Ankle Foot Orthosis or AFO - THe AFO could save you a lot of energy Revsion ,March 31,2008 - Personal - http://maxpages.com/happymspage/AFOs_or_ankle_foot

March 31,2008 Life for may of us with serious disability continues with limitations.
We learn to find ways to get around the limitations.We really can be our best advisors
as we live within this MS affected body 24-7,nobody else does ,least the doctors we
visit.They have the power to script the things we will find make us more at ease with the disabilityise of MS.
The doctor usually is happy to comply with things we have researched some where and discovered this might make our lives easier to bear.Actually its the least they can do for us as there really is at this writing no cure,especially with PPMS.
The doctor who prescribed my braces was very quick to say "I feel you will be better off as braces will make walking easier and you will go more and not be stuck at home"
RET 3/31/08

In a conversation via computer with a former family doctor who
is now retired I learned the steel and leather caliper braces were his favorite.

"He told me;"for you living in Florida's climate they really are the best for you"

"Don't let any one talk you into any thing else" "They will tell you
your selection of shoes will be short.Which is true but as you have now 8 pairs equipted with caliper plates that should be enough." The medicare allows you a new pair every year and if you get quality shoes and take care of them they will last for years."RET

UPDATE; Oct.8,2006 I was not wearing my braces all the time and I discovered I was getting more fatigued than when I used to wear them all the time.
I stopped wearing them formerly when i wasn't as spastic .Then I went
back to full time and discovered I started to feel less fatigued and
had more energy.My sexual appitite came back and now I'm able to get IT up
more often.

Doctor: You would be walking even better with braces,short one.
Then later that year my drop foot had gotten worse and it was tripping me too often.

Me: yes ,by that time my gait had slowly gotten a bit worse and drop foot in both legs was a major problem.I had to work hard to prevent myself from tripping
over my own two fet and falling.Falling had become too common.This time I asked for help
from my doctor.He immediately prescribed the AFOs That was 18+years ago.

At a later date about one year after I got the braces;
Doctor: Then you easily see the benifit from them(meaning the braces).Why are you such a spokesman for them to write so strong a recogmendation for all drop footers or extreamly weak ankled patients?
If I knew how to sell the idea many of my MS and other neurological damaged patients would stay out of wheelchairs.I would think the idea of staying
vertical and the advantage of not haveing all the problems associated with
wheelchair living would be a stimulus to want the braces.

Me; It should be but for social reasons braces and crutches don't have the
vogueness of style to engage the mind and let people keep walking.I really think
they believe the wheelchair is the final answer.

Doctor: For some a wheelchair is the final answer.Unfortunately the wheelchair
still has too many barriers not solved by the laws of ADA.
It never will be so that life sitting is better than walking properly braced.
Are you prepaired for the fact you will eventually ?

Me : How did you know my upper leg muscles are going weak?

Doctor: Its the usual way neurological deseases will go especially with someone your
age (after 60) It isn't just the post polio patients who experience deminished power
and increased fatigue due to a neurological defecency.

Me :
I'm starting to drag a foot now and then and distance I can walk has shrunk.

Doctor; You would be a good patient as most would face this delima with resistance.

Me : I want to stay walking for as long as possible.
Doctor; Your attitude will go a long ways to keep you walking.

The FUNCTION OF A BRACE.

The real function of the brace is to actually make your walking possible
for a longer term and may keep you out of early wheelchair useage.
This is the same words my doctor used on me 15 years ago.My MS which is slowly progressive It was getting apparent I actually need the new AFOs.
Finally I took myself to the orthosist with an appointment and I was
cast for the AFOs.

The function I have found they save me energy,make it possible walk further
with less fatigue . Your legs wouldn't get stronger,probably actually weaker
and you will grow into using them more.At first I didn't wear them full time
now I wouldn't think of any walking without them.
Actual damage can happen to legs with a disease like Multiple sclerosis.
Braces will also prevent damage to joints. Many other degenerative disease also need braces to save the legs from further damage.
When you gait starts to have atrophy and ataxia, braces are called for and soon.
Richard April 21,2006

