AFOs/ reply to Jane

[Guest guest]

Dear Jane,

Quite frankly, I don't wear mine and when they were new, I probably wore

them twice. Mine are the kind you describe. I couldn't get my shoes on if I

placed the AFO first and neither could I get them on if I put the AFO on my

leg first. The couple of times that I actually wore them, my PT put them in

the shoes and then worked very hard to get my feet in. I could never do that

myself. Yes, they were very uncomfortable even with a slight amount of

padding. When I tried driving with even just one, I felt unsafe as they do

not bend at the ankle. Using the accelerator in the car was very strange!

Just to clarify--my right foot is the most affected and I have used the

brake with my left foot for many years--even prior to the foot drop. Oh, and

another issue is that I only needed an AFO on the right foot, so I ended up

with 2 different size shoes--a larger one to accommodate the AFO. Walking

with 2 sizes shoes was very awkward. A full size differential was necessary

for the AFO.

Alan had the hinged kind but they were very heavy. I have too much weakness

to manage them.

Dolores

----- Original Message -----

> Hi and Dolores,

> I was happy to see your emails re the foot orthotic. I have just gotten

> one

> and now I don't wear it. Its one piece, plastic, with the plastic running

> the

> length of the foot and up the outside of the leg and then has the Velcro

> on

> top. The foot it is for is my right foot and the toes on that foot are

> curled

> under. It's very hard getting the orthotic on as I have to slide my foot

> into

> the foot part of it and it doesn't slide very easily. Do you have trouble

> getting yours on? By the time I get my foot into place my toes are killing

> me and

> it really hurts to walk on it. It feels so good to take it off. I would

> like

> to hear from either of you about how yours goes on.

>

> Jane McCord

> Fort Myers, FL

[Guest guest]

see I'm not the only one that can't them on!.....AFO's.....ME