Can Anyone Recommend On AFO’s

I feel like the best AFOs come from a good orthotist. My daughter has hers done at Hanger. She has really high arches and her feet have shrunk due to the muscle loss. When they custom make them, they are made to fit your foot perfectly. Even when they are custom made they have to have adjustments made until they fit perfectly. AFOs straight off the shelf I think would be very uncomfortable and not work as well. MDA does help with the cost of custom AFOs. You should check with them to see how much they would pay. I feel like the off the shelf AFOs would be a waste of money.

Hi CIDPGuy,

I know it’s easier said than done, but try to disregard the stares. I’m a “highstepper” and have been since I started walking again. I was diagnosed with GBS at the age of 25 and prior to that, I was very athletic and full of energy.

The AFO’s back then were awful and made me fall more often than not, so I tossed it in the closet.

Two years ago, I tried the AFO again as I’m putting too much strain on other muscles. Unfortunately, it felt like I had to learn how to walk again; I couldn’t handle that as I walk quite a bit at work and the AFO made me feel awkward (crazy huh?).

Best of luck with your AFO’S!!! 🙂

Take care,

Tina

I have been usung the Step Smart Brace (google Inovative Products) You need to print out the info and take it to your ortho or podatrist. I have been using them for over 4 years and there great. I am also waiting to receive a new pair (I too have severe drop foot in both L/R) The company Allard Inc is a brace that straps on the shin and is carbon fiber. Without insurance they are about 800 bucks each but with insurance they are 300 for the pair! They are definitely worth the inbvestment so don;t have sticker shock…If you truly need them think of them as a car. They allow you to walk better and with less effort. The carbon fiber is strong and light, they have helped others with drop foot get back to running which is amazing. I don;t plan on running but I know they are worth the money. Google AFOs and you’d be surprised whats out there. Good luck.

I think I am going to end up having to get them also and plan on talking to my doctor about it. My feet are whats giving me the most problems. You are right about having this nasty disease. I hate it! Literally hate it! Especially when I start getting all numb and thingly again! Which is going on right now!
Linda H

I’ve had 4 pairs of custom AFOs from Hanger and I have discarded all of them. They were normally more than what I felt I needed as they went from toe to knee. Plus they were incredibly hot and uncomfortable.
So I went looking and found cheap ones on ebay that I have used for the last 2.5 years. In fact, when I went for a check-up, my pt commented on how I finally got used to my AFOs. I lifted my pant leg and LOVED the look on her face when she saw I had replaced the $1000++ AFOs with a pair for less than $50.
They are called SWEDISH AFOs and I found them on ebay from a seller called ape medical supplies. I buy an insert for arch support (found at FootSmart magazine) which easily fits inside. I trim them down to below my toe knuckes with a pair of kitchen scissors and they are flexible enough that one can use a hot air gun to help give them a more custom fit. I haven’t needed to flair them out and have about 4 pairs for each of my shoes – everyday, church, boots, outside.
I love them because they are so less bulkier than the other pairs and they allow me to use what little muscle I have left instead of making me completely dependable on a pair that did all the work.
They are considered ‘super-flexible’ and may not work for all but at $50, they were worth the chance for me. And I wear them everyday now instead of the others which I wore only when forced to due to longer distances. It is so nice not to have the ‘high-step’ and walk unknowinly amongst the masses.
In fact, a friend I met last fall had no idea I wore them – that was the nicest compliment because my other ones were so bulky, loud, etc that it ws hard not to.
I hope you find something that works for you!!

I have a “swedish AFO” brand name TOEOFF. Sounds like the ones badmommy is talking about. I love mine. Not to hot in the summer and fit in a wide selection of shoes {a girl thing}. After some of the others I’ve tried these are great.