Don't underestimate the usefulness of a brace. It will do a lot more that you realize as its non chemical or non drugs.I 'm able to take less pain pills as the braces actually do absorbe some shock and I'm not straining muscles that are weak;
Richard
PS I have recently also discovered that support hose will also turn down your leg problems ;
RET 12 /11/2006
Sept 13,2007 If you let your mind catch up to the degree of your degeneration
then your assistive devices will seem right for you and you will be happier
with equiping yourself with what will make life more exciting again.Being a couch
potato and staying home because you feel embaresed to go out with your necessary
equipment is robbing you of what is out there in this world to get engaged in and
forget your pride and take command of the life you are missing.RET

If you have good relations with your doctor,he /she will probably oblige you with
a prescription for a brace,if you really feel it will help you walk better.I had my doubts
about my neuro but when I asked him he didn't hesitate.
First of all if you are progressive and they already have you on meds,They usually will
do something just for you to make your life more enjoyable and livable.They know all too
well we are trapped in this disease .Many times we put up with a bad gait and just
slide into a wheelchair all too soon.The doctor might try giving you a pep talk but to
many who are depressed,It doesn't take.
You must get the right equipment to keep you walking into the future.
RET

May 10,2001 What the orthotist told me.A properly made AFO for the legs,can keep
you going much longer than you might expect.The more it holds the leg in place
the better it is for stamania.
I took an experiment,and with applied physics and my AFOs was able to walk further
in a large mall than ever before.
Forget the cane,It isn't the best of applied physics.
Forearm crutches are your best way to bear the strain more to your arms and less to your legs.The legs with the AFOs in place will keep the legs and foot from getting overly tired .
My wife didn't like the idea of me experimenting with this theory,but my orthotist
put me up to it.
I had a long discussion and he brought out several models.I tried on two models
Fortunately both were close to my size.
The first one was a traditional AFO pair made for someone about my size.
It's the type with the shoe attached to the brace.The brace is made of shiny alunimium.This is the heavyest of all AFOs.It's popularity has dropped much
in the past few years.
It's only advantage is it has the least amount of skin contact,therefore
it would be the coolest,but also being the heavyest it will wear you out sooner.I had been infavor of this model until I say and wore briefly the new very light
weight carbon fiber brace
He talked me into it.It has the second least amount of skin contact.
It will being very light not tire you out all day.It also can be worn
with sandals even with just
a strap in the heel and one over the top of the ankle.This would go with well built
open toed shoes with a cross strap and back strap on the heel. This made it the'
coolest and lightest available.It is being space age carbon fibers the strongest for
it's weight.
I'm having a pair made but I loved the set he let me wear about the shop on the tour
he gave me I wanted to borrow it until my new ones were made,But no luck.The variety
of shoes you could wear with this one was almost everything the shoe store might sell.
This is where it is so advanced over the traditional metal one.This is the real
Florida weight and skin exposeing model for the greatest cooling while giving great
support.
I'm glad he had both models in about my size as It was quite a revelation of
styles.He told me although it comes in black,it will take paint easily,so
if you please it can be any color you wish.I'll make up a paint close to flesh when I
get mine and then it will be less noticable with shorts.It's the only way to go.
The cost of the materials over the old plastic isn't all that much either.At least
I didn't think so.At only $40 more.He told me the insurance company will not pay the
extra but it would be worth it just for all the super advantages it has over the plastic

The strange thing about insurance companies is they will pay a $100 more for the old
traditional brace set over the carbon fiber set.They are very old fashion in their thinking.
He also said the older folks tend to pick the steel or alunimium model.I guess
they just love to suffer and have no choice in shoes to wear.

Source of info about AFOs see AbleCurr Reports

There is a new material ,composite which will be used to make
AFOs in the near future.It is lighter ,stronger and cooler
that what you are probable wearing now. If you are just being
prescribed to get a new AFO , hold off if you can. These new

Your doctor should be concerned with your comfort as well as the
support you need.But if you still have the thermo plastic AFOs
look for closed heal sandals but with some cut out parts in the shoe.
I 'm definately against wearing an absolutely closed shoe with my AFO.

materials will make the old AFOs look like they should be
in a medical museum. I definate have something like this to
look forward to as I under go treatments and theapy and hope to
get out from being in my wheelchair all the time . I realize
I will always need one for longer distances, but one doctor
has held out hope for me. RET
.
The designs of them are changing all the time. If you are in
the process of getting one, ask what models or styles are
available.The first person you naturally should ask is the doctor
who is writing the prescription.The by lateral metal strip
is making a comeback against the older plastic wrap about
the leg. They would be cooler in the summer and really cooler
in Florida. I can't speak for them being more effective as
the older plastic virsions. But one doctor I asked felt them to
just as effective. The brace makers for some reason don't
favor them but they don't have to wear them.If I ever get back
to wearing AFOs I think I want the metal strips.RET

