Foot drop- AFO orthotic

[Guest guest]

I've recently been diagnosed with foot drop and was fitted with an AFO

(ankle foot orthosis). This is a rigid plastic that prevents my ankle from

moving

up and down. I'm having a hard time getting into a shoe with this. I can

fit in a tennis shoe but that's about all. Does anyone else wear an AFO and

have any suggestions on foot wear? Thank you! Margaret

[Guest guest]

<<Hi Margret,

I wear AFO's, and have for about 10 years. I have a neuromuscular disease

called Charcot Marie Tooth. Foot drop is very prominent. >>

Hi -

Thank you so much for the email. My AFO is rigid black plastic around the

back of my calf and down with just one strap at the top around my tibial

tubercle. They are going to add an ankle strap because I keep coming out of

it.

Does your AFO have plastic around the front of your shin? Also, does the

bottom of it extend to the tip of your toes or do your toes hang off? My toes

are hanging off and aren't comfortable. This is my first AFO and I wasn't

real happy with the orthotist so I was just wondering. Thanks so much! If you

could email me the list you were talking about that would be wonderful. I've

been searching the internet a lot. Thanks again! Margaret

[Guest guest]

Hi Margret,

I wear AFO's, and have for about 10 years. I have a neuromuscular disease

called Charcot Marie Tooth. Foot drop is very prominent. Shoe buying is hell

with AFO's, as you have already found out. I wear a lot of slacks, and

pants/suits, things I can wear a running type shoe with. I'm on a support list

for CMT and we ( mostly the women) discuss this quite often so I know that there

are shoes you can buy. The archives for this group is public so you could always

do a search. If there isn't anything there, I'm sure I could post to that list

and find out where to look.

in Ontario

[Guest guest]

Hi LaDonna-

No question is ever stupid! Foot drop is when there is weakness of the muscles

that pull your foot/ankle up and down (dorsiflexion). Foot drop is only a

symptom of many disease processes. For example, a herniated vertebral disc can

cause foot drop by compressing part of the sciatic nerve.

Diseases like multiple sclerosis, muscular distrophy, Guillan Barre syndrome

can also cause foot drop. In my case, a needle broke on my sciatic nerve during

an injection and damaged the nerve.

Foot drop can be evaluated through nerve conduction studies, reflexes, CT/MRI

scans, and muscle strength testing to find the cause of it. If you have a

peripheral nerve injury like mine, there is a

neurosurgeon down at LSU in New Orleans that is the world leader in nerve graft

surgery to restore function in the injured area.

I attached a link to an excellent article about foot drop on emedicine. Hope

this helps! Margaret

_http://www.emedicine.com/orthoped/topic389.htm_

(http://www.emedicine.com/orthoped/topic389.htm)

[Guest guest]

This is a stupid question. Is a " dragging " foot the same as foot

drop?

LaDonna.

Foot drop is very prominent. .

> in Ontario

>