Assistive devices : Most persons over 15 years of MS need them - Walking and getting about the best we can - Personal - http://maxpages.com/happymspage/Assistive_devices_and

UPDAT Oct.25,2007 Your braces will do more to keep you from getting fatigued
than any medication so says my neuro doctor.And you know he is right
update 4/22,2008
Actually hardware is a medical thing some times referred as Physical medicine.
It is necessary with a many people affected with MS ,especially the ones in progression regularly. Your shoes will show the odd wear on the soles and heels with a poor walking gait.I have noticed this on my orthopedic shoes when I was still walking with braces everywhere.My left shoe was always the worst for wear.
Braces will never correct a poor gait perminently.but without them many of us will
burn up so much energy and also risk falling many times in a day.

UPDATE Oct.8,2006 Don't selectively wear your braces only when
you feel more spastic or seem to have more drop foot.I was doing it
that way for a while until my doctor asked me why I wasn't wearing
the AFO braces all the time he had prescribed for me.
Then he said," Do you feel more fatigued and wonder why?
Yes i said .Then the not wearing the braces is maybe the chief reason
they are designed to save you energy.
I went home and followed his challenge of wearing them(braces)
all the time and in two weeks I did start to notice the better feeling
and less fatigue.
Richard
Update June 7,2009

Update: Nov.19,2000----- Your person freedom is at stake when
your walking gait is off.How you adapt is the gate to personal
freedom or personal missery. Those that choose the latter will
undoubtly have reasons for not really adapting. But one thing
comes through to other people if you want to be this stubbern
and resist using a good assistive device. There is a tendence to
think your mind is too ridged for your own good.Your acceptance
of assistive devices will also yeild more respect for others.
It's that simple.RET

What is your attitude to assistive or mobility
aids, such as canes, crutches, walkers,AFOs
scooters and wheelchairs?
I look upon my assistive devices as friends.
My crutches ,without them I would have to use the
wheelchair all the time.
These things , like wheelchair or scooters will come soon enough.
But there is noting wrong with getting a scooter early in
the MSer's problems with walking .I had my first Amigo about two
years after dignosis.It let me go all over the neigborhood without
bringing on fatigue.I did miles on it once I got it as that was
the beginning of required cut curbs.
But if you are just dignosed you will soon learn how fast the
fatigue will take away your fun.
One of the problems of a scooter is how do you transport it to
a more distant location which may be too far for your scooter or
too slow.It also may be a sunny day and many MSer are very sensitive
to heat. Then we used to have minivans with a lift in the back to
pick up the scooter .But with much higher gas prices some of us are
thinking of a smaller scooter that can fit into the smaller trunks.
I recently went from a Mercury Villager to a Mercury Mariner
which gets better milage on a gallon.(The new car ,Mercury Mariner gets about a little over 30 miles per gallon on a long trip up to Ohio and back to Florida)But I soon found that the new car
had to have the back seats folded down to accomidate the scooter I had.
There really was nothing wrong with my Villager as it was running great.

My legs just will not function without serious support.
Also without crutches ,and using just a cane I soon found
out my strength way fleeting and fatigue came quicker.
The addition of my AFOs allows me to travel even further.
A cane is for the simple balance problems, but crutches
will extend your range and delay the fatigue.But don't
start with crutches when you can still make it with a cane.
Too often MS affected people want to get by with the
least equipment.

Actually I enjoy life and wish to do all I can to have
it continue for a long time.
If crutches will keep me going, and save taking fewer
medications then that the way I'll go.

the "wrong message"

The "other people" that read the message may
or may not see the wisdom in your use of the
cane.

If you are a male and especially the
athletic type, you definately will find it
difficult to break the barrior of being one
of the fellows.Are we afraid that others
will reclassify us as "crips"? But if we don't
start using assistive devices,then several
things will happen.
First,we will fatigue or tire out quicker.
And we willn't be able to walk as far without
showing more of a limp.
Next,your strained gait will tell others
that something is wrong.If they really are
concerned then they will ask.If they don't
ask they may judge that you are too sensitive,
because they think that you should have
opened the topic.
Third , you are really not being honest
with yourself.This fact is really the most
important of all the factors. With out being
able to accept the truth that you have changed,
and you are not too pleased with the change,
it probably will not go away as fast as you
would like. You can't just hide from every
one until you come into your remission.
That may be weeks or months.
Most of my friends have accepted the fact
whenever I had to add a new assistive device,
but I still worryed about it. But as I said,
you can't hide until it goes away.
I was a full time wheelchair user for
16 months once. I still rely considerable on
my scooter for outside travel.
The nature of this disease is to roll with
the punches,
and if we don't the depression will be much

than most of the MS affected persons. With this
disease we know our gait is going to change.
I know using a cane isn't a beautiful thing most
of the time ,but I do have some interesting canes,
that call a lot of comment.

Clawson Rocker Shoes!!
These wooden clogs that come in 6 styles
and many colors in each style, are the answer
for those of us with limited ankle movement.
Since the foot moves as a unit, and rolls,
energy is saved . Personally I get less tired
wearing them than regular shoes. They are
priced from $130 to $160. They are closed or
open toed, lacing or buckel.
The number to call the Clawson Rocker shoe
is 1-208-356-0061 . They are located in
Rexburg Idaho so remember when you call they
are on mountain time.
I have had theses shoes now for over 9 years,
since the first pair. There are a few limited
dealers, but most of their business is through
the mail. I'm so well satified that I now have
5 pairs and thinking of getting a 6 pair. There
are times when I'm having a relapse and I'm back
to my crutches and AFOs that I can't wear them .

Eileen Lukeman and Richard Tanner

FL.

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

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Page Updated Sat Jun 6, 2009 10:28am EDT