sad & confused mom - no shoes fit AFOs

January 19, 2007

Hello everyone.

My son, who is 21, has finally gotten used to wearing his AFOs. I

had scrambled around looking for shoes that would accommadate

them... and had found one type at Payless that was both wide enough

and deep enough. That was about 9 months ago. I thought that I had

discovered a source that would work. And that when he needed new

shoes we could just go there and find some...In fact, I had looked

for another pair at the store for a while... couldn't find them...

and discovered that I could order them online. Which I did.

HOWEVER, these new ones don't work... somehow they are tighter in

the toe box. So we are stuck with one ratty pairs of cheap shoes...

Now, I am confused. We have always been the ones seeking out the

AFOs... these are the 3rd pair that he has had... and the first

that worked. He has severe foot drop and a lot of ankle

instability.. so these AFOs are big, go under his entire foot and

around the sides...

I am at a loss. One suggestion is to try to get shoes custom made

for these orthotics... and that one just breaks my heart, because it

was so hard for him to adjust to them in the first place... I doubt

that he will want the " custom shoe " look. The problem is that the

tongue part needs to open up a lot, because while the AFOs are

flexible, they are pretty close to a right angle even when going

into the shoe...

So... here is my question. How do we know what to do? Could there

be changes to these AFOs to make them work? Or what able other

types? Who knows enough about the foot, ankle and mechanics of

walking and weakening to answer that question? For that matter how

could the orthotist make these AFOs and give them to my son, without

telling him that he might have trouble getting shoes to fit?

Could you tell that I am a bit angry? Well, I want to harness this

ire to GOOD and not just stew in it... Our insurance would probably

cover a new pair of AFOs... but I would not want to go that route

unless they were going to be an improvement...

Amazing what CMTers need to live through...

Thanks in advance for your help.

Barbara

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