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 great 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.
Braces will still be needed after you start being regularly in a wheelchair as your feet will pull out into odd shapes and deformity will eventually happen ,and taht isn't counting the pain you have when they are bent out of shape.Richard 4/22/2008

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 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.Also my sexual drive and return of erections
was ack that had been absent a while. If this nI told myself
was the price of sexual energy I would wear the barces all the time.
My wife really wondered too if just wearing bthe braces was the reason
for more sexual energy from me.
Richard
Update Feb 28 2007 I had all my brace shoes now tips renewed and heels also replaces. While it cost me about $28 per pair in my wardrobe of 8 pairs I feel better walking with good taken care of shoes.I mentioned the toe tips as even with braces my toe of the shoe will most likely hit the ground first and wear is very noticable there.
Richard

Update;)Oct.27,2000----Also see our article on the "Physics Of MS
And "AFOs"

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.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.
But I could see times changing and gas as the world was demanding
more petro for vehicles wasn't going to change.Gas is up to stay!!!

I believe the American public in general doesn't believe that gas is
up to stay but with a finate substance it is up.Even in my own state
of Florida the government has already voted to NOT permit off shore
drilling into great sedimentary layers of oil bearing shale in the
bottom of teh Gulf Of Mexico. We just don't get it yet.
But I have accepted the higher gas as a reality that takes more
money out of my pockets ,therby leaving me with less money to do
the things I really want to besides support rich oil sheaks.

Any way my new scooter breaks down into 5 light weight parts
quickly.I got a Pride Go-Go Elite Travler.For its size it does a good
job getting me a 200+ pounds person about easily.They are strong but
light weight as the new generation of scooters must be.
Frankly I don't like those platforms stuck on the rear of cars to
carry power hweelchairs or large scooters.I think they will put smaller
cars out of balance.Besides your scooter even if covered gets dirty.
And they are not cheap either .
Rewriten in May 21,2006 RET

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.
Then their fatigue sets in quicker. Consequenntly they
want their doctor to prescribe some pill for the fatigue.
I take Amanadine but my doctor says my approch to staving
off fatigue with the crutches and AFOs is doing my
liver and kidneys a favor.
Too many medications will add too much burden to them.
He says he has mentioned my approch to many of his MS
patients,but few will do the same as they would rather
have a pill than a pair of crutches.After all it doesn't
show.I was at a party of MS affected people recently and
they all wanted to know how I did on all the trips I take.
Nicely I said, we do more walking thatwe do at home.I get
tired but sleep well.

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.
I used them I now think they are a part of me.
Which means I have several styles and colors to go
with clothing.
I even knew a crutches user who painted his wooden crutches
once to match his school colors. White and purple.
He looked great and he like myself enjoyed his life
inspite of his CP.

Up Date -8-14-2000--- As I become more mobility challanged,
my assistive devices look better and better.
They are my friends, not something I am forced to put up with.
I experiment around with different types crutches trying
to see which does the best for me.
New AFOs also are great for walking. Just sampling power
wheelchairs vs scooters has impressed me with the ease
of the ride and also the ease of handling.I know as a
SPMS person I wouldn't get any better, I might as well
be comfortable in my motions.

Revision:4-9-2000---- This topic of assistive devices
seems to be popular on our counter for this page.
Maybe it is like the add for tires,"They aint'n
pretty but every one needs them'".
Assistive devices for us crips aint't pretty
but we need them.There is no getting around it we need
them to get around.
I have tried them all from canes to scooters. scooters
are the best at saving your energy.
I can last all day on my scooter.I now have had a
Amigo scooter or for 20 years not the same one, but
the oldest of my collection of two is 12
years old, while the other one is the TravelMate which
is still under warrentee.
If you go the scooter route you will never be sorry.
You save so much energy
which we have so little, and it is so easy to get fatigued with this disease.
We need all the help we can get from mechanical devices.
To most of the newly dignosed MSers they
naturally hate the idea. If every one used
them as like shoes , there would be no problem.
But a cane puts you into a "different" catigory.
You think the cane is sending
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.

But you mightyou might pick a beautiful or classy
That will send the message that you recognize the fact
that you have a walking problem and you are
coping by makeing the most of the cane and

"its possible" conversation value.
Granted our love ones will hate to see
the changes in us, but they know that under
the surface we are still the same person,
that is if we let ourselves be the person
that rolls with the punches.When our love
ones finally both of os will be at peace and
we can get on with our lives.
The other assistive devices that I mentioned
are a bit harder to deal with , but once you
have gotted by the cane crisis, the others
will come a little easier.
Personally the hardest part about crutches
is the fact that your hands are very busy and
opening doors will be a new lesson to learn.
Carrying anything such as a cup with liquid
is a real trick.On a future revision of this
page I will tell you some of my secrets on how
I cope with crutches, when my wife isn't around
to help me.And she has been away from home for
up to a week.
First Canadian style are far better to use as
you can do so many things when they are on your
arms. I have no trouble getting my own meals.
On of the best tricks is to carry the glass and
the beverage to the table to pour.Also you may
have carry and make more trips,when your hands
can only manage just so much and still use the
crutches.Some times I can allow the wrist parts
of the crutches to turn at a right angle and then
I can let go of the hand grips and use my hands
carry something a short distance. I use bags with
handles a lot to carry mail in from the box on the
street.
While the devices that I have mentioned at
the beginning
are difficult to get used to, both physically
and mentally,when you really need them , you
will come to almost welcome them.

Also among the best devices I have at my disposal
are my hand controls on my mini van. Without them
I wouldn't be driving. They do cost about $500 to
buy and have installed originally but you can
transfer them from vehicle to vehicle as you trade
for another car. Also when ever you think of
renting a car,choose Avis as if you notify them
in advance they will apply hand controls to your
rental car without cost. I understand that Hertz
does this also now.
I got hand controls originally when we lived
in Ohio at the suggestion of my physical therapist,
but now they are required in my driver's license.
RET-1-13-1999
But if you can swing it get a scooter ,I like the
Amigo brand I have had one since about 1987.While
not the same one ,I'm now on my third Amigo.
RET revised 3-10-99

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 .

But since I originally wrote this article, I
have order a 6th pair in Navy Blue. They are
really the only shoes I wear when I'm walking
good. Without them my gait is terrible the only
exception when I don't wear them is if I'm
forced to retreat to my AFOs or I'm going to
ride my three wheeler cycle. The rocker shoes
slip off the peddels and the wood gets marred.
Richard 5-7-98 see the other article on Clawson
Rocker shoes.10-18-98
Footnote-1-13-1999 Although I wear them less than
I used to as my MS is not the same,I still recogmend
them.
If you don't get repelled from the assistive devices
life is easier. There isn't too much control we
have over a progressive disease. RET.

Eileen Lukeman and Richard Tanner

FL.

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

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Page Updated Wed May 7, 2008 9:45am EDT