Update:Oct.21,2000----- It is very essential we maintain our
weight if we have a AFO or any such brace. Gaining weight will
make too tight a fit. My Orthosist warns me that even modest
gains will make a difference. He told me a story of one of
his patients gaining so much he had to get antire new AFO.
The worst part was since the first AFO was only a little over
a year old the insurance company would not pay for the second.
His waight gain was bewond what is considered normal.
Even a modest drop with MS just makes getting about with
already weak muscles a greater and more tireing job to get
about. RET Eat gingerly and small.

Oct.12,2000---- It was recently brought to my attention that
the leather and metal brace,(AFO) or KAFO, which involves
above the knee style brace is cooler. This was told to me
by an orthosist,one who makes such things.So if you have just been
prescribed an AFO by your doctor think about it. I realize
you have to have a plate installed in your shoe, but they
say they are a lot cooler to wear.The only advantage the
plastic variety is you can have a larger variety of shoes.
If you are a wearer of one of these leather and metal
braces, I would enjoy hearing from you about this topic.
RET1000@aol.com

Oct.7,2000---- Getting a AFO or Ankle Foot orthosis . These molded plastic
braces are designed for preventing what is know as drop foot. With the
ankle and calf muscles getting weak you will notice this happening. Many
people wear them . For starts you can get them ready made in medical
supply shops without a prescription. These come in small, medium ,large
and sometimes you will find extra large.
They are plastic which fits along the back of the leg from just below
the knee and goes down to the foot. Part of the support goes into your shoe.
This brace permits you to choose the style of shoe as long as it can be
tighten across the ankle, and the heel is closed. Usually you will need
one size bigger that you normally wear. Any way getting back to describing
them a bit more. the top part of the brace will be secured with a velcro
strip.The bottom fitting into your shoe will be securred by your shoe.
While they are plastic, and you can get the costom made ones in flesh
color, they will be hot to wear. I looked at the metal version which
will need a orthopedic shoe, they would be cooler .But the straps the
orthosist doctor would have to use would tend to bind and make the wearing
of them difficult from other stand points. The fit usually wouldn't be as
good, and rubbing on your leg could be a problem.

Don't lrt your physical Therapist tell you that wearing them will
weaken your legs. They wouldn't, but they will save you a lot of energy.
I know about the saving of energy. When I got my first pair of AFOs I
didn't always wear them all the time.Now I'm sold on the energy I save.
If I leave them off just to take my shower, shave and get int the other
room even with my crutches I can feel the legs getting more like jelly.
Yes my legs are weak and now I know regardless what the therapist told me
they did get weak becaus eof MS and muscular atrophy which is a natural
occurance in the progression. Weakness and fatigue will limit your walking.
Get real and know Ms is doing this to you. What does the therapist know
except what they read in books. The best therapist I ever knew was disabled
himself. Believe me with these supports you will not tire out as quickly.
You will be able to walk further.
There is a natural tendency among the recently diagnosed to believe
that shunning assistive divices is nescessary to not give in to MS.
In time they learn that with MS progression and disability happens
regardless of any thing they do. There are some who have to learn the
hard way by falling down and eventually running out of luck in their falls.
They end up breaking a bone or two . if the bone you break is a major one,
as I did in the early days of my MS . I broke my left Tibia, the big one
in the lower leg. This the doctor believes hasten the early disability
I had in my first year of MS. I have only used a cane for a minor part
of the 20 years of MS. Early on crutches become necessary to get about
without wasting gobbs of energy and being all too tired to do much.
The advent of using my first AFO which was off the shelf , but still
prescribes I learned life was easier. My next doctor when we moved to
Florida saw I was wearing the AFO and wrote me a prescription for a
fitted costom made one. At the time the pair cost $1200. Luckly the
insurance company picked up 8

Eileen Lukeman and Richard Tanner

FL.

Eileen(Lobosgirl) and Richard (RET1000) both at aol.com

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Page Updated Thu May 22, 2008 8:47am EDT