Discussion: "foot drop" and orienteering

I am in the recovery and rehabilitation phase following recent major pelvic surgery. One (expected) consequence of the surgery was that a section of the sciatic nerve for my right leg was removed where it passd through the pelvis. This means that some of the muscle groups in the back of my rigbt leg no longer have nerve control. I may recover some nerve control as other nerves take over, but this will probably be limited. I will find out as I learn to walk again (running, in any form, will be a pleasant bonus)

One significant effect is that I now have foot drop, which means that I am unable to control the dorsiflexion of my foot (raising foot & toes) and have lost most of the feeling in my toes and outside of foot and ankle (probably permanently)

A part of my rehab I am learning to walk wearing an orthotic brace which supports the sole of the foot roughly at right angles to the lower leg , so that the foot does not drag during each step.

I am interested to hear of any other orienteer's or APer's experience with this condition, comments about different sorts of orthotics, and suggestions about other support while competing ( successful or otherwise).

I have lost ennervation to my left calf (gastrocnemius). I don't know how it happened, but its very specific. I noticed about two years ago. There's no pain, and I have had no problem maintaining substantial training load. I probably lost 5% of speed, which curiously I'm completely unaware of unless I look at the results or one of my ex-peers passes me. Although my gait has changed, I'm not especially aware of that either.

It means I have very poor balance on one leg and cant jump or, climb fences with that leg. Initially I fell over a lot and got very frustrated always coming back bloodied. Gradually things have improved as other muscles have maybe grown to compensate and maybe my nervous system is better trained to compensate automatically. But I have also learned to avoid rough terrain and results which would once have made me sad now make me happy.

Initially I had a ton of exercises to do, but I'm not convinced they were any use. Completing gastrocnemius exercises when you don't have a gastrocnemius were amusing to watch, and "strengthen the other muscles thereabouts" was doable, but I can't imagine there's much physiology behind it. I couldn't figure out what support/orthotics would be useful, so didnt try anything. So I'm now back to just running and orienteering with appropriately lower expectations, and I find myself less often trying to climb a fence or leap a ditch off the wrong leg, so I think my subconscious is learning.

May not be usable advice for you, but to summarise my experience : "Stick at it and lower your expectations"

Rockman I think age has a lot to do with your decision. Your profile doesn't state your age. But I'm over 70 and have found it increasingly difficult to "run" in the forest without repeatedly falling. A couple of years ago I took a 3' fall and ripped my hamstring off my hip bone...an avulsion of the ischial tuberosity. I now find it very difficult to run in rough terrain; but I still run on roads.

So I've taken up a new sport with increasing enjoyment: golf. Many of the same features that attracts us to orienteering. And a chance to make friends with a new set of old guys. I've just returned from a week of golf in Palm Springs...not exactly Laramie Daze or The Tasmania Week. But very enjoyable for January in the Northern Hemisphere.

So I've taken up a new sport with increasing enjoyment: golf.

Funny, I took up golf at the age of 15 and also made friends with a bunch of old guys. However my enjoyment (and frustration) with the sport decreased/increased (respectively) over time to the point that I gave it up although this decision also had a lot to do with the fact that it seemed to be wrecking my knees. Perhaps I will take it up again when I get frustrated with other sports that I can no longer continue with!

Mate. I know the well credentialed Norwegian veteran woman orienteer Inger Varmes has had this problem for many years. Inger wears a sort of 'spring loaded' foot support. You may also check with Graeme Dawson from Garingal who has a floppy foot from a bike accident and has a special support which seems to get him around pretty smartly.

first event post-op yesterday - very slow shuffle on crutches around mostly flat school grounds. Its a base line to measure future performance against.

the shaft of a crutch makes a very good description holder - no problem with 26 controls ;-)