Is this part of Multiple Sclerosis or is it something else?

i am having a problem of my left leg not working all the time. the foot tends to drag and the knee will not lift all the way up. if the foot is pointed down i can lift the knee, but it will not lift high if the foot is straight or pointed up. this is not all the time, it is off and on, and the problem is there is no telling when it will start. there is no pain, i normally walk normal, but i notice if i walk too much it starts to drag. also i sometimes wake up with this problem. could this be a back problem, if there is no pain, or is this part of MS?

Yes, I am diagnosed with MS. Really what i am looking for is, can drop foot come and go, if caused by the MS. If not, what else can cause it.

Yep I would say it's the MS. I have noticed I drag my right foot somewhat. I notice it most on the treadmill . I do find that if I pay attention and make myself that I can pick up my foot. I think foot drop is very common among MS'ers

When did this start? How long has this been going on? Are there any associated symptoms like decreased sense of touch to the affected leg? Do you have a heart problem or blood problem like increased in cholesterol? There are so many factors to consider. This could be MS or these could be symptoms of small strokes happening in your brain or it could be myriad of things. Go and see your doctor.

From the way you phrase your question, I am guessing you already are diagnosed with MS, rather than you wondering if you have MS. Am I correct?

Foot drop is a rather common symptom with MS - but could be the symptom of some other kind of spinal problem as well. If you already are diagnosed with MS, though, I'd say that's the most likely cause. To be sure you should discuss it with your neuro or other caregiver.

In the meantime, read more of MS and foot drop here:
http://www.msanswers.ca/QuestionView.asp...

If it is foot drop, people are using Walkaide and Bioness to help improve their walking. Sadly, they are expense, @$5,000 and not covered by insurance.

It could very well be MS, but MS doesn't have symptoms all its own. Every symptom of MS mimics something else.

MS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Basically, the way to diagnose MS is to exclude everything else that it could be, until you're left with only one possibility. At that point, you can use other correlating tests (lumbar puncture, MRI, etc) to confirm or refute your suspicions.

The point is, at this juncture, it's just as likely to be something else as it is to be MS. You'll need to see your doctor first. Some simple tests can be run to exclude some conditions. If it still looks to be neurological, your doctor will likely refer you to a neurologist for more specific testing.