Tell me about AFOs

[goodsea]

I feel like this is something my dr. should have addressed with me, but honestly I learned about them through this community. And I Googled and YouTubed and shopped.

I have walking issues, and I'm pretty sure it's drop foot. I've tripped and fallen far too many times to count, though a few stand out in my memory as "oh no, not here!" Like when I went crashing into a stack of boxes of violins at my daughter's music lesson. (Though it's amazing how people come to your aid.)

I've tripped on my toes if I'm barefoot. They go curling under and the here comes the floor. I have that gait impediment when you lift your foot to avoid tripping. I also swing it out to the side; don't know if that's another.

So I ordered an AFO through Amazon but without dr.'s advice, just went by reviews. It's an Ossur AFO Leaf Spring. I get how it works, though looking at it I didn't see how the one I got managed to not feel constraining though all the reviews said it fit in shoe fine. Well, it's terrible! It's so tight in the shoe, and pinches around my heel so bad. So now I'm left wondering if I need to get physical therapy to help use it, as the Nurse at the dr.'s office suggested to me. I saw ones that look like black bandages. Before I go spending a lot, I should probably get some advice!

[kmallory1]

I wore an AFO for drop foot for several years. My physical therapist, not my neurologist, referred me to a prosthetist. Sometimes the Neuro doesn't "get" that we need help with the mechanics of making it work every day. A physical therapist does.

The prosthetist watched me walk up and down the hall, and asked a lot of questions. He made a custom molded AFO by making a cast of my foot and leg, and using it to create a lightweight perfectly fitted plastic (?) AFO. It fit in my shoe with the insole removed. Insurance covered it, but that was 10 years ago.

As the drop foot got worse and I needed more support I changed to a ToeOff carbon composite AFO, also from the prosthetist.

If you've seen a physical therapist, talk to that person about a referral. I used Hanger Prosthetics, which is a large chain company with many locations.

Good luck. A properly fitted AFO help a lot and is comfortable.

[pb909]

Similar story here...
My neurologist referred me to physical therapy and they evaluated me and then brought in a specialist. The specialist then evaluated me, made a cast and then made a custom fitted plastic AFO all covered by my insurance.

[Kimba22]

Hi goodsea,

Same story here, except for my first pair of AFOs, PT sent me to a durable medical equipment for "off the shelf" plastic version of AFOs. (Some minor adjustments were made to them to help them fit better.)

Years later, another PT requested an orthotist come out and evaluate me during one of my PT sessions, and hinged AFOs were recommended. They were also plastic and made from a cast of my lower leg and foot. When they weren't working as well anymore, my PT asked for another evaluation by an orthotist. This time the Blue Rocker carbon fiber AFOs were recommended.

It was recommend to take the insole out of my shoes and buy them 1/2 - 1 size bigger. Maybe try that first. I could still wear my regular size with the first AFOs, but had to bump up my shoe size with the other two (and try them on with braces before buying new shoes).

Good luck.

[kmallory1]

There is also a solution that does not go inside your shoe. If you google x-strap, you'll see one that fastens to your shoe laces and uses a neoprene cuff around your ankle.

I used this with sneakers in the beginning of my foot drop when I did not need a lot of support. It's comfortable.