I tried boots too thinking that if my foot stayed at a right angle, I wouldn’t trip.
I found the boots to be too heavy to wear comfortably. I have a lot of muscle atrophy and the weight was too much. I also couldn’t get the boot to bend when I stepped off because the sole was too thick. My gait resembled a duck…a very heavy-footed duck 😀
I always say try whatever won’t break your bank or neck! They may work for you. I do use wrestling shoes around the house every once in awhile – they lace up and are very light-weight but are not good for any sort of long distance walking.
Let us know what you decide and what works!!

My doctor suggested any sort of high top tennis shoe for working in the yard when the braces were difficult to wear. Ifind they work pretty well

[QUOTE=herself]I have a “swedish AFO” brand name TOEOFF. Sounds like the ones badmommy is talking about. I love mine. Not to hot in the summer and fit in a wide selection of shoes {a girl thing}. After some of the others I’ve tried these are great.[/QUOTE]

Cosign this totally. I had some of those plastic monsters from Hanger and they ran about $2k. Horrible and a total waste of money. They hurt so bad and were so hard to put on it was crazy. It would take me an hour to put them on and put my shoes on. I’d be so tired after that I would just not go anywhere. They also make you walk like a penguin.

AllardINT makes 3 kinds of AFOs – the Ypsilon – a light weight unit for mild foot drop and lightweight patients. The ToeOFF which is a more involved afo for a slightly heavier patient. Then there is the BlurRocker- this is what I use.
TOTALLY CHANGED MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO BS
Seriously
I can run with these
Yeah I sound like a commercial because these things are fantastic.
2 will run you a little over $1k. THey are carbon fiber. They have a one yr warranty. Medicare will pay for them and replace them if they break out of warranty.
I sent off for their product information. I have their CD if you want it – I can rip it to an iso and post it. Not sure how technical you guys are.
[url]http://www.allardint.com/[/url]

[IMG]http://www.allardint.com/images/stability09_en.jpg[/IMG]

[url]http://www.allardusa.com/beth/bethdeloria.html[/url]

This woman ran the Boston Marathon wearing one.

They dont really support laterally on the ankle. You won’t roll your ankle but you will have stability issues if you are not able to hold your leg straight through the ankle. If you have some calf muscle left aka plantar flexion (you can stand on your toes) it has some give to allow that.
Doctors, physical therapists, my orthopedists etc can’t tell I wear braces. No one can.
It doesnt hurt when I walk!!!!!!!!! Standing doesnt hurt either. They fit your normal shoes!!!!!!!!! No need for velcro shoes or in my case size 14 shoes to fit those huge plastic beasts. I do get wide shoes in my normal size sometimes to accomodate the side bar.

If I want to wear shorts and not look like a cripple, I wear a neoprene ankle support and [IMG]http://www.alimed.com/Alimed/CatalogImages/18-17550-Product_Primary_Image.jpeg[/IMG]
and wear socks over it. Without the neoprene brace the velcro straps on that afo put big dents in my foot and ankle.
That last unit is an Alimed 64107 and they run abnout 50-70 bucks each. Not a ton of support but you won’t trip over your toes.

I’m wearing the BlueRockers now. Seriously, they changed my life. I don’t care about walking places or standing in line- as long as everything else is OK. My only problem now is that Ive been a shutin so long I have to force myself to go out etc. I can do miles on a bike but Im scared to walk down to the end of my street. But I will walk for 2 hours in a store :hmm: weird stuff.

[QUOTE=CIDPGuy]Herself,

Thanks for your experience about high top tennis shoes. I wear some semi high top tennis shoes but but they are still too short for my ankles as they still drop everytime i take a step but i do appreciate your thoughts and i’ll see if any go high up the shins as i’m a tall guy.[/QUOTE]
Try some boots – you can get them in higher styles than hightop basketball shoes.

I just got new afos yesterday from ALLARD called Blue Rocker. The are covered by insurance and I paid 125 out of pocket for the pair. Google them and chack it out. They will send you a local Biotech company to help you get fitted.

Good Luck

They are awesome