a failure the rare times I did. I spoke to the hubby about it and how it made me feel though and now we just adjust when necessary. Anyway, I hope that this helps you or others.
One Love,
Downinmyheart
"If we fall, we don't need self-recrimination or blame or anger - we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to recommit, to be whole-hearted once again."--Sharon Salzberg
29yo female, pain for the last 11 years, DDD, Stenosis, Discectomy Sx 2000, nerve block 2001, 2005, 2008. Discogram 10/9/08. Two level (L4-S1) TLIF (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) completed on 11/21/08.
Post surgery symptoms: burning and odd nerve sensations in right hip buttock and thigh.