Low Back Injuries/Conditions

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nerve damage

Printed From: CyberPT - Your Online Physical Therapy Resource
Category: Patient Forum
Forum Name: Low Back Injuries/Conditions
Forum Description: Patients can post questions and experiences about low back injuries/conditions.
URL: http://www.cyberpt.com/ptforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1018
Printed Date: May 12 2024 at 11:36am
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Topic: nerve damage

Posted By: Ask a PT
Subject: nerve damage
Date Posted: Jul 09 2012 at 10:55am

Our user asekd: "I waited much too long to have discectomy surgery to remove disc
material that was pushing on a nerve. The surgery was a success and removed almost all of my back pain; the surgery was two years ago. But, the nerve that was being compressed was damaged enough so that I have lost strenght in my left leg. The L5-S1 disc was the one operated on and the nerve damage is on the outer side of my left leg and two outer toes which is causing left calf weakness. My question is, are there any specific strengthing exercises that I can do to help regain the strength in my left calf? Thank you."

Ask a PT Response: "Are you working with a PT right now? Specific exercises are going to depend on the amount of ROM and strength you currenlty possess. A good beginner level strengthening exercise is an isometric calf PF exercise: http://www.cyberpt.com/cptvid01ias.asp - http://www.cyberpt.com/cptvid01ias.asp
followed by resitive PF strengthening: http://www.cyberpt.com/cptvid02.asp - http://www.cyberpt.com/cptvid02.asp . Other more advance exercises can include single or double leg heel raises, backwards step up down, balance board exercises, etc. I hope this helps."