Re: ankle fusion AND KAFOs

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I believe I have the kind of KAFOs you are talking about. I

haven't had the other kind of AFOs so I don't know how they

compare. The orthotist I was working with was looking for a

'guinea pig' and I was willing to try them. I had them for

over 1 1/2 years before I really needed them. Now I wear them

fairly often. I even wear them when I want to hike in the

woods. They are great for shopping since I don't have to

come back exhausted.

I broke both feet about 5 years ago, before I had my CMT

diagnosis. My feet healed beautifully. I'm wondering..... why

would an MD think feet would heal less well with CMT?

Blood-flow isn't limited in CMT like in the neuropathy of

diabetes, or am I wrong? I knew young individuals without

CMT or diabetes who had also broken feet who had all sorts of

problems with healing. I think there must be other variables

that affect healing. In an ankle surgery there would be

several surfaces to mend I suppose making it a challenge. I

don't see how CMT would make healing any less likely. I

guess I was lucky when I broke my feet.... clean healing

surfaces or something.

Is there something about blood flow and CMT that I don't

understand? Our vessels aren't clogged like diabetics,

killing our nerves. Or am I missing something?

Anyway, I'm quite sure with the comfort of my KAFOs that I

would say 'no' to any elective surgeries in the future. The

odds of a successful ankle surgery don't sound that good to

me. Or.... if I felt I had to have one done, I would make

sure the surgeon doing the work had a great track record

with CMT surgeries.

Danita