Night use of AFOs for children

[Guest guest]

Hi Sally-

I much like wore casts at night as a child. The were a real pain. The

first set went up to my calf... then the " new style " came in and those went to

my thigh. They too were lined with some sort of fabric and had straps and

buckles. They kept my foot at a 90 degree angle to keep the achilles

stretched. They also went under my toes but I don't believe they were intended

to do anything with the toes.

I wore them for years every night. My parents installed a doorbell in my room

that rang in their room. This way if I had to get up at night to go to the

bathroom they could come down and help me get out of them. There was really no

way easy-safe way to walk in them.

I wore casts until I was about 10 I think...I have no idea when I got my first

set. I didn't were braces during the day until I was about 9.

My father especially, was relentless about the casts and stretching exercises.

My parents tried to make them at least bearable by comparing them to if someone

had a broken leg... there were signatures and drawings on them. Believe it or

not, at 45 I still have that last pair of old casts... packed away with all my

old friends signatures on them... Probably about time to toss them :-)

Anyway for as much as I hated those things... I have never had to have surgery

and my ankles are in pretty good shape. I don't wear any bracing at night

anymore. Haven't since I was about 10.

Best of luck - and I say stick with it... it will be well worth it later in

life.

Cheryl