What makes my Rt foot rises excessively on push-off when I walk?

Question

The Rt foot rises excessively involuntarily while walking, sitting, or leaning forward. It can be voluntarily flattened. Background: 78 yo, active, Lt leg 1/2 inch shorter. A Lt shoe lift is no help re the rise. Rt med knee cartilage removed 1974. Knee lacks 5 degrees of full extension since then. Onset Rt knee pain 1994. Foot rise onset 1990. Any ideas of cause of the rise? It causes foot pain

Answer 1

Sounds like you are subconsciously making up for the slight immobility in your leg. I can understand why it would cause foot pain, especially in the Achilles tendon, since your inertia as you move would be causing you to be hyperextending your foot. It's probably also connected to the knee pain. You may have developed a habitual limp. Anyone who's ever injured their knee or ankle has experienced the same sort of feeling. I can imagine that this feels completely abnormal though, or else you wouldn't have been describing it here. If you have BlueCross BlueShield, I know that specialists are covered without recommendation under "special office visits". You should have an orthopaedist do an xray to ensure that your cartilage isn't developing elasticity and that it's not flipping around a bone or growth. He should also watch your walk and see what habits you may have developed. Do you have a cane? I've learned that this can cause a weekness in certain muscles, causing others to over-compensate.