Is that another symptom I can look forward too, or some kind of shoe? I probably need something to change my gait. A lady whistled at me the other day.

I have had dropped foot and had the release. My ankle bone is sticking out you know that nobby thing at your ankle. It is red and forming a callus. Hanger prothetics says that is normal and they put padding in the afo. It really hurts and has effected my walking. I just can’t get anybody to listen to me. It was like that when I first got sick i knew something was wrong but because of my bipolar diagnosis no one takes me seriosly. I mean in my own family too. I appreciate this forum it allows me to vent.
Amy

Hi Sue,
Threads are made to add onto if someone else has something to ask. If your dad is going to physical therapy/physiotherapy, a therapist should be able to tell whether he should use AFO’S. And a PT clinic should be able to fit him for them and order them. If your dad see’s a podiatrist (foot doctor) at all, a podiatrist can fit someone for AFO’S.

If I decide to try AFO’S to see if they help my balance, I’d rather do a search and find the kind that that I think I’ll wear. I want to try to find AFO’S that have a footbed like a boot. I know that I would “NEVER” be able to tolerate plastic pressed up against the feet.

I’ve just done searches with various search engines and I just put in things like AFO’S, or foot orthotics or foot braces.

Grawplyr,
I have not done anything about getting AFO’s because I am still waiting for the results of specialized bloodwork my new neurologist did to determine whether I have CMT as he suspected. I myself, don’t think I need AFO’s. I don’t drag my foot/feet and I don’t stumble or trip unless I put on new shoes I’m not used to. The only thing that might indicate a dropfoot for me is the fact that I have little or no forward movement in either foot, distal weakness. I think I do well enough with sturdy ankle boots. After the results of the bloodwork are confirmed (will know near end of March), I may decide to try AFO’s just to see if they would help my balance. After a thorough search, I prefer the type made by this place [url]www.pttd.com[/url] because they look more like boots. I don’t even remember how I found the other’s I posted about because I did so many searches on different search engines.

Hello again,
A little more about AFO’S for me. I’m not sure if I really need them because “I” (not the doctor) think I do okay with my ankle high LL BEAN trekking boots. I only stumble “a little bit” when I put other shoes or boots on. I am willing to try AFO’S though because indications are that I might have a second syndrome called CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth) and AFO’S are usually needed to correct that. I do fit the pattern of CMT, but the puzzle that doesn’t fit is that CMT is inheirted and if that means ONLY CMT, no-one in the family, close or distant, had CMT. I’m waiting for the results of a blood test.

So, since I’ve never worn AFO’S before, I will wear them to see if I walk better. This is what I’m afraid of, when I stand on bare feet or just with socks on them, it feels like I have rocks under the skin and I just cannot tolerate standing on them. Since the AFO is under the foot and pressed into the skin does it feel different then the way the inside of your shoes and boots feel. Since I’m comfortable with my LL BEAN’S, can I try wearing boot casts instead of AFO’S, will they correct drop feet.

The PT clinic is supposed to have someone come in to fit me for AFO’S, but if I can’t wear what they give me, I have a wonderful podiatrist that I really feel comfortable with (he told me I could call him Mike, rather then doctor) and he’d work with me to get a better fit that I won’t take off.

Natesmom, I got your email and Dick S., I’ll email or PM from forum. It would be helpful to chat.

I’ve been doing a google search on AFO’S and one called a SAFO (silicone ankle foot orthosis) looks like it might work for me, it kinda looks like an ankle boot with an open toe and heel.

Also, one called a Sassal Pacer that pulls the toes up and braces from the front, looks comfortable and like it might work.

When I go to PT on Tue., I’m going to bring the info on AFO’S.

Pretty soon I’ll be the expert to come to for advice on them

As soon as I can stand on my legs and move without holding onto the walker, I’ll think about the Boston Marathon.

We went to the Orthotics and Prosthetic place today for Nate’s evaluation.
The person who saw us told us that not only does Nate have Equinovarus Deformity but he also has a Pidgeon Toe and his heel does not hit the ground, and his toes drop. I had no idea it was that bad.
He explained that not just the tendons on the inside of his leg have shrunk but his calf muscles and his achilled tendons too.
He told us Nate will need rather extensive PT and quite an intricate brace for his foot and ankle if he is ever going to walk ok.
Before they can make a brace, they will need to manipulate his foot into a position very hard to get into, to cast it. That is going to hurt. Just having them try to straighten his foot hurts like heck.
The brace will have ankle hinges to keep his toes up and his heel down as well as his arch and keep his foot pointed straight.
I have no idea how they can do all that but they are willing to try.
They said it will fit into his shoes too.
They also showed Nate how to get his heel down by pulling his foot back some and pushing his knee down when he’s sitting in his wheelchair.
They want him to do that as much as possible to try to stretch his calf muscles while they’re waiting for insurance authorization.
I guess time will tell if it will work.