AFO suggestions

[Guest guest]

Hi Clair, Thank you so much. I am only going to try to wear one AFO. How high

up does your afo go? What is a good height for someone with drop foot? I am

so frustrated I want to saw the dang thing down myself. With the new balance

shoe do you have a heel on it or is it flat. Does your afo have a heel? So many

questions in my head.

Thanks

In a message dated 5/30/2003 7:45:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

c.a.blair@... writes:

>

>

> Hi ,

>

> I've posted several times in the past, but not recently. I am an RN and had

> been doing fairly well up until 4 months ago. I was fitted for an AFO on my

> left leg this past March. I urge you to ask your physician to write you a

> prescription for physical therapy, not for exercises, but to allow the

> therapist to help you get accustomed to your AFOs. It would probably take

> no more than 3-4 visits max. It certainly helped me. The best shoe

> recommendations that I have found are New Balance shoes or SAS (San

> Shoes). Both types come in wide widths to accommodate an AFO. I normally

> wear a size 4B, but had to go to a 5 WW in the SAS. I do have to say that I

> have much more stability now when walking and so far have not fallen yet or

> even tripped. I know it is much more trying when you are adjusting to AFOs

> on both legs, my mother just had her 2nd AFO made last week, but she is

> doing better and she is 73yr. old. For balance you might try using a cane

> or even a walker until you get used to them.

[Guest guest]

Ditto! My AFO shoes sit there with the AFOs in them until I

put them on again. Funny.... my kids call them 'prostetics'

because they look almost like complete lower legs, except

they are hollow.

Leaving the shoes in the AFOs and putting them on as one

piece is definitely an energy saver. BTW, I bought cheap

sport shoes since the AFOs provide enough support (WalMart),

but they are Wide and I have a narrow foot. Also, as I said

earlier, they are 1 1/2 to 2 sizes bigger than my normal

size. I'm not recommending cheap shoes, but I'm on a tight

budget, and after lots of walking, they seem to be just fine

for me.

[Guest guest]

Hi: In response to 's questions about AFOs.

I wear AFOs on both feet that come about 1 1/2 inch below the

knee. When I originally had them made 2 years ago, my doctor

thought that possibly I could have them cut and use a hinge at

the heal (to better facilitate going up and down stairs) once I

was used to them. After a little while though it became

apparent that I needed all the support I could get and the

hinge would take away too much of the stability that the AFO

gave me.

When I first got them, I had to go back to have them adjusted a

few times before they were fitting really well. What I find

frustrating though, is one day they feel terrific and the next

day I have a problem with one thing or another - such as,

burning soles of my feet. My problem is, that without the AFOs

my feet feel very numb (feels like I have a tight sock on).

Also, without the AFOs my ankles are very weak and I walk very

slowly to compensate for the foot drop and avoid falls.

My left foot is worse than the right and on some days the left

ankle will swell from pressure of the AFO. Other times I can

go for weeks and not have a problem.

I was having a major problem for awhile with my left foot

hurting on the ball of my foot. It would hurt so bad I would

stop the car and RIP the AFO off of my leg to get relief. Now

that problem seems to have been corrected (at the suggestion of

my foot doctor) by wearing a different shoe. He said to get

a " deeper " shoe. The one that I have is called CANFIELD. It

is 1/2 size larger than I would need w/o the brace and it is a

wide width. It works great though with no pain! I have a pair

a SAS but I can only wear them for a short time and then the

problem with the ball of my foot shows up. Both of those pairs

cost over $100.00 each.

Also, I put my brace into my shoe first and then put them both

on at once. Works much better than putting brace on and then

trying to get it into the shoe.

Hope this info helps.